If you are looking for a career in the medical field, congratulations! Building a medical career takes a lot of time, dedication, commitment, and drive. Finally – all that schooling, training, certifications, and continued education are paying off. Choosing your next professional step is important. You want to ensure you are making the right choices.

Healthcare staffing agencies can help you find the right path. There are many staffing agencies out there, but you want to make sure you choose the perfect agency for you and your needs. Before you commit to one agency, look around and learn about the various agencies that are out there. You don’t have to commit to just one. These agencies are meant to help you find your place in the workforce.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you choose the right healthcare staffing agency:

What is their reputation?

Reputation for a staffing agency is essential. These agencies are meant to find you the right place. If they have horrible communication or don’t follow up on their promises, it is probably not going to be a good fit. Look around online to hear what others have to say. Check out their website, and see if they have any featured testimonials. If you can’t find anything on their website, look on Yelp, Facebook, or Google to read reviews about others’ experiences with the agency. This is an even better choice of action because most businesses will only share the good reviews about them.

What are the benefits?

If you go through a staffing agency, you will be working for the staffing agency – not the hospital, practice, or clinic you might be placed at. It is the staffing agency who will be determining your wages and benefits. Make sure they offer fair compensation and benefits. If they have strict requirements for their employees, they are more likely to provide higher compensation.

At Ascend National, we offer two different health benefits for our employees to choose from. Full-time employees (work at least 30 hours a week) are eligible for these health benefits. We also provide housing, bonuses, and mileage reimbursements.

What is the recruitment process like?

Most staffing agencies will have an extensive screening process. They want to find the right fit for you and their healthcare businesses or organizations. Many times, the process will include drug tests, background checks, eligibility to work, and skills tests. You will usually need an 80% passing rate on all tests to be considered for employment.

First, you will need to fill out an application. Then, the next steps will be different for each agency. Just as it is with any job, the agency will need to perform a criminal background check, drug screen, and professional reference check. There is also an interview process. At Ascend National, you are required to provide proof of driver’s license, social security card or immigration work permit, BCLS, ACLS, PALC, TNCC, etc., current TB skin test or chest x-ray report within the last 5 years, immunization records, hepatitis vaccination record, and current professional license (if applicable).

Some staffing agencies might have a vigorous screening process and require so many years of experience. Other agencies may not have strict requirements. It is important to do your research before applying because you might not meet all the requirements.

What are their employees like?

Any company is as good as its employees. Employees are the living core values of every business. Call their customer service line to speak to a representative or send an email to them for a little more information about the process. If they are friendly and answer your questions in a timely manner, it shows they are organized and pleasant to work with. If you don’t receive a response quickly or the customer service representative isn’t familiar with their services, it may not be a good choice.

Do they have enough resources and opportunities?

Look at the staffing agency’s website to get a feel for their identity. Their website is the face of their brand. Look for details on the types of jobs are hiring for, the hiring process, and their longevity in the disciplines you are interested in. If they only offer a few medical openings each year, they won’t have as many opportunities available to you.

Ascend National Healthcare Staffing

If you are looking for a healthcare staffing agency, look no further! Ascend National is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, but provides staffing services nationwide. We help staff any and every medical staffing requirement, from nurses to accountants. Our team is dedicated to providing world class customer service, and we also provide a number of awesome benefits. To learn more or to get started on your journey, call Ascend National at 210-714-3089.