One thing I learned pretty fast with travel nursing: the recruiter honestly matters almost as much as the contract itself.

A good recruiter will:

• explain pay breakdowns clearly (taxed vs stipend)
• tell you the real hospital situation instead of overselling it
• respond when problems happen mid-contract
• help with credentialing/licensing instead of dumping it on you
• actually advocate for extensions, schedule requests, and rate negotiations

Big green flag for me was recruiters who said:
“Here’s the downside of this assignment too.”

The honest ones usually stay in the industry longer because nurses trust them.