The Advantages of Working with a Healthcare Staffing Agency

There has been a lot of bad rap about healthcare staffing agencies in the past. This is mainly due to some agencies’ inability to get their applicants a job or the unpleasant work environment in facilities where they are placed. Not to mention that some of these agencies overwork their clinicians and underpay them. Although some of these stories are true, healthcare staffing firms that are legitimate, professional and dedicated have a lot to offer a healthcare professional who is looking for a job. Below are a few reasons why you should consider going through an agency to get a job in a healthcare facility. IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES: In an effort to reduce costs and minimize the management attention necessary in dealing with complex hiring processes, a lot of facilities including some of the best and largest, outsource recruitment and other human resource management tasks to healthcare staffing agencies. When facilities start dealing with agencies, the agencies are the first to know of any vacancies coming from the facilities. Not only do these agencies get the latest information on the facilities’ needs, but they also get job postings that may not be immediately available to the public. INDUSTRY EXPERTISE/CAREER COUNSELING: For established agencies, their years of experience in the industry have made them experts in dealing with human resource concerns. As recruiters that have dealt with numerous situations with applicants, they can suggest how you could maximize your potential from the variety of options they give. Your recruiter will have more time with you, while a few of them even provide character assessments and personality tests; this means they’ll have an in-depth look at your skills, qualifications and traits and will therefore be able to intelligently advise you. Remember that these agencies want you to be in an environment where you could excel as they are compensated by the quality of people they send to the facility -- quality which is determined by your work performance. QUALITY SUPPORT SYSTEM: Although facilities’ human resource departments vary from one another, the assistance it can provide its healthcare workers is usually no match to the support services that a healthcare staffing agency can give its applicants. Facilities are focused on patient care and in working with you to deliver the best care possible, while healthcare staffing agencies make it a point to highly focus on you -- the provider of care. Agencies are specialized and dedicated in guiding you in your career. They want to ensure that you are comfortable and well-adjusted to your new job. Staffing companies will try to send you to a place where you will feel most secure, and the will provide housing and relocation assistance, if necessary. They will even provide follow-up calls to check if you’re adjusting well to the job and your new environment. With their years of experience in assisting healthcare workers in the field, they know and can provide you with what you need to excel in your career. IMMIGRATION SUPPORT: It is true that the nursing shortage has provided special pathways for nurses trained abroad to become US immigrants. But many facilities do not have the time, knowledge or people that can assist you in processing your immigration papers to be able to legally stay and work in the US. Healthcare staffing firms have dedicated departments whose main focus is to recruit applicants from other countries. This in-house department has experienced staff who are knowledgeable of the necessary immigration requirements. They will also guide you on the process of completing your licensure requirements, and their assistance can extend to helping you find housing in your assigned location. Although the benefits and services that agencies offer differ, what they can provide you will be extremely helpful in getting you the best job that will fit your skills, personality and preferences. By going to the right healthcare staffing firm to find employment, you get special access to some of the best healthcare opportunities out there, as well as quality support that’s guaranteed to put you on track to career excellence. CHARMAINE TEODORO is the Senior Vice President of JUNO Healthcare Staffing, a group of companies that recruit RNs, LPNs, CNAs and allied healthcare professionals and deploys them to healthcare facilities on a full-time, part-time, per diem or travel assignment. It also sponsors foreign-trained RNs for immigration to the US. JUNO has offices in New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Diego and Arizona. Visit their website at http://www.junohealthcare.com