Your worst travel assignment?

Spent 6 months in Alabama because it was close to home. The charge nurse would asign patients each night after a group report. After a while I could tell who I was going to get each night, I just picked out the worst patients and lo and behold I got them. I took it for 4 months then blew up. It got better for a week then went back to the same old routine. Staff did not like travelers and they griped about the hospital 24/7. Am on a much better assignment now.

I am in my first 2 weeks of it. Was told free private housing. This was a quickie hire and I made it clear that I didn't have the up front $$ to put a deposit down or deal with any of that stuff, since I was being hired and started over the course of one week.
They lied about the housing. Said they didn't realize my area was so rural and tried to put me in a hotel 70 miles from the assignment. Then they said they'd pay for a hotel for a week and take the next few weeks out of my check until I at least got paid, because I had to find housing they weren't. It is about day 4 . I was told it would be reserved for at least a week and they could help as above if needed. Every day they are making me check out at 11am. I work nights. What the hell am I supposed to do about SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS!! They won't commit to paying for another night b/c apparently the drug screen results haven't come back. They should have figured that into it beccause now I'm in a town where I know nobody, and with very little money. I can't ditch the contract. Just worked 2- 12's and would like to sleep. but know if I pay my last few $$ for a room there is no reason to believe that they'll not figure out a reason to withold my check. As I am supporting a family at home. The is a very scary thought. What are my rights here?

Galadriel, my suggestion? Tell them if they don't fix this in 2 DAYS you're leaving and not coming back. They'll threaten you and say you signed a contract, I'd just tell them to get a lawyer and see you in court!!!!!!!!!! This is absolutely unacceptable, they should have more respect for their nurses, and frankly I'm shocked that as a professional you would put up with this.

As a professional I am disgusted.... As a person who doesn't feel like getting sued, I am stuck. And as a woman with a family to support I just cannot go home with nothing but expenses and no check. The landlord and electric company certainly don't care.

Sued! To what extent are they going to sue you?

They are in breech of contract and are strong-arming you, intimidating you into staying in a bad situation?
They need to fix it or you walk. ASAP!

There are other companies, other assignments... get out of there!

Oh, and I have yet to have a bad assignment. I thank a network of friends and other travelers that tell me which ones are nice and which to avoid.
Like.... Long Beach ER in L.A.

Networking! That's where it's at.

I do understand your point, and definitely do not want them to get away with doing this to anyone else..... At this time I have had to figure out the housing, and found something that involves little $$ out of pocket, basically rooming w/ a single mom and teaching her to drive, along with child care. She's a good kid and needs the help.... I need the place, so for now the housing is OK, no thanks to them. The staff RN's at the facility say that ever since my recruiter joined the company he's been lying to the new travelers and many of them have been upset over similar issues.
The recruiter was dumb enough to ask the VP send me something after hours in an attachment, and I got her e-mail address. I just go through her when ever I deal with anybody from the company. She has assured me that my file is now complete and that I'm all set. I'll update tmw when the check will have gone through.
When the assignment ends I will go into greater detail about the name and info of the company, and never again will I consider a contract with a company I haven't totally researched.
And, BTW, the facility found out about the housing.... not sure how, but they've been asking me every few days if my company was being reasonable. I don't say anything unprofessional but I do tell the truth.
G