Haven't started yet and already want out

Specialties Travel

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Hi everyone. I am a new travel nurse and was really really looking forward to travel nursing. I have since signed up with a travel agency and now just don't even want to do it anymore. My recruiter asked me specifically if he was my only recruiter and if their agency was my only agency. Not knowing anything about travel nursing or agencies, I said yes that is correct. Now I feel like I'm being treated and spoken to like I'm some naive woman buying a car from a sleazy car salesman. I feel like I've been aggressively pushed to take a contract with my recruiter posting a start date that I didn't agree with.

I stated "I'm not sure about that start date and not sure if I can get all the documents in at that time" with my recruiter aggressively saying "I'm confident you will because you're a go getter. I'll go ahead and send them your acceptance right now" in some weird salesman voice. I've also had this recruiter ask me about my home/relationship situation, ask me my age and just some weird uncomfortable questions. He calls me everyday and constantly leaves me voicemails, emails and texts. I get it, he wants to make his income especially during the holidays, but it's just too much at times.

Now I'm reading about people needing to pay money for breaking contracts, horror stories about bad travel assignments, or travel nurses being treated badly at sites. I honestly just may not even want do this anymore.

Is this just an isolated case with me and a few others I read about? Or is this how travel nursing is in general? Because if it is...I may have made the wrong decision about finding work through middle-man agencies like in travel nursing.

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Specializes in ICU.

That is fine don't do it. What agency is this with??...Seems like you have done research with knowing about penalties and such. You must be with a decent agency. Hopefully it is not one of the MAJOR agencies I or others list on her to CLEARLY stay AWAY from.

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Broken record here but the traveler-recruiter relationship is far more important than any other factor. You want a recruiter that you communicate well with (failing here), and that you trust (failing here), wants you to succeed (failing here), and is working for you (failing here).

Seems like a no-brainer to me. Ditch this recruiter, and have no further discussions with him at all other than perhaps tell him that his services are not acceptable and you cannot accept or sign a contract under any condition.

Start talking to lots of other agencies until you find 3 to 5 recruiters that you like to work further with. Skip the ones who won't share any information about current open assignments or pay packages. A recruiter who steers you away from an assignment you want saying it is not a traveler friendly place for your first assignment is exactly the kind of recruiter you are looking for.

Horror stories abound in every setting. No doubt you know of a couple from your current workplace. Or nursing school (I could tell a couple here). But think about it. Are they isolated anecdotes? Do they happen often? Would they really stop you from going to school or getting a job? The same is true of travel nursing. Perhaps bad things are more likely to happen since you are getting a new job every three months, but it is not so bad that the 30,000 travel nurses currently working bail on their first assignment. Indeed, I'm an over 20 year traveler and I've met many more.

You were on the way to a horror story before you even got started so it is great you reached out. Find yourself some friendly, communicative recruiters (nothing wrong at all in signing up with several companies - if any recruiter suggests otherwise, drop them), and make sure your first assignment is well within your abilities. Chase your bucket list of locations and money after you get some experience.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

NedRN- you give such helpful advice.

*not a traveler, never will be- just a shout out

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Thanks, but I actually post the same advice three times a week!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Rach85,

Ned is right - the relationship you have with your recruiter is essential. There's ton out there, so shop around. I have two wonderful agencies/recruiters that I've done contracts with. I did a lot of research and the No. 1 priority in travel nursing is to have an agent you feel comfortable with, listens to you, offers advice, etc. It's like love - when you find a good recruiter, you just know! Don't be discouraged. My first agent gave me a pep talk that persuaded me to dive into my first contract and I'll never regret it! There will be bad contracts, it comes with the territory, but the good ones make this experience worth it all. If you need some leads, send me a PM. Good luck!!

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Good advice NedRN!... Hey Rach85... Go to the travel conference (TravCon) in Vegas next year! They bring down a countless # of agencies that you can talk to. They also give great info on anything you can think of r/t travel nursing. Google TravCon Vegas... registration opens in April.

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That is not how travel assignments are arranged. Ditch this agency and find one that respects you.

I have always felt like I was the one in control, I should be.. I am the one making money for the agency.

There are hundreds of travel agencies Research them and you will see the top 10. Interview 3 more, get back to us.

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