From accepting assignments in diverse care settings to exploring new cities, the opportunities to grow professionally (and personally) in travel healthcare are limitless. 

To that end, the right travel nursing agency can influence career trajectory and impact your overall travel nursing experience. What’s more, with numerous agencies offering varying benefits and support systems, it’s essential to evaluate your personal and professional needs before making a choice. 

So, what is the best travel nursing agency? This guide offers all the answers. In it, we explore key factors to consider when selecting an agency, including reviewing reputation and resources to the importance of communication and contract terms. We’ll also provide a detailed comparison of three leading agencies so you can make an informed choice on which is best for you. 

What Makes a Great Travel Nursing Agency? Key Factors to Consider

Travel nurse agencies streamline the connection between the perfect travel nursing position and clients looking for highly skilled nurses. As such, understanding what makes a great travel nursing agency (and picking the right one for you) can significantly impact your career journey. 

But before we compare and contrast agencies, let’s review what makes a great travel agency. Here are key factors to consider when selecting a travel nursing agency:

  • Job placement opportunities – Evaluate the variety and availability of assignments in your preferred locations and specialties.
  • Compensation packages – Compare pay rates, benefits, bonuses, and reimbursements for travel expenses and housing.
  • Strong support – Look for agencies that provide strong support systems, including 24/7 assistance and access to resources for troubleshooting issues. As you travel from one assignment to the next, building a trusted relationship with your recruiter can simplify the ins and outs of travel.
  • Communication – Assess the responsiveness and clarity of communication from agency representatives.
  • Contract terms – Carefully review contract details, including length of assignments, cancellation policies, and overtime pay. Assignment flexibility is key in the fast-paced world of travel healthcare. 
  • Career advancement support – Consider whether the agency offers opportunities for skill development, certifications, or continuing education.

 

 

How Do Job Placement Opportunities Vary Between Agencies?

Each travel nursing agency operates with different networks and specialties to offer travel nurses diverse assignment options across locations and settings. That said, available travel nurse jobs can vary from one agency to the next. Several factors can affect agency opportunities such as:

  • Network of facilities – Some agencies have established relationships with a wide range of hospitals and healthcare facilities, providing access to more assignments across various locations and specialties.
  • Specialization – Certain agencies may focus on specific nursing specialties, affecting the availability of jobs for nurses in other fields.
  • Geographic reach – Agencies with a national presence might offer more diverse opportunities than regionally focused ones. 
  • Assignment duration – Some agencies may offer shorter contracts, while others provide long-term placements, which can impact job availability.
  • Flexibility in position types – Travel agencies can provide a mix of travel assignments, local contracts, and per diem work, allowing for a broader range of job opportunities.

Flexibility in Assignments: Which Agency Offers the Best Options?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of travel healthcare, flexibility in job assignments is essential to meet the diverse needs of travel nurses. This adaptability not only enhances the agency’s ability to fill critical gaps quickly, but can also cater to travel nurses who value the ability to choose assignments that fit their personal and professional goals. 

So, how to choose a travel nurse agency? To start, consider how each agency navigates flexibility in job assignments and the types of positions they offer. Let’s break down how leading travel nurse agencies compare. 

AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare is a leader in the travel nursing industry, with almost thirty years of experience in providing staffing solutions and talent management for hospitals and clinics across the country. For travel nurses, they offer permanent, travel, or short-term careers in facilities across the country, and cater to top specialties like Med-surg, telemetry, OR, and ER.

Aya Healthcare

Aya Healthcare is one of the largest staffing agencies in the United States, with a focus on building bridges between clinical talent and healthcare employers with AI software. With expansive search technology, Aya Healthcare allows travel nurses to filter jobs based on specialty and location.

Host Healthcare

Host Healthcare puts nurses first. With a focus on personalized service and long-term partnerships, Host Healthcare prioritizes matching nurses with their perfect position (and destination) in top facilities across all 50 states. 

With partner facilities across the US, new and experienced travelers can expect access to thousands of nursing positions in fully vetted, top healthcare environments that align with their specialties and career growth goals.

Understanding Pay Packages: Transparency and Fair Compensation

In the competitive field of travel healthcare, understanding pay packages is vital for travel nurses seeking fair compensation and transparency. As you navigate various agencies and assignments, you might encounter a range of pay structures. 

Ultimately, when it comes to how to pick a travel nurse agency, clear communication regarding pay packages is paramount. Here are a few factors to consider:

  • Base salary and benefits – Compare the hourly or weekly wage offered by different agencies and clarify the rates for overtime work (and how it’s calculated). Additionally, look for benefits like health insurance options,  student loan reimbursement, and paid time off.
  • Travel reimbursement and housing allowance – Check if the agency covers travel costs to and from assignments. From there, assess whether a housing stipend is offered or if housing is provided. Don’t forget to check how close your housing accommodations are to your job assignment, too.
  • Tax status – Clarify how the pay package is structured, whether it includes taxable income or tax-free stipends for housing and meals.
  • Job security and assignment duration – Evaluate the stability of assignments and the potential for extensions. Are there guaranteed hours? Or a guaranteed stipend pay if the facility calls you off? 

