Anyone work for American Mobile?

Specialties Travel

Published

Hi!

I am just about to sign up tho travel with American Mobile I was wondering if anyone has worked for them and what you thought of them? Any tips would be great.

Thanks Danielle NICU RN

I have traveled extensively and found that although other companies may pay a little more they just don't seem to be able to find me the jobs that I want. If you bargain with american mobile they will give you free private housing and perhaps a bit more money. when i was unhappy with my housing = my recruiter strived to get me what i wanted. when i was unhappy with my furniture - they had it changed out. paychecks were always accurate and on time and overall i found them very professional. and since they are so big i guess you don't need to worry much about them going out of business. having said all that the excellent recruiter i has moved up in the company - so now i am measuring the options of other smaller companies - i believe at least with american mobile - your treatment has a whole lot to do with who your recruiter is and how hard they are willing to strive to make you happy

however, if they are the one with the contract at the hospital i want to work in i would be quite happy to go with them again

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What about them telling you it was a 13 week assignment and then at the last minute, like literally a few hours before I was to get on a plane to fly out to my assignment, that it was actually a 26 week assignment. I am working in home health for them right now for a terrible home health company and have talked to other AMN nurses here who said they did the same thing to them, only telling them it was actually a 26 week assignment at the last minute. Not to mention that they are completely unhelpful once they get you into an assignment...TERRIBLE company

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

it all depends on your recruiter.

i've worked with american mobile & haven't had any problems.

in this market, it's best to sign up w/a large company (like AMN or Cross Country - which I've had a horrible experience with...but again it's all about the recruiter!) and also sign up with smaller companies.

i would be working with 5 different agencies if you want a job.

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thanks for all your replays!!! i was thinking of signing a contract w/ them, but i will wait and keep looking...any suggestions of a better agency?? thanks

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Specializes in PICU.

Try highway hypodermics website theypublish a report about travel companies based on travel nurses evaluation in several different areas. They have a top 10 list. I recently started checking out other companies as well. I am experiencing a nightmare with AMN right now.

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What are some of the smaller companies you travelers would recommend? Does anyone have any opinions on World Tavel Nursing?

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Let me give you some facts of my first assignment with AMN, (I am currently on week 9): I set up direct deposit with my bank, so when it was time to get my travel reimbursement, they sent it to a past address, although I clarified with payroll TWICE it would be directly deposited to my checking account; after my first week, I received a message from payroll, stating I was going to be charged for 'early move-in fees' when I did not move into my apt. early: Of course, they could not look at my move-in date vs. my start date; I had to call housing, my recruiter, and quality services to have the fees removed; week 3 was a message from payroll, that stated since they had to rent a washer/dryer for my apt, I was going to have $45/month deducted from my paycheck; I had to prove to them they were not renting anything, as w/d are standard with every apt in this complex; on top of those issues, by week 4, I was on first name basis with the hospital's payroll coordinator, because although only this hospital can submit my timecard, AMN would leave me a message EVERY WEEK for the first 6 weeks, that I would not be getting paid on time because my timesheet was never received. I would have to call my manager, who would call the hospital's payroll, who would say EVERY WEEK, the timesheet was submitted ON TIME, and AMN would say, EVERY WEEK, "Oh yes, we did get it, but it was late, so your pay will be deposited to your account on Monday, rather than Friday." The hospital's payroll showed me her fax confirmation sheets which proved AMN was lying about receiving them late - they were actually sent early on 2 of the 6 weeks. Last, but certainly not least, I was shown the paystub of another traveler working the same position, same shift I am working. The only difference between her and I, is I have more experience as an N. Oh the other difference? She is being paid $7.00 MORE per hour than I am! I am a committed RN; I signed the contract; and I will leave this hospital with a reputation of providing my patients quality care, and always displaying a professional, positive attitude. I will never forget this is a learning experience ... and, what goes around, comes around.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

This is an old thread started back in 2006. Seems to keep being resurrected.

Probably a good thing to talk about AMN though. They are in trouble.

ndnomsed, I have to say that you should look at all benefits and the entire package when you compare contracts between travel companies. Some show more on paper but don't give bonuses and other incentives that others do. I have found when compared dollar for dollar that most are in the same ballpark when it comes to wages.

When you're with other travelers from other companies sure, talk about it. Compare packages. I firmly believe this knowledge will empower you to negotiate harder with future contracts. Rental Car, Completion Bonuses, Extra Travel Money, Better Accommodations and so on.

YOU are only worth what you agree to work for and can always say no and walk away. You can go to different travel companies. Listen, when it comes to travel there are companies that are in it to maximize their profit margins and others that believe in giving the traveler the best package possible to keep them working for them and earning them money. Shop around.

Now, back to my opening statement. AMN is in trouble. I have been traveling with AMN under NursesRx since Spring '07. Had an excellent recruiter, excellent contracts.

