Tag: #travelnursing

Things to Look for When You Are Screening for a Recruiter

Technology is always changing, making it easier to be connected today more than ever before. But is your recruiter available to you? In this video, Kellie Short, General Sales Manager and Sr. Recruitment Specialist, shares what to look at when reviewing a recruiter.

At Fidelity On Call, we believe your recruiter should be accessible, have your back, be your biggest cheerleader, and give you the foundation to be the best version of you. Watch to learn more.

If you’d like to reach out to one of our recruiters, please feel free to send us a message. We’re here to help you get started!

Important Factors in Choosing a Travel Healthcare Agency

Whether you want to look at being a travel nurse or travel allied health professional, or if you’re a facility looking to find a supplemental health care agency in the state of Illinois, there are important things to consider when reviewing, including: The stability of the company, the financial stability of the company, its reputation in the industry, and contract policy. In this video, Kellie Short, General Sales Manager shares how Fidelity On Call meets those criteria.

The Benefits of Working as a Travel Healthcare Provider

Money makes the world go around. No doubt. Those incredible crisis pay packages were something we never imagined would happen. But one thing about travel healthcare is to always expect the unexpected. That is another reason so many high-quality professionals seek travel assignments to avoid the same routine day in and day out. Same people, same providers, same environment. Why not change your scenery every 8-12 weeks?

While those historic pay packages are probably gone, the compensation for a travel healthcare provider usually far outweighs the pay for a staff healthcare person. Along with that pay are the perks that come in so much higher on the list of top qualities veteran healthcare travelers look for in a company.

To be a successful healthcare traveler, you must ensure you work for a financially healthy travel agency. A company that has longevity in the industry and a successful track record of paying their employees. Additionally, what do the agencies’ clients say about them?

    • Is direct deposit available?
    • How simple is the payroll system? Is there a consistent pay schedule?
    • Are compensation packages outlined in a contract?
    • Does the agency have long-term established relationships with hospitals in the State you wish to work in?

Once you have ensured the travel agency is a quality reputable business, what about other perks the company offers?

      • What type of health insurance plan do they offer?
      • Is there dental insurance?
      • Vision options, short term disability, Life Insurance?
      • Is there a retirement savings plan?
      • Is there a continual education reimbursement?
      • Is there a new employee orientation process that outlines the company’s expectations, policies, and procedures?

Finally, how streamlined is the process from application to employment offer? Having a successful personal recruiter can make or break your experience and longevity in this industry that has been around over forty years.

      • Is your recruiter available and transparent?
      • Is the Agency available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is there an on-call team available?
      • Are you able to express your goals and feel heard about those expectations?
      • How streamlined is the hiring process and onboarding process?
      • Most importantly, are you able to switch recruiters and remain in the same organization if there is not a connection between the two of you?

Travel Healthcare has been around for decades and is clearly here to stay for the foreseeable future. One year minimum of experience can potentially get you started on a twenty-plus-year career. You can stay close to home or travel as far as the roads or airlines can take you.

The personal and professional growth you can experience and gain from this industry is a rare opportunity, as not too many careers have such experiences to offer. Whether you travel for one or two contracts a year or year after year, the flexibility the industry has to offer is hands down second to none.

Back to Basics for Travelers

With Fidelity On Call, all of our travel nurses receive a contract that spells out everything that will happen during their assignment – rate of pay, days off, facility assignment, floor assignment and so much more.

Here are some of the basics you agree to:

1) Attendance

Travel nurses are the back up team. Facilities are already short staffed and when travelers are utilized, our attendance is paramount to the success of patient care at that facility.

-If you accept a travel contract, you are held accountable for the verbal and written agreement of working the shift and hours agreed to. Any personal time off must have been preapproved and in writing in the contract. Should something arise during the course of the contract, traveler should be communicating with their recruiter on the best course of action to take.

-If you have an emergency or illness that prohibits you from being able to work a scheduled shift, you would contact your recruiter. You would also alert the hospital that you are unable to make it.

-Any shifts you call off for must be made up as quickly as possible. That make up shift will not be paid as overtime. Make up shifts are paid at the contracted rate as regular hours.

2) Schedules

As a travel nurse, we ask you to send in your schedule to your recruiter once you receive it from the facility. Any changes that happen throughout the schedule provided us also need to be reported. This tracking is to help check and balance payroll and to help ensure we do not make errors on your payroll. Having your schedule also helps us figure out when to contact you if we need to reach you – helps to NOT Wake you up if you are a night shift worker.

3) Communication

They say communication is half the battle. Never truer words spoken. Communication in travel healthcare is paramount to ensure success for you as a traveler and also our success with you. If someone from the office team reaches out to you, please ensure you communicate back with that person as quickly as you are able to do so. Perhaps the calls are inquiries regarding payroll, schedule, compliance etc. All communication is important. Not responding leads to more work on both of our parts.

We appreciate our nurses who are dedicated to fulfilling every commitment of their contract. If you have questions on anything stated above, please contact your recruiter.

I Love Nursing

For Valentine’s Day, we asked some of our elite team members what they love about being a travel nurse. Here are their responses…

What I love is my career affords me to do what I love and love what I do. Healthcare is complicated and complex. Travel healthcare gives me flexibility to change up the location, the type of units I work which, in turn, allows me to be a happier version of me and my family reaps in that happiness. – Jessica B

Travel nursing has improved my work/life balance by allowing me to have input on my schedule and when I need time off. I was able to take 8 weeks off over the summer to spend time with baby girl and I wouldn’t have had that chance if it wasn’t for Fidelity On Call. – Emma S

What I love most about my job is being able to provide excellent patient care during a patient’s most vulnerable moments! – Nichole C

Before I was a nurse I was employed in the travel industry for almost 20 years. I worked for a hotel chain, an airline and finally as a travel agent. Fast forward to now and I get to do the 2 things I love the most in the world (besides my son) – travel and nursing. I’m hoping to venture out of Central Illinois in a few years and travel to fun places where I can work and adventure. And because of Fidelity On Call, I can do this!!! – Angela H

I love being a nurse because I get to work with a great team who are as passionate and caring about their patients as I am. I get to meet people from diverse backgrounds, and I am always learning something new. I love that I get to be a part of my patients’ journey to recovery and that I can have a positive impact on their lives. – Kevin T

Simply put: I love being a nurse. I love helping patients during their time of need. I love educating families about the healing process. I love forming life-long bonds with my co-workers . . . even if I only work with them for 13 weeks. I love advocating for patient safety. I love teaching the next generation of nurses. P.S. I also love being paid what I’m worth, which seems to be only obtained through travel nursing. – Heather W

My number one goal is to provide outstanding care and to build trust from my patients and their loved ones. I truly appreciate that Carla is always there for me anytime I call. – Kennetria H

I love LOVE! I love my family and friends and LOVE taking care of people. I love my recruiters. I love my employer Fidelity On Call, I just love LOVE TO LOVE! – Mary L