The great need for skilled, well-staffed, and resilient healthcare teams has always been indisputable, but its significance was further highlighted when the Covid-19 pandemic happened across the world. Healthcare organizations and hospitals had to bolster their workforce to support the great demand for healthcare assistance and to maintain continuity of care for all patients.
Before, during, and after the pandemic, healthcare organizations sought support from healthcare staffing agencies to ensure that they could scale their capacities and extend help to as many people as possible. And despite being an integral part of the industry for decades now, there are still some misconceptions about medical staffing agencies, especially among healthcare professionals.
This article discusses the truths behind some myths and misconceptions about working with healthcare staffing agencies.
Misconception no. 1: Healthcare staffing agencies don’t pay well and don’t offer great benefits
Healthcare staffing agencies with experienced healthcare recruiters at the helm understand that hospitals require the services of skilled workers with different specializations and professional experiences — and they understand that attracting and keeping top healthcare talent requires competitive wages. On top of a great pay structure, top-tier healthcare agencies also offer several benefits. Oculus Health, for example, offers its employees a cash bonus after a number of hours of work, referral bonuses, and travel benefits.
Misconception no. 2: Healthcare staffing agencies only provide temporary work and offer no stability
At times, people can confuse healthcare staffing agencies with temp staffing agencies, which typically provide short-term employment. And though healthcare agencies offer short-term staffing posts, they also offer permanent placements and travel positions.
Healthcare staffing employees also enjoy their company’s strong partnerships with hospitals, organizations, and healthcare facilities. And with recent news of hospitals laying off hundreds of employees, being a part of a healthcare agency that has strong ties with different facilities provides a certain level of stability to healthcare workers. For instance, Oculus Health employees can choose to work in or beyond the state where they reside, expanding their employment opportunities.
Misconception no. 3: Healthcare staffing agencies don’t offer flexibility
Healthcare professionals working with agencies have the benefit of choosing the employment type that suits them and their situations best: they can choose to be full-time, part-time, or per-diem workers. This level of flexibility can allow them to go after their personal and professional goals, balance their schedules, and work on their priorities and passion projects.
Misconception no. 4: Healthcare staffing agencies only have jobs for nurses
Although admittedly, there is a great demand for nurses in different parts of the country, many healthcare agencies also offer other positions, including allied health job opportunities, which include occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). On top of these, some healthcare agencies also offer non-clinical job opportunities such as dietary and recreational aides, security and housekeeping personnel, and lobby attendants.
Misconception no. 5: Healthcare staffing agencies don’t provide comprehensive support to employees
Good healthcare agencies know how important it is to foster a great relationship with their employees and clients. Some agencies go beyond just providing a smooth hiring process to their applicants — they also have dedicated operations managers who provide personalized assistance to their employees, helping employees stay on top of their professional and personal goals.
Top-notch healthcare agencies also offer round-the-clock scheduling support to employees, ensuring that all workers, regardless of their work shift and time zone, get timely assistance. Not only that, these agencies also offer and cover paid training opportunities to their employees, which can help healthcare professionals provide the best quality of care possible to their patients. Oculus Health even helps their nurses get compact or multistate licenses to work in various states, especially if they want to try their hand at travel nursing. In search of a healthcare firm that offers a promising future in your career? Explore Oculus Health’s flexible work opportunities and start a fulfilling journey with us.
