How Does Your Agency’s Relationship to a Hospital Affect You?
Let’s take a look behind the scenes to explore some of the processes that affect you as a travel nurse. First of all, to review the series and understand VMSs, MSPs, and GPOs, follow this link. In this article, we move into direct relationships between agencies and hospitals. This makes a difference in the career of every travel nurse. What makes the best travel nurse agency relationship?
What is a direct relationship?
A direct relationship between an agency and a hospital means staffing contracts are negotiated directly, without an intermediary, like an MSP or GPO.
This often occurs when hospitals have internal staff to dedicate to managing vendors or contingent workers.
A hospital may have direct relationships with multiple staffing firms, especially to cover a large need.
In a direct relationship, the internal department in the hospital that handles contingent workers likely receives staffing requests from CNOs or other nursing leaders. The hospital then announces the job openings. The job openings go to agency partners first.
“Vendor-neutral” describes a direct relationship. Vendor-neutral implies that every staffing agency is on a level playing field. Hospitals will also put in place vendor neutrality policies that prevent hospital staff from prioritizing or favoring any one staffing agency over another.
How do direct relationships compare to VMSs?
As a result, a direct relationship between an agency and a hospital is best for you. These two organizations directly impact your career. As a result, when they communicate without a third-party intermediary, there is little lost in translation. It is usually better for the travel nurse to avoid involvement with an MSP or GPO.
However, if you are interested in working for a particular hospital, and that hospital uses an MSP, the MSP nurses will likely have preference over other nurses. If your focus is a single hospital, exploring which agencies or MSP they work with will help you understand how to get your foot in the door.
How do direct relationships impact you?
Ideally, vendor-neutral policies mean that you can count on equal access to the same positions, pay rates, and schedules at a particular hospital.
Contract differences in this situation root themselves in what each agency provides. Though the base rate will be the same across the board, you can pick the agency that offers you the best benefits, bonuses, and support.
Jobs at direct-relationship hospitals can also be particularly competitive. Every staffing agency the hospital works with is looking to fill the same positions. The competition is fierce to provide the best candidates quickly. Consequently, when a lot of agencies compete for the opportunity, the hospital may be flooded with applicants.
Due to this structure, every travel nurse needs a fierce recruiter on their side. This makes the difference between landing a dream gig and being left out in the cold.
Best Travel Nurse Agency Relationship
Be sure to align your career as a travel nurse with the best agency that maintains the best relationships across the country. Looking for more info to make the most of your contracts? Check out this article on how to negotiate your travel nursing salary. Make sure you work with the best travel nurse agency relationship in mind.
About LiquidAgents Healthcare
LiquidAgents Healthcare works tirelessly to place healthcare professionals into the best jobs available. We believe in transparency. You’ll never have to guess what we’re doing or how we’re doing it. Because, at the end of the day, your satisfaction is our top priority.
We see beyond your scrubs and stethoscopes. We see the gardener, the world traveler, the grandparent, the mother, the daughter. As a result, when you work with LiquidAgents Healthcare, you are more than just a number. You are a real person, a part of our family.