How bad of an agency would you or have you put up with?

sticknurse · Aug 9, 2007

I put up with agencies who didn't pay me (or anyone else) on time. It was friday, and we got directions to the local food pantry instead of a check. The excuse? "We (mom and pop both Rns who thought they could run a business) bounced some checks." Check out independent nursing. In Ohio you can be an independent nurse and get paid the full rate instead of working for these guys. It takes about 6 months to get a medicaid provider number from Ohio Dept. of Jobs and Family services. Well worth it. Cut OUT the middle man.

radio4433 · Aug 24, 2007

I don't see why anybody has to work with a bad agency these days. There is so much work out there, we should be able to be more picky. I am a big fan of consumer-review sites and I have posted on ultimatenurse, locumsreview, and hobonurse. That is the only way to do it. Forums are good too, but we need something like epinions or tripadvisor.

I have been treated poorly by big agencies and had good experiences with smaller operations. I had not thought about the situation where I do an assignment with a small company and they go belly-up. That is concerning.

lisafelicity4 · Oct 3, 2007

are you an independant nurse? Tell me more.

angel's RN · Nov 5, 2007

help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have had the worst experence with this angency!!!!!!! i have a family emergency, and my recuter is very unsympathic. she informed me that i have to pay for the housing-the entire 3 months, not just what is left. she informed me that "we have lawyers, and they can get tough." then she told me that i probably woudn't get another job with a travel agency, because i am leaving early.

i am so ticked off, i don't know what to do. i just don't understand why she can't understand. my spose is disabled, and i am the sole caregiver. he has to get someone to take him to the md, store, ect. i am at my wits end!!!!!!!!!!

the thing is, the director of the hospital i am at does understand. she told me that family comes first, just like i told the agency. he went to the md today, and has to go to a specialist.

long story short, i'm going home, at the end of the week!!!

angel's rn

(p.s. i am 9 hours from home.)

saralee777 · Nov 8, 2007

I put up with agencies who didn't pay me (or anyone else) on time. It was friday, and we got directions to the local food pantry instead of a check. The excuse? "We (mom and pop both Rns who thought they could run a business) bounced some checks." Check out independent nursing. In Ohio you can be an independent nurse and get paid the full rate instead of working for these guys. It takes about 6 months to get a medicaid provider number from Ohio Dept. of Jobs and Family services. Well worth it. Cut OUT the middle man.

hello, i have a few questions about doing independent nursing? How does it work if I would work in different states? Do you need a medicair provider number for every state you work for or in? any info you have would be appreciated. thanks a lot, sara

gypsyfirebird · Nov 24, 2007

Hi, i'm an agency nurse in Ohio, can you explain this a bit more, I've not heard of this before. How would this benefit me? Thanks so much...

Nurseynurseyme · Nov 25, 2007

I put up with agencies who didn't pay me (or anyone else) on time. It was friday, and we got directions to the local food pantry instead of a check. The excuse? "We (mom and pop both Rns who thought they could run a business) bounced some checks." Check out independent nursing. In Ohio you can be an independent nurse and get paid the full rate instead of working for these guys. It takes about 6 months to get a medicaid provider number from Ohio Dept. of Jobs and Family services. Well worth it. Cut OUT the middle man.

Is this independent nurse thing only in Ohio??

caliotter3 · Nov 25, 2007

Independent contractors work in any state. You just have to abide by the rules of your state if you want to get listed as a provider for certain programs like medicaid or medicare. The easiest thing to do is just to work private duty. You run an ad in the paper, make a contract with whoever employs you and take it from there. I worked private duty for a client and they did all the employer things, such as taking out taxes and SDI through their CPA. Made it easy for me. If you just get paid straight wages, then you are responsible for figuring out what to do taxwise and SSI and SDI wise. Good luck.

On the question of putting up with a bad agency: if you need the money badly enough and you can't get hired by the competition, then you just put up with it. I have had my share of instances and put up with the agency because I want to have as many options open as possible in case my workload ceases with the other agency. I always try to be signed on with at least two agencies. I'll pay more attention to the agency that treats me better, that's all. One should not burn bridges, unless the situation is not recoverable. You never know what it will be like when you need work in the future. You want to be in a position where you can crawl or skulk back if you have to.

Vikingkitten · Jun 17, 2008

Because you need the money.
I could use the money right now and I'm thinking of going back to an agency who has done MANY things to treat me poorly. I hope to generate a good discussion thread where people can tell me their "bad agency" experience stories and why they ended up putting up with it.

:no:No Way Dave! Don't ever go back to some agency that treated you poorly. There are too many good ones out there to put up with that!