How to get my own contract??

[vkcRN]

Hello all. I have been a travel nurse in the cath lab and interventional radiology for close to 6 years. Recently I decided to make the transition to be my own recruiter and staffing agency and have been working on that for the last couple months. I have everything lined up...except a job! I am having he hardest time getting people to call me back, or if they do they use an MSP for their staffing needs. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have contacted a couple vendor managers, Medefis is one, is that going to have to be the route I take? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

[NedRN]

What I would suggest is first finding an open travel assignment in the cath lab. Snoop agency websites or even troll agency recruiters you have worked with. Next, call the manager! Forget HR for now. Express your interest in a travel assignment, feign ignorance of actual need. Often with managers touch once attitude, that will turn into a mini-interview on the spot. I'd have a resume ready to fax or email pending what the phone discussion is like. If the manager wants you, now you have a foot in the door with HR/staffing. "I have a traveler the manager requested and would like to establish a business relationship (or say contract if you like" with you". Vendor managers are much harder, but the same line can work on them too. Cath lab travelers are scarce so a VM may be willing to establish a relationship with you for you alone. You may get difficult questions like "are you JC certified?" but it is not required. Be honest but protect yourself. Say you are a new agency and are ramping up if asked. Don't ever say you use 1099 employees, you have W-2 employees. That is really just between you and the IRS so they cannot verify one way or the other.

Have a full profile on yourself ready to go if HR or VM is willing to do business with you. Most likely you will have to sign a general contract first. Historically, contracts were all agency written, but that is becoming rare with many hospitals, especially ones that use a lot of travelers and of course VM doing their own. I like having any document including a contract ready to go within hours of a request.

Even better is going back to an assignment you have already had and the manager knows and likes you. Makes it easier.

I outline much of this in my blog. Google "NedRN FAQ Independent Nurse" and you should find it.