Fastaff

[raindrop]

I performed a quick search and it seems as though most of the threads are pretty dated. I went to the fastaff website and they have very few positions and of the open positions, they are only 8 weeks in length. Are these things the norm for this company or perhaps just a fluke? Also, its my understanding that they pay well in addition to providing housing in a corporate style hotel room. At the end of the year, does the traveler have to claim the hotel costs on his or her taxes? Do they still offer a large bonus if you travel with them consistently for a year? Any perks about this company? Cons?

[NedRN]

Most agency websites have pretty poor updates on current jobs. Part of this is that most assignments these days are last minute and are filled fast. Fastaff's site states most jobs are filled in 10 days or less from the time of order. But most agency sites just do a bad job.

Really you will need to talk to a recruiter. Fastaff has a rep for not being very responsive to new to them travelers, which is not great. They actually have an intake recruiter you have to deal with until everything is done, then you get your real recruiter. 48 hours - 8 weeks is their standard contract - different from most agencies because they specialize in rapid response jobs. Those jobs carry higher bill rates and so they do pay more than typical agencies. But often the work is harder, at troubled hospitals, or post strike hospitals with poor morale, and usually higher patient ratios. You will earn your money usually!

Housing is paid by Fastaff, you are not expected to pay for it. So you won't have anything to deduct.

I've never heard anything about a bonus structure, but I once worked at a post strike hospital with hundreds of Fastaff employees and they had prizes (I think a lottery system) that were up to 25 thousand dollars! I worked with a traveler that got that much. Of course, it seemed like less to him than it would have to me because he had worked 7 12 hour shifts for over a year. This was at Washington Hospital Center in DC. Those were the gravy days for Fastaff.

[UtErRnEmt]

I'll tell you my experience with Fastaff. I was supposed to have gone to work for them outside of D.C. I finished my notice where I was working and called the hospital I was going to to verify when I was to start. Imagine my surprise when the NM told me that they no longer needed me and that the recruiter should have notified me. I then called the recruiter who did not even apologize for not calling and updating me. Needless to say I did not travel with them and my former employer would not hire me back (even after I worked out a notice). I ended up going with RTG and was not impressed with them (had to find my own housing, the hospital did not put all my days together as was promised, had my purse stolen). That was several years ago and I am still leery of traveling though I've been thinking about it since the salary in the south is degrading to nurses.

[BARNgirl]

UtErRnEmt, I was also lured by their generous compensation when they offered me a Peds ER position in the Bronx earlier this year. After completing the marathon of online testing, running to the lab for blood titers and drug screens, my (intake) recruiter did not remember me anymore! She simply did not return my calls or emails, and when I finally got hold of her she offered a meek: "I don't know why they (her clients?)never called me back, I don't understand". On top of that, she refused to send me my titers results, which I could have used with the company I am traveling with currently. NedRN, I should have asked you before entertaining their offer!

[NedRN]

I don't know that I could have given decent advice before you jumped through the Fastaff hoops. I've never applied to them although I've been tempted at times, but I have read a lot of feedback about disappointing followthrough from them, mostly to those who have never completed an assignment with them before. I think their regular travelers do OK and are happy.

[BluntForceTrauma]

I've worked with Fastaff for almost 2 years now and haven't had any problems *fingers crossed*. When I first started with the "intake recruiter", I never had any problems with him calling me back. We spoke on a daily basis even though I went back and forth about being ready to travel. My regular recruiter now returns calls and emails within 30 minutes to an hour. The assignments are usually 8 weeks, 48 hrs, and I've had the option to extend at every hospital. The pay is what they state it is. Maybe things have changed, but I haven't worked at any troubled hospitals or felt unsafe in any hospital environment. Most of the ones I have worked in are top tier hospitals affiliated with well known medical schools. All of my bonuses have been paid on time ....$1,000 just for being on assignment during the holidays, not actually working them.

[BARNgirl]

Thank you for your comment, BluntForceTrauma. I still mention Fastaff to other (potential) travelers looking for generous compensation, but I also urge them to have a "plan B", and never to quit their jobs until they have a contract in hand.

[BluntForceTrauma]

Thank you for your comment BluntForceTrauma. I still mention Fastaff to other (potential) travelers looking for generous compensation, but I also urge them to have a "plan B", and never to quit their jobs until they have a contract in hand.[/quote']

The thing about that is that it can happen in any travel assignment. I had friends that had contracts cancelled after 3 weeks due to hospital's low census (Cross Country, American Mobile, RTG). That's just a risk you take in the travel world. They can cancel you for any reason.

[Amazing86]

Does anyone know Fastaff bill rate for NYU hospital?

[NedRN]

$106 per hour.