How would agency find out?

That's a great question, I have wondered that myself. Also traveling is a nice way to check out the hospitals.

Yea, I cannot figure out WHY my travel assignments are always such a great experience. But when I've had a staff position, it's always sucked for me. I mean, I do not get along very well with my coworkers as staff - and I swear, its not me!! But when I travel, coworkers, management and I become like family. I've almost always considered perm with every travel job bc I end up loving it so much.

If it is in the hospital contract, they have to tell the agency. If it is in your contract and you do not inform the agency, it is possible you might be held personally liable for the commission, usually around 25% of first years pay.

Your chosen facility will most likely contact your travelling agency for further info re references. That's the dead give-away. And they do those employment checks that detail where you've worked for some previous time and drew payroll. So you'll need to be honest with them or you could be fired for omission on your application.

And as to why you're so loooved at your travel facility - just think about it. You're EXTRA on the floor so the regular staff LOOVE you. If you weren't there, they'd be working short - you help them to have a better workday. I used to float at one hospital job, and they loved me every time I showed up. I was always the EXTRA nurse so the staffing was so much better for the staff there. Unit managers wanted me to transfer perm to their units, but I liked floating because I didn't get dragged down into unit dramas.

Honor your contract's restrictions as NedRN explains. There's been some previous postings here from nurses who jumped ship (like you're thinking) without repercussions. And some nurses have been held accountable for $$ penalties. If you're financially secure, you can take your chances ...