Travel Nurse Agency Comparison

Consider multiple factors: pay transparency (do they show bill rates?), benefits (health insurance, 401k, housing support), recruiter responsiveness, job inventory in your specialty, and reviews from other nurses. Many experienced travelers work with 2-3 agencies to access more opportunities.

Yes, most experienced travel nurses work with 2-4 agencies. This gives you access to more job opportunities, lets you compare pay packages, and provides backup options if one agency's jobs don't work out. Just be upfront with your recruiters about working with others.

Bill rate transparency means the agency tells you how much the hospital pays them (the bill rate) for your assignment. This helps you understand if you're getting a fair deal. Agencies with 'Excellent' transparency show their exact margin; 'Good' means they'll share if asked.

Key benefits to consider: health insurance (Day 1 vs. after 30 days), 401(k) match percentage, license reimbursement, housing support options, travel reimbursement, referral bonuses, and CEU reimbursement. Also consider non-monetary benefits like 24/7 support and mobile app quality.

Pay rates vary significantly by agency, location, and facility. The same job might have different pay packages from different agencies because of varying margins. Always compare the total package (hourly + stipends) and ask about the bill rate to understand if you're getting fair compensation.

Large agencies (Aya, Medical Solutions) typically offer more job options, better benefits, and established systems, but may feel impersonal. Smaller agencies often provide more personalized service and may negotiate harder on your behalf, but have fewer job options. Many nurses use both.