Why Staying Loyal to One Travel Nurse Agency Can Pay Off

Ever wonder if working with multiple travel nurse agencies might actually be holding you back? As a travel nurse recruiter for over 17 years in the industry, I’ve worked with travel nurses who (gratefully) chose to work with me for all of their assignments, and travelers who worked with several recruiters, and I was one of them.

I don’t discourage travelers from working with more than one recruiter. There can absolutely be value in that. However, I’ve also seen the darker sides and trade-offs of having multiple recruiters. Here are some reasons why sticking with one agency could be the better option, and why loyalty could mean better contracts, less stress, and a recruiter who actually knows you.

The Real Cost of Working with Multiple Travel Nursing Agencies

“I told the recruiter exactly what I was looking for. I wanted something that was within a few hours of home, and I only work day shifts. Less than two days later, he’s sending me jobs that were night shift and completely across the country!”

“She’s called me a few times, but when I called her and told her my name, she couldn’t remember who I was.”

These are real examples from travelers I’ve worked with in recent months. The reality is, recruiters are often expected to work with (literally) hundreds of nurses to meet quotas, particularly at larger agencies. Understandably, it’s going to be difficult to keep track of details with that many travelers, but it’s also not terribly fair to the travelers who get lost in the shuffle.

Another hidden risk of working with multiple recruiters? Getting submitted to the same job by different agencies without even realizing it. If two (or more) agencies send your profile to the same hospital, the facility may reject you outright – not because you’re unqualified, but because they don’t want to deal with the agency conflict. Not every hospital handles it this way, but it happens more often than most travelers think. And the worst part? You might never know it happened until the offer’s already off the table.

Now that we’ve looked at where things can go sideways, here’s how staying loyal to one agency can actually work in your favor.

Loyalty = Personalized Support from a Recruiter Who Knows You

When I work with a travel nurse for an extended period of time, I develop a clear understanding of what’s important to them. For example, I know that my nurse Sarah needs to stay in Montana near her family and prioritizes a blocked schedule so she can be home on her days off to be involved in her kids’ school and athletic activities. As soon as I see a position in Montana that is flexible with scheduling, she’s the first person I call.

Stronger Advocacy When Things Get Tough

While bigger issues like assignment cancellations are rare, things can sometimes happen. Having a loyal relationship means that your recruiter is more likely to go to bat for you during the sticky situations like cancellations, negotiating pay, etc.

First Dibs on the Best Assignments

As a recruiter, if I get an exclusive need at one of my direct clients, I’m more likely to send it to my most loyal travelers. This is one of many ways I can show my appreciation for their efforts, and I’ve been able to get some of my best travelers first crack at some of our best contracts by giving them “first dibs” on the more highly desirable assignments.

Less Paperwork, Less Repeating, Faster Placements

Having multiple recruiters often means repeating yourself multiple times – re-sharing your job preferences, sending another resume, doing yet another TB Test – you get the idea. Having one go-to agency means having all your information readily available and easy to access for every assignment.

When It Does Make Sense to Work with More Than One Agency

Loyalty can be great, but that shouldn’t mean being blindly committed, either. If your recruiter or the agency isn’t delivering, it’s totally understandable to explore other options that are better suited to your needs.

I recommend asking the right questions early in the process to find the best recruiter for you. Go deeper than the “typical” questions around locations, pay, and benefits. Look for red flags like being pushy, not being transparent with job or pay information, etc.

Closing Thoughts

I’ve learned after 17 years that having the right relationship can make travel nursing so much less difficult and much more rewarding for both travel nurses and recruiters.

When you find a recruiter who fights for you, then loyalty becomes your superpower. If you’re curious about what that kind of recruiter relationship could look like, I’d be happy to connect for a no-pressure conversation. Whether you’re new to traveling or just reassessing who’s in your corner, I’m here to help.

Mini-Checklist: 3 Signs Your Recruiter Values You

1. Follows up proactively and responds quickly when you reach out
2. Remembers your personal preferences – shifts, locations, goals, etc.
3. Takes the time to know the full picture – family, pets, lifestyle, hobbies

Remember to post your pics on social media and tag us so we can see your adventures!