Are you on the hunt for a new travel nursing agency?

Before deciding which agency to work with, there are some important questions to ask your recruiter before signing on with them.

These questions aren’t what to ask before signing a new contract.

These are the questions to ask before discussing the contract to make sure the agency doesn’t have any shady policies in place.

I have found some great contracts when searching for new travel nursing jobs, but only to find out their agency has some policies that are deal breakers for me. 

Here are the 10 key questions to ask a travel nurse recruiter before deciding to give them your business.

The Most Important Questions To Ask A Travel Nurse Recruiter Before Deciding To Work With Their Agency

1. What Benefits Package Does Your Agency Offer?

You will want to make sure the agency provides health insurance, including dental and vision before signing on with them.

Obtaining health insurance otherwise can be super expensive. 

Also, make sure to ask when the coverage starts (usually it is the first day of the contract start) when it ends (is it on the last day of the contract or do they cover you in between contracts?), and if they also provide coverage for your family (spouse and kids) if needed.

Also, ask if you can see a brochure about their insurance plans to see how much the deductible is and if it is actually decent coverage or not.

2. What Kinds Of Reimbursements Do You Offer?

This part varies from agency to agency. 

Here is what to ask about in terms of reimbursements:

• Certifications (ACLS, BLS, PALS, etc.)
• State license renewals (or new if traveling to a new state)
• Scrubs (in case the facility requires a certain scrub color)
• Travel expenses (for gas if driving or the flight cost if flying to your new assignment location)
• Hotels (either when traveling to your new location or before you move in to your new short-term housing)

Travel nurse housing costs will be covered by your weekly, tax-free stipend.

Seriously ask about every job-related expense that comes up. You might be surprised at what they’ll reimburse you for!

3. Do You Offer Sick Pay?

This one might vary also as some states are required to provide sick pay.

But if your state doesn’t require it, definitely ask if the agency provides you pay for your missed shift.

4. Is There A Penalty For Calling Out Sick?

This is an especially important question to ask a travel nurse recruiter. 

There are some agencies out there that require you to actually pay them back for every missed shift.

Even if you are legit sick, you are required to pay them back for the missed hours.

For the agencies that have his policy, their response will be, “I don’t know of an agency that doesn’t do this”.

For the agencies that don’t, they’ll say, “No. That is crazy. Does that really exist?”.

Go with the agency that does not have this insane policy.

In no other industry are you required to pay your employer because you are at home sick. Why should travel nurses have to?

5. Is There A Completion Bonus?

Some agencies will give you a monetary bonus for completing an entire contract with them.

And some even give you a bonus for every few hundred hours you work while with their agency. (Medical Solutions gives their travelers $600 for every 600 hours worked with them.)

6. Is There A Referral Bonus Available?

Most agencies have a $500 bonus for every friend you send their way that ends up signing with them. 

Some even offer up to $1000.

It is definitely something to ask about and keep in your back pocket when a friend asks you if you like the agency you’re with. 

7. Do You Offer Retirement Investing?

Not all agencies offer this, but some provide 401K investing with matching. 

If your agency provides this benefit, definitely take advantage — no matter how old you are. 

It’s free money!

Medical Solutions matched up to 4% invested and believe me when I tell you that it adds up quick.

8. Do You Include Stipend Pay For All 7 Days Of The Week?

Travel nurses get the benefit of receiving a tax-free stipend for meals and housing during their travel assignments. 

This stipend is broken down into a daily amount.

If you are on assignment and you are living in your new town full-time, you should be paid your stipend for 7 out of 7 days a week.

Some nurses drive home on their off days if they live close enough, so they only receive the stipend for the days they work.

If you live in your assignment town full-time, then you should receive a stipend for 7 out of 7 days — not only for the days you work.

If your agency only pays the stipend on the work days despite living there full-time, then you are being robbed and they are pocketing that extra cash. 

If this is the case, thank the recruiter for their time and end the phone call.

A lot of a travel nurse’s paycheck is that tax-free stipend, and without it, the job isn’t worth it.

9. How Often Would I Get Paid?

The standard for getting paid is weekly for travel nurses.

If they say they pay bi-weekly, or, every two weeks, that could be a red flag. 

Usually, they are doing this because it benefits the agency financially somehow — and doesn’t benefit you. 

If this is the only red flag there is, that’s ok. But if there are other things that are not industry standard, I advise against signing with them.

10. What Happens If For Some Reason I Am Unable To Finish The Contract? Would There Be A Penalty?

Life happens.

Emergencies happen.

Accidents happen. 

There should not be any penalty if you need or want to end the contract early.

The benefit of being a contract worker means that you are an at-will employee.

Both you and the facility have the right to cancel the contract at any time and without penalty.

If the recruiter says you would be financially responsible for the remainder of the unworked contact, RUN.

What if you break your leg? Or get into a horrific accident? You are then responsible for paying the lost wages back to the agency? 

Hell to the no.

Hang up the phone and block their number if this is the case. I don’t care how good the money is. It’s not worth it.

Wrapping Up

I hope this helps you in terms of questions to ask a travel nurse recruiter before signing on with a new agency.

The awesome thing about being a travel nurse is that you are in control of who you work with. 

When it comes to choosing an agency, and before accepting a travel contract, every travel nurse should ask these 10 important questions to make sure you have the best experience you possibly can.

Especially if this is your first assignment or you are a new travel nurse, the responses to these questions are your best indicator of whether or not the agency can be trusted.

Your recruiter and the agency should have your back at all times and should always have your best interest in mind. 

The way they make money is through these contracts. You are literally contributing to your recruiter’s paycheck. 

It’s important to keep that in mind.

If you ever have any questions, I would love to help!

Feel free to drop a comment or send me an email and I will get back to you ASAP.

Happy hunting!

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