housing Q and recruiter comment

[cvryder]

I've been with my current agency for well over a year and a half now (5 assignments) and really like them, but it's like pulling teeth to get an assignment in the area I prefer (central/west/north VA or very nearby cities in adjoining states) as they usually only seem to have assignments in the Beltway area. I have lucked out a couple of times but still keep my options open.

My agency provides top-drawer housing, fully furnished--right down to the forks and bedsheets. I don't really want to have to truck my pots and pans and linens and dishes and all that around; it's bad enough dragging what I do! So if I'm looking at other agencies, I am looking for the same sort of housing.

Recently I was contacted by a recruiter from an agency that's been pretty highly spoken of here. Since I'd worked with a nurse who travels with them I replied to the recruiter's e-mail, which listed benefits the company gives, including "fully furnished housing." I asked what they considered "fully furnished" and what she listed in the reply was pretty bare-bones, meaning I'd have to drag along everything *but* the furniture, appliances, and TV. Also she listed the "allowances" for utilities; my agency pays mine, and I know for a fact that utilities are much higher than the other agency's "allowance." When I replied back that I preferred the really fully furnished housing and thanked her for her time I got back a rather snippy e-mail stating that if other companies did all that they were shorting me on something else. I didn't think that was very professional and I have crossed that recruiter and company off my list. How common is this kind of trashing?

NOW---two questions. First of all, what companies *do* offer the complete housing package, and second, who's got all the VA contracts? Oh yeah...and anyone travel with Cross Country? They have a lot of nurses where I'm at now.

Jilly

PS: Contact me privately if you want details of the company I'm with, they really are great, just I need to be in VA area right now. Also I will tell who the other company and recruiter were, but only privately.

[bagladyrn, RN]

Yes, that is pretty standard for "furnished housing". What you were getting is usually referred to as a "housekeeping package". The recruiter was basically right (although not very politic in the way she stated it) - every company gets the basic amount for the contract, then they divide it up to cover housing, benefits, wages, overhead and profit. So it really does mean that more in one sector will have to mean less in another. A company that pays a higher hourly rate, for example, may have lousy insurance, or skimp on staff so that there is no one available to help when you call after hours, etc.

As to Cross Country, I've been with them 11 years and have been very satisfied with them. That is not to say there have never been issues, but they have always resolved them to my satisfaction. They are one of the largest companies, so that leads to more available contracts in more places.

[cvryder]

Hmmmm. I've traveled with TNS and On Assignment, and both of them offer the "housekeeping package" which I really prefer. Who else does?

And I disagree that they skimp on something else. On Assignment is particularly good in my experience. I'm doing my fifth assignment with them and the only reason I'm asking is that I'm looking to stay in VA.

[Daye]

No experience but would love to converse and inquire further will PM as soon as I remember what to do.:)