Best Travel Agencies? Worst?

NedRN · Dec 27, 2017

Worst is easy: Aureus. There are a few other bad ones but mostly it is irrelevant. Agency brand is way less important than a good recruiter a good recruiter at a bad agency is much better than the other way around. So focus on finding recruiters with whom you communicate well with and share info before you do all the paperwork and seem honest. After a dozen or so conversations with recruiters, you will know who is telling you the straight truth and who is making stuff up. A lot of work, but we can not predict what recruiter you will work well with.

Agencies that really cover your butt are rare and most of the time it is not actually that important (and you will only be able to find out if something bad happens). It will also depend on the actual event, how long you worked for an agency, and sadly, how important you are to them. In the real world, despite all the bad events you might hear about, an agency that doesn't screw up your pay will be more important to your satisfaction with them. Because the bad stuff is rare, especially with a good recruiter who helps you avoid bad facilities.

States that pay well (and tend to have better working conditions) are those with heavy union penetration in hospitals. That includes west coast states, New England, and some parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Conversely, bad paying states are the South in particular (it should be no surprise that a plurality of travelers hail from the South), the areas not above, and most states in the nursing compact. But good paying assignments can happen anywhere.

guest769224 · Dec 28, 2017

That includes west coast states, New England, and some parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

Would you mind stating which areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest pay well?

And give an idea of approximate hourly rates for staff nurses?

NedRN · Dec 28, 2017

Would you mind stating which areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest pay well?

Union areas. Not sure if I can be more specific as I've never worked in the Midwest. Washington DC metro area for sure is classic Mid-Atlantic.

And give an idea of approximate hourly rates for staff nurses?

No there too. Non union Ohio is $25. Your questions have gotten harder!

mariahlily · Jan 5, 2018

AB staffing-definitely avoid. They do a lot of contracts with Native American reservations. I interviewed for a clinic position on a reservation in New Mexico, got accepted, then the contract was canceled a couple of days later. I figured it was just an issue with the Indian Health System.

Then I interviewed for and got a position on a reservation in South Dakota. Everything seemed fine up until the day before I was supposed to drive from Texas. My recruiter called to say the contract was cancelled. Even though I had already ended the lease on my apartment and paid for my stuff to get moved out, they just dropped me.

They said they would try to get me something else ASAP, but I said that wasn't good enough. Because now I was unemployed and homeless.

Thankfully I was able to send my resume out to permanent job openings and got something else right away, but I'll never call AB ever again. Or work on an Indian reservation.