Disappointed with travel agencies...

[ukjenn231]

About two years ago I took a couple of assignments. I ended up staying in one of the areas for about the past 18 months. I had a pretty decent experience with recruiters and whatnot. A few weeks ago, there was a change at work and I decided to look at what travel opportunities were out there. I called some old recruiters, called some that friends recommended, and all I found was total disappointment!

Some recruiters never returned my initial call. One time I was on the phone with a recruiter, we got disconnected twice, I tried to called her back and she never even tried to get in touch with me again. Another recruiter that came highly recommended from a friend submitted me to jobs without telling me - I got a call from a hospital and had no idea who sent them my info! Turns out, the pay was so low I would have never agreed to it. Most of the recruiters hounded me for references, skills checklists, only never to be heard from again after I got all my paperwork in.

Just a little troubled and wanted to vent. I've pretty much given up on the prospect of traveling for now. I have two friends traveling currently and they are getting what they want, so maybe it's not meant to work out for me.

[sweetgurly25]

I have noticed that as well. i just switch recruiters. there are 300 agencies.

[globetrotterRN]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one have issues! I contacted one agency and asked to speak to a recruiter and I was told by the receptionist to fill out an application online and if they felt I was qualified someone would call me back...rude!

[sweetgurly25]

i would move on and find someone i can speak to. There are good recruiters out there that will communicate with you. You just have to find the right one. good luck

[dance4life]

I would definitely keep trying. It is tough when you are first starting or even starting afresh.

[dance4life]

I also just discovered that many need a voice to talk to for references. Sometimes I am lucky enough to get cell phone numbers of nurses before I leave. I always have a review and ask for a letter. They usually give up if they can't get ahold of anyone. One tried to say she had to confirm the letters when the hospital outright told her they dot give out references for travelers, lol. It gets tougher everyday even if you have agencies to work for but they have no where to submit you.

[NedRN]

Get a generic eval/reference form (a couple are available on PanTravelers) and get a couple filled out on each assignment. A written reference is like gold. It also protects you should the hospital have low census and makes up a bogus clnical reason to term you. By the way, your agency collects a written eval on you at each assignment per their contract. They usually don't share with you as you can use it with other agencies. That is why you have to get your own.

One of the little things I do is copy a staff contact list at every assignment and scan it into my laptop. I don't use it for references but you never know when a name and phone can come in handy. Immediately useful if you have to call in or swap shifts. If I go back to a hospital not uncommonly, it helps me remember people's names. Staff always remembers your name, and I'm bad at names.

[jks_05]

Speaking of PanTravelers (sorry that I'm off topic here), I've tried registering with that site probably three times now. It keeps telling me to check my email for a verification, but I have never gotten one! I've tried two different email accounts too. Any advice??

[NedRN]

Your email service has a spam folder. I'd bet that is where you will find it. That is where I often find automatic email responses. There are email addresses sprinkled around the site. I know the guy who gets them and he is very responsive. He says he gets this issue a lot.

[dance4life]

Get a generic eval/reference form (a couple are available on PanTravelers) and get a couple filled out on each assignment. A written reference is like gold. It also protects you should the hospital have low census and makes up a bogus clnical reason to term you. By the way, your agency collects a written eval on you at each assignment per their contract. They usually don't share with you as you can use it with other agencies. That is why you have to get your own

Unfortunately some agencies think letters or reviews are worth pennies now. I have one for each assignment they don't care they want a person. They even had the nerve to ask for a nurse's work number while getting a reference from the nurse. FYI these happen from the bigger agencies that people swear by. I am not good enough to work there apparently if some nurses need a letter and I need voice references. It is like when some travelers get drug tested and others don't. I had my hair tested once. Hospital claimed it was their policy. Just my luck I guess.