[Janine SNLCC]

Hi everyone,
I have been emailing a bunch of travel agencies for a position here in Cleveland, OH in Labor and Delivery just some questions about rate of pay, insurance, just basic stuff. My question is:

Does anyone have a list of agencies that I can email or call instead of hunting and searching google, yahoo etc?

and 2

Does anyone have a list of good questions to weed out the bad agencies?

Thanks guys, i'm gonna post this in the Travel forum too.

~Janine

[suzanne4]

If you are already in Cleveland, or wherever that you wish to work, and living there, then you don't want a travel assignment, you want per-diem or per-diem contract nursing.

You will not get any of the perks that make travel nursing attractive if you already live in the same city. You will get more money with per diem.

[kitcat3968]

I don't agree with suzanne4's reply. I have personally worked as a local traveller in Cleveland and found the financial end of things quite rewarding, including the tax benefits on my year end W-2's. Traveller pay isn't so bad either. Cathy, RN, BSN, Cleveland

[Cay]

Unless the Per Diem Agency is paying benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, dental, long and short term for example. Not to mention a retirement package, How are you going to get ahead with the Per Diem Agency. It sounds good but put the figures together and get the calculator out. Maybe you don't need any benefits or per diem route would be a supplement to your income. You could find a fantastic travel company to work with that would take you places you have only dreamed about. That is what happened to me as a surgical tech. After graduating from RN school and my time is served I too will be back on the travel scene! Only you know the answers to these questions.
Good Luck!!

[snowfreeze]

Working Per-diem for a specific facility has its benefits also. You have your foot in the door for bidding on positions at that facility as you are one of their employees. The hourly pay is much higher than the full and part time staff as they don't pay for insurance for you. You do schedule your required time and are on their schedule to work so probably won't be cancelled unless their census drops considerably.
Working for a local staffing agency is an as needed on a daily basis type of nursing in which I recommend having at least 3 seperate agencies which you work for to assure enough working hours. Travel nursing is short term contract nursing where you usually work for 3 months on a contract that you and the facility cannot easily break. You will show up for 3 12 hour shifts a week and they will provide you with that or pay you for it anyhow.

[eddy]

Most reputable per diem agencies now offer a full benefits package including quality health insurance. I get a very good blue cross health and dental plan with my agency and I don't pay a penny for it. My agency is also one of the highest paying in this area.

I'm seeing a major trend away from travellers around here. Local contracts are becoming the preferred arrangement. Works for me.

I'd suggest you do some research, and you should be able to find an agency that offers a good benefits package along with excellent pay. They're out there, but you may have to do a little looking around.

[Cay]

Thanks for sharing with us. Networking really helps! And there is the phone book along with many nursing magazines for reference. Word of mouth experience is an essential tool that really helps.