American Mobile Advice

[Rn0504]

Hi everyone,

So I decided as a first time traveler to give American Mobile a chance. I interviewed and got accepted at one of the top hospitals in the country. I've heard nothing but positive things about this hospital and it is very hard to get accepted at as a first time traveler. Intially, before submitting me my recruiter quoted me a rate which I told her would not work for me, so she told me that if I took the housing stipend that she could work to negotiate the rates. Of course after I get the job when she's going over the contract it's the same amount she quoted the first time. I wasn't told it was night shift which really takes a toll on me and I haven't done in over a year. I told her I would get back to her because I did not want to give my verbal agreement until I knew for sure this would work for me financially before I move across the country. I sent her an email stating that I am not going to accept the job because one it isn't going to work for me financially and two I just didnt feel comfortable not seeing my contact in writing first. Will American Mobile blacklist me or do horrible things? California is very expensive. I just feel bad about not taking it.

[NedRN]

Well, it sounds like you did it right by not agreeing to the contract until you reviewed the contract. That doesn't mean the agency will take it well. They could indeed blacklist you - not such a big deal except for hospitals where they have an exclusive contract. There have been several cases where they decide unilaterally, even without a contract, that the traveler owes them damages and have sent them out for collections. This would be illegal of course, but there isn't much you can do about it outside of a lawsuit. I've been told that this is not an AM policy though so I will be interested in hearing what happens.

In any case, there is not much you can do about it so there is no point in worrying about it. I doubt that you will be interested in working with this recruiter again so you will have to move on to Plan B. You are working with other agencies, right?

Next time, make sure the financials are satisfactory before agreeing to being submitted. It is a huge waste of everyone's time otherwise. If an agency is cagey about it, move on. Lots of agencies and recruiters out there that are willing to be honest with you before you waste time signing up with them.

[Rn0504]

Thank you for replying!!! Thanks to people like you newbies like me can actually be aware of certain things! Yes you are totally right, I should have made sure everything was in place prior. I will say that what I was quoted sounds about right for SoCal, however for this particular hospital AM was the only one who had positions. Therefore, I couldnt compare packages to know if Am was ripping me off or not. I may have just gave it a chance. But, again with AM's horrible reputation and me being a new traveler I couldn't trust agreeing to a verbal contract and it being different once I go to sign the papers. I just feel like that's very shady business practice and strange to make someone agree to a verbal contract before letting them see the written contract. Also, my recruiter with AM was the only one who didn't email

quotes when asked she always wanted to "Verbally" give them.

[Rn0504]

Also I did forget to mention, I did confirm with my recruiter while she was going over the contract that AM will penalize travels for verbally agreeing to a contract. So I'm very thankfully for sites like this because I wouldn't have known that people have been verbally told one thing than the contract says another

[NedRN]

Your story is actually very helpful. I'm going to send you a private message. I'm not entirely sure if you can read it or not, I know you cannot send PMs until you have 15 posts. Look for it by clicking on your name on the top right of this page and then select private messages. Let me know if you cannot read it.

[Khdavis619]

Rn0504, I found your question interesting. So I took a few assignments with American Mobile, mostly because I really liked my recruiter. But on my last assignment with them, she took it upon herself to accept my contract for me (telling the hospital I would take it) because she thought she knew me well enough. Apparently she did not. And a previous contract of mine was cancelled by the facility and my next contract didn't start for over a month. I told her I couldn't take that contract because I had nowhere to live, no way to make money, no family or friends who could help me and I would be returning to my home state. It was a lucrative Kaiser contract. I was banned from any further travel positions at THAT Kaiser hospital, but supposedly no others. After my recruiter took a position I would never have accepted had I seen the contract first, I was done. Their customer service is poor and there are a ton of really good agencies out there. Do a little research and find another agency. It's a pain in the butt to sign up with an agency, but I think it's worth it to find another one (unless you just really want to work for Kaiser).

And don't listen to any b.s. about it being really difficult to get into a hospital on a first contract. If you have a good resume and interview well, they're gonna take you. As a seasoned traveler, I can tell you I have never NOT been offered after an interview. That nursing shortage thing is real. Hospitals need warm bodies to fill positions. If you are lucky, you'll be in the unit you signed up for more than floating to another unit. Because explicitly or implicitly, you will float. One of my contracts I floated more than 50% of the time, and was offered a permanent position in the unit I floated to the most. Traveling will not be what you are expecting even if you talk to 20 other travelers about their experiences. Please do your research and know what you are getting yourself into. Travelers don't usually get the "good" assignments that offer opportunities for learning. You get what's left after they put their permanent staff in place. Traveling is for the experience of seeing new places, meeting new people, learning how to fit in, and learning how to hit the ground running. Most hospitals give travelers 1-2 days of orientation on the unit. If they have an EMR you have never used before, you have to figure it out quick. Then you have to figure out where everything is on the unit. And mostly you have to be willing to ask for help.

So I guess what I'm saying is being blacklisted by American Mobile is the least of your worries. There are tons of opportunities out there for travel nurses. Good luck, and take time to enjoy the ride!

[NedRN]

Great first post!

[8-ball, BSN]

I just want to say thanks for posting this because it has helped me learn from your mistake. Sorry this has happened but it has helped a new/soon to be traveler like myself.