[jadednurse]

So, after not working for 7 months I am finally back in the mix! I signed up w/ an agency (Nurses PRN) here in Chicago. The office is located near O'Hare and apparently it's a new branch. I went in 2 weeks ago (Thursday) and brought all my paperwork, took the tests and did my tox screen. They gave me my badge and pending the criminal background check and my references they told me I was hired.

A week went by and I hadn't heard anything so I called them. They told me they were just waiting for the background check to come in and that it should be back later that afternoon. Since Labor Day was that past Monday, I figured it might take an extra day or two. They told me the following day (Friday) they would mail me my welcome kit w/ my password for the website (you can do your schedule online) and my cash station card (you fax your hours at the end of each shift and then you can withdraw your money w/ your debit card within a few hours!).

Another week goes by. Still nothing (it's been 2 weeks as of yesterday). I'm getting kind of aggravated. I called and tried to be calm. I am told that the welcome packet was mailed out yesterday (meaning Wednesday). If that's the case, I should be receiving it today or tomorrow. If I don't, I'm really going to start getting aggravated and suspicious of this agancy...

How long did the paperwork processing take for all of you when you signed up with your agency? Is this a red flag that I am going to have trouble with them or what? I hope this works out, otherwise I may need to consider wigning up w/ a different agency.

TIA for any comments/suggestions.

[renerian]

I know in Ohio sometimes it took six weeks to get criminal checks the paper trail way. If they had the fingerprint instant scan it took minutes.

renerian

[jadednurse]

Well, after some hounding I finally got the Welcome letter. Got a password to log onto the website where I can do my schedule online. I also get an ATM card from them. After I finish my shift and the charge nurse signs my timeslip, I fax it to my agency. I can then go to any ATM and withdraw my pay immediately.

Wish me luck...my first shift will be pm's this Friday (the 19th). That is if I don't get cancelled. I remember how that goes!

[jadednurse]

OK, scheduled 2 shifts so far (Firdya and today) and no work available now I was told. How long should I wait before starting a fuss?

[mednurse]

No work in Chicago???? What hospitals do you go to?

[jadednurse]

Originally posted by mednurse
No work in Chicago???? What hospitals do you go to?

Oh, there's plenty of work, just not through this agency apparently!

I gave them 3 hospitals I would go to...guess they're just using other agencies.

Time to do some investigating.

[mattsmom81]

I ran into this problem too..the hospitals I want to go to don't use my agency.....oh well...lesson learned. Sometimes we do things backwards.

Hope things get better soon Jaded!

[jadednurse]

I'm planning on signing up w/ another agency too, since this one doesn't seem to have any work! I'm tempted to call the nursing office of some of the hospitals I want to work at and see which agencies they use the most. I wonder if they would tell me???

[BarbPick]

Agencies will take your name, tell you that you are bookedat XYZ hospital, and right before the shift starts say the hospital cancelled you. 9 times out of 10 you were on a waiting list at your agency, hoping they get a call from a hospital asking last minute for a nurse to come.
I recommend signing up with two or three agencies, and if you get cancelled, call your back up.
I was so tired of being cancelled, I start my first travel assignment Oct the 7th. pay is a bit less, but 30plus dollars and hour X zero work still adds up to zero money in your pocket.
Isn't there supposed to be a nursing shortage?

[cannoli]

BarbPick, that's interesting. I can see now where that has probably happened to me. Funny how one sometimes doesn't see things until someone else points it out; things that seem pretty obvious, maybe I'm just dense, or trusting and naive or something, I don't know.