With the economic downturn AMN has closed many of the offices under their umbrella. They are top-heavy and their overhead is killing them. Nurses Rx use to be in N. Carolina. They merged with another in their group located in Ft. Lauderdale. I lost my top notch recruiter to a mediocre one in the Lauderdale office. That office has now closed in favor of coming home to the parent company in San Diego. All this activity since March '09

I hear nothing but complaints from the travelers in the AMN family. The pay and benefits are really weak. They have begun nickle-and-diming travelers for every little thing and they're fed up. They're losing travelers now right & left. I don't know if there is a future for AMN if they don't change. It's not the travelers problem if AMN's overhead is too much. If they don't take care of the people that make them money then they just won't have anyone left MAKING THEM MONEY!

I have had my troubles as well. I don't believe I will accept another contract with them. The rental car allowance for contracts is half what is has been. You must pay extra now for washer & dryer in your rental on assignment. There is no longer any reimbursement for necessary credentials like BLS, ACLS, PALS or state license renewals. I'm DONE! Too many other companies paying it.

AMN or one of their other companies... I say walk away.

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I realized, that after I submitted my comments about AMN, that I failed to note the other traveler's company who had the same job, same shift, and same credentials as I, but she was making $7.00/hr more than I. The company she was with, you ask? AMN!

EmergencyNrse wrote, 'I have found when compared dollar for dollar most are in the same ballpark when it comes to wages...' One word: WRONG. Because I trusted my recruiter, and really dumbfounded when I realized how stupid I was to have not done my homework for this contract, I compared benefits of three different companies for the exact position I have, Med-Surg float. I went through orientation with these other two nurses, and we have kept close watch of each other, as being in a new city can get tough. I felt comfortable enough to sit down with them and write every benefit and expense that our companies afforded us. My company, AMN, was of course, dead last ... the company that compensated their traveler most was actually paying her, (when you compared dollar for dollar, including money reimbursed tax-free), thousands more for her completed contract than I. I will not put myself in a position for a lawsuit by mentioning companies and amounts specifically - as thorough as we tried to be, we may still have overlooked some items.

So EmergencyNrse, if you are happy with AMN, you should not look elsewhere. I may have been the one who fell though the cracks. But, when I look back to examine and hopefully learn from my mistakes, I can't help but notice, THERE WERE A LOT OF CRACKS.

I have traveled for approx. 6 years, and with the other company I used, I will say compensated me well. This time, I am going to chalk up as one of life's lessons and move on.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
I have traveled for approx. 6 years, and with the other company I used, I will say compensated me well. This time, I am going to chalk up as one of life's lessons and move on.

+1

Don't get me wrong. I'm done with them too unless they give me a really EXCELLENT contract next time.

They're hurting in a major way and they think they can skim their travelers.

My point: They only generate revenue if someone takes an assignment and WORKS. They're showing everyone in MY social circle that they don't want to pay their travelers. They want to charge them extra monies associated with travel costs. Penalize them for affiliating with AMN in the first place. Other companies are paying more and still providing benefits and compensation.They won't have many travelers soon and it will get a lot worse for them.

They use to have 8 travel companies under their umbrella. They have Traveler Liasons, Payroll, Travel Reimbursement, Complaince Departments that are ALL OVERHEAD. They are structured to provide services for many of thir other companies and no travelers earning money.

Sorry you got a bad deal. A bad recruiter. Feel free to share in a PM what company you're going with next. I have some others too. Travelers need to stick together. We don't ever compete with each other.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

Worked for them for almost 2 years. Terrible company.

1. They penny pinch the living daylights outta you. You'd be surprised what one nurse with them makes for a job as opposed to another. They yell and scream if you compare notes with other nurses.............buy you should do so. I was once not informed of a $250/month parking fee at a hospital I started at.............recruiter "just forgot to mention". So, I "forgot to mention" that I was looking for another recruiter by the end of that contract.......and I told her the parking fee issue was why. She offered to reimburse me, I declined. Too little too late.

2. Recruiters will lie and lie to you about "policies". They insist everyone gets the same pay for the same job. Not so. I insisted on a higher wage for a job in WA and got it. Guess that policy has its loop holes. They will underbid you, hope you take it. Dont be afraid to say "no, not interested" from time to time.

3. They lie about what sort of unit you are going to. You will be promised a certain shift or something and unless it is in the contract.......dont expect it to be true.

4. The support team is rancid. They will send nasty messages to your email when they want paperwork, try to charge you for things (they wanted to charge me for the rent at a place I had vacated when a contract was cut short due to overstaffing). I had to remind a few of them that without me going to work, they have no paycheck either.

5. American Mobile, while being very large, does not have the best reputation with a great many hospitals. Yes, they have a large base of workers to draw from, but a great many of them are unhappy and looking for new companies. So, AM has a high rate of uncompleted contracts.......nurses leaving early for other jobs/companies. I was told this by three different Nursing Managers. This poor relation with a great many hospitals leads to a limit in where you can go to. They have entire states that have told them "Dont bother applying". Illinois to name one. You will find that the better travel nurse jobs go to other companies with better relations with their nurses.........and the rest is left for AM.

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Can I have names/recruiter names of these "smaller" companies??!! Please? :-)

PM me if you do not wish to post.

Thanks,

Kat

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