Job hunting is stressful, especially in the nursing industry. Managing the process on your own means juggling resume preparation, licensure and compliance requirements, applications, and interviews while trying to figure out the best fit.
Also, finding the right position isn’t always straightforward. Many opportunities aren’t posted publicly, and it can be difficult to know where to start. And without the right guidance, the entire process can quickly become overwhelming and time-consuming.
This is where finding a dedicated nurse recruiter comes into play! At Gifted Healthcare, our recruiters take a personalized, nurse-first approach to ensure you feel supported from the very beginning and well beyond accepting your contract. We take the time to understand your career goals and priorities so we can connect you with opportunities that genuinely align with your goals, skills, preferences, and strengths.
5 Essential Qualities to Look for in a Nurse Recruiter
Not all recruiters and agencies are created equal. To help you make an informed decision, we spoke with Lauren Flavin—a recruiter at Gifted Healthcare— about what makes a great nurse recruiter.
From advocating on your behalf to helping you navigate contract details, Lauren shares her insights on the essential qualities that set Gifted recruiters apart.
1. Personalized, Nurse-First Approach
Gifted Healthcare is nurse-founded and nurse-led, which means we understand what nurses need to feel supported and set up for success.
You should be able to lean on your recruiter to do most of the heavy lifting, including navigating facility requirements, explaining pay and benefits, coordinating logistics, and troubleshooting questions or challenges for you. At Gifted, we make this a priority, so you can focus on what matters most—caring for your patients!
2. Strong Listening Skills and Professional Advocacy
Lauren emphasizes that working with a recruiter is about making your experience as smooth and positive as possible.
They should take the time to understand your experience, long-term goals, preferences, and non-negotiables before connecting you with opportunities. And they should use this information to find positions that match what you are actually looking for and qualified for, rather than just filling the next open position.
Your RN recruiter should also actively advocate for you, even when you’re not in the room. Here's what this looks like in action:
- Advocating for fair pay and clear contracts by explaining compensation, benefits, and contract details, and communicating with facilities to ensure offers are competitive and transparent.
- Positioning your experience clearly and accurately. Rather than simply forwarding your resume, a good recruiter helps present your experience in a way that makes sense to facilities. And if there are gaps or transitions in your work history, they should help provide context.
- Supporting you when issues arise by communicating with the facility on your behalf and helping address concerns professionally and appropriately. This allows you to focus on patient care while knowing you have support if something feels off.
- Helping plan your next steps, whether that means extending your current assignment, finding your next role, increasing your pay, or taking some time off between contracts. This support helps reduce stress around job transitions.
Lauren shares that one of the most important things nurses should know about working with a recruiter at Gifted Healthcare is that they will be “advocating for you 24/7 behind the scenes, as needed.”
3. Resume and Interview Guidance That Highlights Your Strengths
An effective RN headhunter (recruiter) understands how to position you in a way that reflects your skill set and strengths. This includes helping you highlight acuity, leadership experience, awards, and other details that show why you’re a strong fit for a specific role.
Acuity can include things like patient ratios, the types of interventions you perform, and the level of monitoring required on your unit. Clearly communicating acuity helps facilities understand the true scope of your experience and helps ensure you’re matched with roles that align with your skill level.
According to Lauren, your resume doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should clearly communicate your experience, skills, and value. A great recruiter helps you do that!
4. A Commitment to Making You Feel Supported and Valued
In addition to helping with logistics and professional challenges, your recruiter should be there for you personally. Lauren shares that Gifted recruiters “have your back” and provide support whenever it’s needed.
For example, for travel nurses, you should be able to lean on your recruiter if housing falls through. They can help you find a temporary accommodation and explore new housing options that meet all your needs.
With Gifted, support also extends to deeper personal and professional guidance. If you need guidance from a mental health professional, career advice, or someone to talk to about challenges on assignment, Gifted’s 24/7 support ensures you can connect with a real person anytime—even on holidays—including access to a counselor or our CNO if needed.
Nursing is a demanding job, and you should never have to navigate challenges alone!
5. A Partner in Your Career Growth
Ultimately, your recruiter should feel like a partner in your career growth and help you plan for the future. Lauren emphasizes, “I think the most important thing nurses should know about working with a Gifted recruiter is that we’re really trying to understand your experience, what you want long-term, and help you make decisions that set you up for success.”
With a Gifted RN recruiter by your side, we're not just helping you find your next nursing job—we’re helping you take the next aligned step in your career!
Questions to Ask a Nurse Recruiter
When you’re searching for a recruiter, it’s important to make sure they’re a good fit for you and your career goals. Here are some key questions to ask:
- How long have you been a travel nurse recruiter? Understanding their experience helps you gauge their knowledge of the industry and how they can support you. At Gifted, many of our recruiters have been in the industry for years, so they know how to set nurses up for success from the start!
- What’s your favorite part about being a nurse recruiter? Asking this question can help you see what motivates them and how they support their nurses.
- What sets your agency or approach apart from others? A good recruiter should be able to clearly explain what sets their approach apart. They should also be caring, attentive, and genuinely invested in what you’re saying.
- How do you help nurses find positions that match their goals and preferences? Look for recruiters who listen carefully and advocate for placements that align with your skills, preferences, and long-term plans. They should never just place you in an assignment for the sake of filling a role.
- What kind of ongoing support do you offer? Knowing how they handle housing, pay questions, and challenges that arise on the job can help you feel more confident about choosing a recruiter! You should be able to rely on your recruiter to handle most of the logistics.
How to Find a Nurse Recruiter: The Gifted Difference
Finding the right RN recruiter can make all the difference in your career. As we’ve mentioned, a great recruiter doesn’t just fill assignments—they should listen to you, advocate for you, and serve as a partner in your professional journey.
At Gifted Healthcare, our nurse-first approach is what sets us apart. Being nurse-founded and nurse-led means we understand the challenges you face and the support you need to succeed long-term in your career.
If you’re ready to experience the Gifted difference and connect with one of our passionate, experienced, and talented recruiters, apply now! We can connect you with exclusive nursing roles in 40+ specialties and 35+ states, including travel, local, per diem, and permanent positions.
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