Any input on tavel nursing compaines??American mobile?

weatherbugs · Nov 4, 2011

ok, thank you for this info. I have also talked with a small company called medical solutions and I have a friend on assignment with them right now. She is having a great experience and great benefits. They just seem to be a little slower getting assignment and not as aggressive...which might be a good thing!! As for wordtravel girl.... go do it!! I also wanted to travel for the past three years and kept putting if off!!! I kept finding reasons....but there are always going to be those reason ....school loans??

Worldtravelgirl · Nov 5, 2011

RNyogi, I would love for you to share the company when you can PM! I appreciate the advice :). I need to talk to at least a few more companies before I go. I told the company I'm talking to now that I wouldn't be able to go until late January or early February, and they have in my profile that I'm available January first! Ugh! I want the most mobbed I can get, so I can furl like I'm actually making a dent in my student loans!

Weatherbug, thanks for the support! I think I just need to do it. I'm not sure I'd have a job on my floor still, but it's not like I'm leaving on bad terms. I like the idea of not being "stuck" anywhere.

Tango, thanks for the advice. I think traveling makes a lot of sense. It will help me figure out where I want to live permanently, too. I am not a fan of SoCal or the people that live here.

Can I ask someone to explain the housing stipend, though? Is it only tax free if you own a home that you'll be leaving to travel? I rent an apt, so I wouldn't qualify for tax free housing?

soon2btraveling · Nov 6, 2011

Take a minute and check out www.highwayhypodermics.com. It has reviews of alot of these agencies. I had ALOT of questions and this website answered them for me. Hope this helps! (look to the left column and select agency review, etc) :nurse:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2011

I had serious problems with AMN, and did well w/CCTC.

But everyone's experience varies by assignment and by recruiter.

gr8ape · Nov 6, 2011

I traveled for about 5 years and the negative things that have been posted about AMN are very similar to my experience with them. In one of my contract extensions I lost my housing and was homeless - I'm not kidding! I ended up moving in with one of my co-workers. Funny thing, my recruiter somehow managed to extend my job, but not my housing and then tried to blame it on me. I went with another company and the AMN recruiter left me weird messages along the lines of "you'll never be able to get a job with AMN ever again, your ruined in the travel world!!", then a month later, when my contract was ending, she is calling me being very friendly, "we have all these great travel opportunities that I'm sure you would love... call me." Bizarre. Stay away from them!

I did CCTC (okay), RN Network (awesome - good pay, great housing, great support!), Fastaff (very good), and All About Staffing (great!)

Remember, recruiters are sales people - they are not nurses, so many times they can't answer the questions that you as a nurse would have.

Good luck and enjoy the experiences!

LadyTiger44 · Nov 7, 2011

I am currently on my 3rd assignment with American Mobile. I decided to go with them after talking to a few companies because I love my recruiter. They do not pay the best, but offer great housing. Any problems I have had have been quickly resolved. Good luck!

Jennabebe · Nov 14, 2011

I have been with American Mobile for threee years. I have had bad and good experiences with them. I had issues with my first recruiter (attitude, never called me back) I was then switched and that recruiter left for a managment position. My third recruiter has been great. I did one assignment with CCTC and it was a disaster! AMN isn't the greatest by far but I don't want to switch insurance :/ It all depends on the experience with your recuiter with any company!

louise51 · Nov 16, 2011

I have traveled with AMN for 7 yrs. When I stick with the main company and my regular recruiter I do really well. I have had more problems when I have worked on "odd" assignments with subsidiaries. Never ever sign for your housing unless you really like the area. You are an "at will" employee and can be downsized for what the hospital considers "cause" with no recourse. I was stuck in a small town in AZ in a 6 month lease when the "winter visitors" left and the hospital found a permanent replacement.

jdickrn · Nov 17, 2011

I've been traveling with American Mobile for the last year and have been very happy....honestly, no matter what company you work for it's ALL about your recruiter. I attempted to get things going with Cross Country but they were so flaky and couldn't seem to keep my info straight and I don't have time for that. Good luck!

yogalove · Nov 17, 2011

this feedback is awesome. it's kinda of crazy how two people can have such different experiences within the same company. it can make first time travelers extremely wary!!! :uhoh3:

i did check out the highway hypodermics website, and that seemed to have a lot of good info on it, so thanks for the link! there's so many companies out there it's hard to choose, but i've had positive results talking with a couple of companies so far: cctc, parallon (formerly all about staffing) and rn network.

jennabebe - you mentioned you might want to switch companies, but don't want to switch insurance. does this mean it's a pain in the a** to switch companies? i've kind of been wondering about that....what happens if you're traveling with one company but decide to travel with another one. it seems like a lot of travelers do this......

79Tango · Nov 17, 2011

Imagine how "extremely wary" any 1/2 way decent recruiter would be of a new traveler.. Most of the ones I know wont even deal with a nube unless that person is a critical skilled type with all certifications current.

I guess what I am saying is, You can do all the research and get all of the opinions in the world but you will end up going with who offers you a job or you will never get off the porch.

Cougar1113 · Feb 27, 2012

I have been emailing my recruiter to confirm what she tells me, that way I do have perm record of it.