Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Gaudet and Gina Cannatella.
Kristen and Gina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
We are a nurse staffing agency that has been in business since 1984. Our corporate office is located in the Greater New Orleans Area in Louisiana, but we have a total of six offices – New Orleans, Covington, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Houston and Dallas.
The medical staffing industry has changed dramatically over the last three decades, and it continues to evolve. At Advantage, we’ve also grown and evolved to increase the scope of services we provide for our clinicians and our clients. Originally starting as Advantage Nursing Services, we rebranded and as part of our evolution, we announced that we change our name to Advantage Medical Professionals in 2015.
One division of our company is our contract / travel division that has grown so much that we now have opportunities in facilities in over 35 states.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One major struggle for us and our business was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I (Gina Cannatella, VP of Advantage Medical Professionals) evacuated to Houston for Hurricane Katrina….my family and I lived in Houston for a little over a month. I worked from the Houston office- along with Jesus (Manager of Contract/ Travel Division) – everyday during our evacuation. It was a crazy time- but we didn’t miss a beat…Jesus and I pretty much ran the travel division from the Houston office. We spent our days trying to locate nurses who were on contract for us and on “lock down” at area New Orleans hospitals….to make sure they were ok and see how we could help them. We worked with the Texas board of nursing to help displaced nurses get their Texas license quickly so we could find them assignments. We really did make a difference in people’s lives at that time. I’ve always been extremely proud to be part of the Advantage Family…. but that was definitely a shining moment…to see how we all came together to keep our business running and to help our nurses during their time of need.
Advantage Medical Professionals – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We Are Your Dedicated Healthcare Staffing Resource.
For more than 30 years, Advantage Medical Professionals has provided flexible staffing solutions to our clients, and a variety of assignment options to our clinicians, therapists and technologists in all healthcare environments. While we recently changed our name from Advantage Nursing Services to better reflect who we are and the scope of services we provide, the core principles under which we operate have never changed. We are highly committed to our clinicians and our clients, and believe open communication and honest partnerships strengthen relationships and enhance quality.
We are a dedicated Healthcare staffing resource that provides our clients with top-quality clinicians. Our custom-matched placement services include – Travel Contract, Local Contract, Per-Diem, Direct Hire, In-Home Car.
Being that there is a nursing shortage, the demand for nurses is at an all-time high. More nurses are looking for travel opportunities and this is where we can help. Our growing Travel Contract Division consists of placing nurses on assignments throughout the nation. Our Vice President, Gina Cannatella, networks and builds relationships with different facilities across the United States so our nurses get the flexibility to choose the places they want to work in – especially culturally appealing areas.
A few benefits of working with Advantage are that we are Joint Commission Certified; we have responsive support 24/7 and 365 days a year; we offer competitive pay rates, plus health, dental and vision plans; we honor agency nurses with DAISY recognition awards; and we have excellent and professional customer service. One thing that makes us stand out from our competitors is that we listen to our clients and clinicians needs and wants, we support and treat our team like family, and we advise and provide guidance based on our constantly changing industry and 30 years of experience.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
For Jesus Hernandez, Manager of Advantage’s Travel/Contract Division, every workday is different. Responsible for a team of recruiters and their more-than-100 nurses on assignment, his schedule varies widely—and is often filled with long days at the office.
“We’re problem-solvers,” he said when reached during a gap in the midst of a hectic day, “And every challenge is another opportunity to find a positive solution!” With such a diverse team of clinicians and assignments, there are often challenges: changing schedules, last-minute needs, and the demands of family.
For Jesus, recruiting success depends on knowing your nurses well. “Some nurses are all business—and only check in when they feel they need to. Some want a more personal relationship and are looking for frequent contact. It’s about adapting to those communication styles to make a connection.”
Jesus manages a small handful of nurses directly, acknowledging that a good pairing between recruiter and clinician is essential to success.
What’s the result of all of this care and thought? Ideally: gratitude. “To me, the greatest satisfaction is having a client or a nurse say thank you,” says Jesus. “Either ‘we desperately needed that nurse, thank you for coming through for us,’ or ‘thank you for getting me placed on that assignment.’ When a nurse or a hospital is happy, that’s what gives me the greatest satisfaction.”
Contact Info:
- Address: Corporate office – 3340 Severn Ave #320 Metairie, LA 70002
Dallas office – 3445 Highland Rd Suite 105 Dallas, TX 75228 - Website: http://advantagemedicalprofessionals.com/
- Phone: 18007491122
- Email: info@advantagemedicalprofessionals.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/advantagemedicalprofessionals/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdvantageMedPro
