[graysonret]

I guess it depends on the agency and depends on the office that you work through. I found that I earn more money than the staff that are at the place. That's for a good reason too. I'm coming in to help out a staffing shortage and to cover patients that I have not met. I'm there because I am needed. I'm in, do the work, and leave, so I have to maintain a high level of competency. Of course, it's nice to build up a reputation so they call back and ask for you. In a way, you're self-employed and, as such, you maintain your own hours and days. It's always good to have 2 agencies rather than 1. If 1 is slow, the other might be busy. I've been agency for 10 years, exclusively, and love the independence. But, it's risky, as with any business. Check each agency and see what their pay rates are.

[graysonret]

I guess it depends on the agency and depends on the office that you work through. I found that I earn more money than the staff that are at the place. That's for a good reason too. I'm coming in to help out a staffing shortage and to cover patients that I have not met. I'm there because I am needed. I'm in, do the work, and leave, so I have to maintain a high level of competency. Of course, it's nice to build up a reputation so they call back and ask for you. In a way, you're self-employed and, as such, you maintain your own hours and days. It's always good to have 2 agencies rather than 1. If 1 is slow, the other might be busy. I've been agency for 10 years, exclusively, and love the independence. But, it's risky, as with any business. Check each agency and see what their pay rates are.

[graysonret]

I guess it depends on the agency and depends on the office that you work through. I found that I earn more money than the staff that are at the place. That's for a good reason too. I'm coming in to help out a staffing shortage and to cover patients that I have not met. I'm there because I am needed. I'm in, do the work, and leave, so I have to maintain a high level of competency. Of course, it's nice to build up a reputation so they call back and ask for you. In a way, you're self-employed and, as such, you maintain your own hours and days. It's always good to have 2 agencies rather than 1. If 1 is slow, the other might be busy. I've been agency for 10 years, exclusively, and love the independence. But, it's risky, as with any business. Check each agency and see what their pay rates are.

[graysonret]

I guess it depends on the agency and depends on the office that you work through. I found that I earn more money than the staff that are at the place. That's for a good reason too. I'm coming in to help out a staffing shortage and to cover patients that I have not met. I'm there because I am needed. I'm in, do the work, and leave, so I have to maintain a high level of competency. Of course, it's nice to build up a reputation so they call back and ask for you. In a way, you're self-employed and, as such, you maintain your own hours and days. It's always good to have 2 agencies rather than 1. If 1 is slow, the other might be busy. I've been agency for 10 years, exclusively, and love the independence. But, it's risky, as with any business. Check each agency and see what their pay rates are.

[Anniefandango]

I have worked for Maxim on one case, I was lied to from the beginning, told that the client weighed 72 lbs, he weighed over 100 lbs, told he was a " real nice kid " never in 25 years of nursing have I had a worse patient. I was also told there was a hoyer in the home, there was but they never used it. There was no support for staff, if you had a problem the person on call was the recruiter, very nice young GQ types who have no clue clinically, 6 hours of testing/ orientation with no pay. That was two years ago. I quit an assisted living job in August and since a friend of mine became the Director of Clinical Services I thought I would give Maxim another chance. again I had to go through the entire hiring process, apparently they don't keep your records for more than 3 months. I called them 2 weeks before an inservice and asked if all my file was in order and if not to let me know the day of the inservice and I would bring anything in that they needed. They assured me all was good to go and I would be called soon for a case. I was called, set up, ready to go and at the last minute they discovered I needed a different CPR card that the one I had and could not work until I obtained it. I went and got the new one, and called them back to find out I had to go through the entire hiring process again " something we just started, " so again 6 huors of testing without pay. I then waited for a call, since I complained to my friend I was called 2 days in a row, assured on a Friday that I would be working by the end of the upcoming week and then not called for 10. In the mean time I was lucky to get a full time day job at better pay than Maxim with benefits. I will never work for Maxim again. I used to work agency all the time, I did it for 5 years without a problem in the eighties, I was treated well and the staff seemed to understand that it was my work that was supporting them, that their nurses are their product Maxim just doesn't get that, at least not the office in Olympia WA.

[Medicine Eagle]

I worked for Maxim since 6/2002. I had to be off after having my son. After all those years of doing somethings for them that no one else would have. The head of the staffing side in St. Louis, has know me for all these years. He would not allow me to return to work without references from another agency or hospital. I was stunned. I never recieved any bonuses. You know the bonuses we were supposed to get after working a certain number of hour without a call in. I never got one although I never missed work. They are not to be trusted. I stayed loyal to them for all those years, when other agencys were begging me to work for them. They are NOT to be TRUSTED! They will STAB you in the BACK! Medicine Eagle(TiredBraveHeart)

[lindarn]

Originally Posted by TiredBraveHeart

I worked for Maxim since 6/2002. I had to be off after having my son. After all those years of doing somethings for them that no one else would have. The head of the staffing side in St. Louis, has know me for all these years. He would not allow me to return to work without references from another agency or hospital. I was stunned. I never recieved any bonuses. You know the bonuses we were supposed to get after working a certain number of hour without a call in. I never got one although I never missed work. They are not to be trusted. I stayed loyal to them for all those years, when other agencys were begging me to work for them. They are NOT to be TRUSTED! They will STAB you in the BACK! Medicine Eagle(TiredBraveHeart)

I have also had problems with Maxim. Their pay is deplorable. I told them that I would only work for them as an independant contracter. They refused. They want to maintain their "cut" from our hard earned pay, and pay us HS drop out wages.

The only thing will fix this problem is if nurses refuse to work for them as employees, only as Independant Contractors.

Not enough nurses will do this, and are happy working as nothing less than indentured servants. A few years ago, agencies, and even hospitals would hire you as Indendependant Contractors. They have "wised up", and realize that they will be in big trouble, if this becomes more common. And nurses work for themselves, and not settle for these agencies stealing their hard earned money. It has become impossible to work as an Independant Contractor these days.

Nurses wise up!!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

[mrsmrsa]

My question is how do you file your taxes as a Maxim employee? Do you get a 1099 - and does that make you 'self employed' in the eyes of the IRS? Any help you could give in this area would be greatly appreciated. It will be the first year I've had to pay the IRS (vote Ron Paul in 2008 - he will abolish the IRS ).

[Medicine Eagle]

They send you a W2 like anyone else. Then you go file. Also no you are not considered self employed.
Medicine Eagle

[mrsmrsa]

Thanks for your response.