Healthcare recruiters are often the difference between life-changing adventure and unfulfilled expectations for travel nurses and allied travelers. It's essential for staffing agencies to make sure they're actively keeping talented recruiters working within their departments so as not to leave travel nurses wanting more when choosing an agency for their next assignment.
A skilled recruiter makes all the difference in shaping both nurses’ hopes and travel nursing experiences upfront – which means retaining those recruiters is key if healthcare staffing agencies want to solidify themselves as industry leaders in traveler care.
On one hand, they’re responsible for matching travel nurses with ideal assignments; quality recruiting leads to success stories that retain the best medical travelers. On the other hand, a poor recruiter could inadvertently lead to lackluster experiences or frustrations — leaving travelers feeling disappointed instead of fulfilled.
Recruiters are essential in earning traveler loyalty
Recruiters play a critical role in retaining healthcare travelers. As travelers look for experiences that align with their interests and values, recruiters are the ones who can provide them with personalized support, recommendations, and advocacy. Recruiters with real experience in the healthcare industry can often sympathize on another level entirely.
Travel nurse Des said, “Becca . . . was my amazing recruiter! She’s a former bedside nurse so she knows the profession. Becca was my biggest advocate and was always available no matter the time or day.”
By building a rapport with their travelers, recruiters help them develop strong relationships with their agency and, in turn, keep them coming back for more. Knowing that recruiters can use their expertise to help them navigate any challenges which may arise means that travelers actually have a foundation for trust.
The value of recruiters in the travel healthcare industry cannot be overstated, and their role in fostering lasting connections between allied professionals or nurses and healthcare travel providers is a testament to the power of human connection.
Tips for keeping consistent and quality recruitment practices
From creating a comprehensive job description to conducting thorough interviews and skills assessments, every step should align with your company's overall goals and values. Not only will this attract better candidates, but it will also improve your retention rates down the line. By putting in the time and effort to establish strong recruitment practices, you can help your company thrive and grow.
These beliefs are true not only for the recruiters who form the faces of staffing agencies, but the healthcare travelers they work with. To be a company known all-around for great employees, it’s important to look inward, first.
The power of positive reviews
As a new med traveler, the prospect of navigating unfamiliar terrain can be daunting enough. With so many choices available, it can be challenging to select the agency which aligns best with their values.
This is where brand recognition comes into play.
A brand's reputation translates into trust in the eyes of potential travelers. With trust, comes the power of positive reviews. Positive reviews communicate to potential new travelers that not only has a particular agency or recruiter provided a satisfactory service, but customers have also been delighted by the experience.
Features like Fusion Marketplace’s ratings and reviews show that the agencies with excellent scores really rely on the work of recruiters, especially those who have gone above and beyond.
Brittany, another medical traveler and Fusion Marketplace user, spoke to us about an assignment that didn’t turn out the way she’d hoped, and said her recruiter didn’t try to manipulate or persuade her into doing something she wasn’t comfortable doing, but “instead explained my options and the process involved with each.”
What do travelers want from healthcare recruiters and agencies?
Providing an excellent experience for medical travelers isn’t always easy. But other than avoiding some of the classic red flags for recruiters, travelers are fairly vocal about the things they prioritize in their relationships with their agency counterparts.
Fusion surveyed hundreds of medical travelers and found that 70% of their responses about their experiences at various agencies mentioned their recruiter, often by name. Different travelers focused on different traits they loved, but responsiveness, honesty, advocacy, and a personal relationship came up time and time again.
Carissa, a travel COTA, shared a favorite experience: “My recruiter always checks on me when I’m doing my road-trips to new locations, and we even got to have a girls’ night and get dinner when I was passing through Omaha! She’s great!”
Show your best and brightest recruiters that their work is appreciated, not just by their travelers, but by their company. Don't let the recruiters who are the face of your agency fall victim to burnout in an often difficult industry, but instead take every opportunity to lift them up. This commitment to recognition creates a sense of pride, encouragement, and boosts the likelihood that you can keep the people who are making your agency the best it can be.
Agencies' responsibility to healthcare travelers
Healthcare staffing agencies have the responsibility – as well as the immediate opportunity – to make sure they are providing a quality service that keeps travel nurses and allied professionals coming back. Benefits, compensation, ease of applying, and availability of the best locations for travelers are all factors. The most important part of ensuring traveler loyalty, however, is giving them the opportunity to connect with recruiters who are knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about what they're doing.
Prioritizing the development and celebration of your recruiters strengthens their relationships and helps to keep travelers feeling just as excited for their careers today as they were when they first signed up with a healthcare staffing agency.
Do you already prioritize your healthcare recruiters? Do you embrace traveler-first values and understand that what's best for travelers is best for agencies? We have that in common. Partner with Fusion Marketplace and become part of a community of healthcare industry experts who share your values — and your passion for providing exceptional experiences for medical travelers.