 

Onboarding and Licensing Support: A Smoother Process with the Right Agency

Partnering with the right staffing agency can transform the onboarding process into a seamless experience and offer clarity on how to find the right travel nurse agency. A dedicated agency not only streamlines the logistics of securing assignments but also provides essential support with:

  • Licensing requirements
  • Lengthy paperwork 
  • Credential verification 
  • Pre-employment checklists and resource provision 

By leveraging the expertise and resources of a trusted travel agency, nurses can focus more on delivering quality patient care rather than getting bogged down by administrative hurdles. Let’s break down how three top industries offer onboarding support. 

AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare pairs travel nurses with a recruiter who can advise them on applications and onboarding, including reviewing and signing travel contracts, licensing insights based on location and requirements, and general support and guidance along the way. 

Aya Healthcare

With Aya Healthcare, a travel experience specialist will reach out to travel nurses as soon as they land their first assignment. Travel nurses can expect onboarding help, an explanation of pay, facility-specific details, and everything in between. 

Host Healthcare

Host Healthcare’s licensing team offers comprehensive support for new and experienced travel nurses. Dedicated staff assist travelers every step of the way with curated application packets and around-the-clock support to answer questions, address concerns, and break down barriers during the application process.

Housing and Travel Support: What to Expect from Each Agency

Finding suitable housing and travel support is crucial for travel nurses as they embark on new assignments across the country. When you alleviate the challenges of relocating, you can focus on delivering exceptional patient care.

AMN Healthcare

At AMN Healthcare, travel nurses can expect one-on-one support from their recruiter to find the best housing options for them. Additionally, free and fully furnished standard housing accommodations are provided by the agency. If nurses elect to choose their accommodations, AMN Healthcare offers a housing stipend, although co-pays and extra costs do apply. 

Aya Healthcare

Aya Healthcare provides housing support through agency housing and stipend options so travel nurses are free to decide which works best for them. Agency housing depends on availability, and if housing is not ready for move-in, a hotel stay will be provided. 

Host Healthcare

Through a team of experienced housing specialists, Host Healthcare helps travel nurses find the best housing options that meet their preferences. Nurses can choose corporate housing or housing help to find ideal accommodations closest to their travel job location. 

Comparing Benefits and Perks Across Leading Agencies (Infographic)

Each agency has its unique offerings, and choosing the right agency becomes crucial for travel nurses seeking both professional growth and personal fulfillment. From competitive pay and housing assistance to health benefits and flexible scheduling, the differences can be striking. Reference the chart below to find what is the best travel agency for nurses like you:

 

Agency Competitive Pay Housing Stipend Travel Reimbursement Health Insurance 401(k) & Retirement Plans Flexible Scheduling Bonuses Professional Support
AMN Healthcare ✓ For clinicians who arrange their own housing ✓ Medical and dental Day 1 for US-based employees For per diem nursing ✓ Staffing focused
Aya Healthcare ✓ For some travel and allied health nurses For some of its allied healthcare professionals Medical, dental, & vision After four consecutive months of employment ✓ ✓ Nurse and employer focused
Host Healthcare ✓ ✓ ✓ Medical, dental, & vision Day 1 ✓ ✓ Nurse-first focus

 

Making the Final Choice: What to Prioritize When Choosing Your Travel Nursing Agency

Making the final choice of a travel nursing agency is a crucial step in shaping your life and career as a travel nurse. With a multitude of options available, prioritize factors that align with your professional goals and personal preferences.

As you explore which agency is right for you, Host Healthcare has your back. Our dedicated recruiters, housing specialists, and licensing team are available to answer all of your questions and address your concerns. Learn more today. 

 

Sources: 

Faubion, Darby. “20 Tips For Choosing The Right Travel Nursing Agency.” NursingProcess.Org, 2024, https://www.nursingprocess.org/choosing-the-right-travel-nursing-agency.html#. Accessed October 23, 2024. 

Hay, Ashley. “The Best Traveling Nurse Services to Work for in 2024.” Verywell Health, July 01, 2024, https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-travel-nursing-agencies. Accessed October 23, 2024. 

Zhong, Elizabeth H, PhD. “Healthcare on the Go: A Comparative Analysis Profiling the Travel Nurse Workforce in the United States.” Journal of Nursing Regulation, April, 2024, https://www.journalofnursingregulation.com/article/S2155-8256(24)00032-2/. Accessed October 23, 2024.

Gustafson, Crystal. “Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown | Expenses & Tax 2022.” TravelNursing.Org, January 26, 2022, https://www.travelnursing.org/understanding-your-travel-nurse-pay-package/. Accessed October 23, 2024.