How do you pick a Travel Agency?

neurorn6 · Jan 23, 2009

The first thing you can do is read the different posts here. There is a ton of information. You also need to be aware that the market is tight, so be patient. Hopefully, things will break loose soon.

Anyway, good luck and remember research, research

skigr · Jan 29, 2009

I am new to travel nursing also and having some very bad experiences going into the 1st couple assignments. I wish I would have found this site a year ago. Still have lots of questions concerning finding assignments. Do most travel nurses use more than one agency? I heard that you recruiter can make or break an assignment? I keep hearing that we are in a "tight" market and I see things getting worse, any comments?

Thanks, Greg

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

Yes, never let your recruiter be in a position where they think they are your only option. You get no perks for loyalty, so dont give it to them free.

Make sure if you let American mobile be one of your companies (a mistake IMO), you dont make your second option a sister company of theirs.

Things to ask about on first assignment:

1. Parking........at work and at the housing.

2. Always inssit on a contract completion bonus. If they say there is none (there ALWAYS is), tell them your not interested in the position.

3. Insist on being able to move into the housing early. Dont let them move you in on Friday then start work monday. Get in the monday before you start, get to know the place and do a dry run to the hospital.

skigr · Feb 5, 2009

You are hired to be my agent!!! Thanks for the advice. I will be asking more in the future. I am making way too many mistakes here.

Greg

skigr · Feb 5, 2009

By the way, Am I allowed to ask which agencies you are with? Just interested in knowing. I signed up with travelnurses.com and have over 28 companies call in ONE day!! The all want to say how good they are and what they have to offer. But the one thing they don't offer is a JOB. Then they all want to call my references. Can you imagine 28 people calling my reference which is the manager of a MICU? I wouldn't want to see her the next day. Am I wrong? Thanks.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

I am willing to bet 75% of the people who called are all under the American Mobile umbrella. Not sure why they are being so aggressive with no jobs open. I think they are hoping to recruit new people so when things pick up (or should I say "if" they pick up) they can replace all the people like myself who went back to staff during the rough times.

Anyway, yeah, they are all under the same umbrella. Get to know a few, figure out which one you like most and allow them to put out contracts first. Let them be the one you allow to call your reference too. Once the paperwork is done for one, they all have access to it. They can just request it and they have it too. Than that is that.

Dont make the mistake I made and let different sister companies under the American Mobile umbrella be your recruiters. They give the impression they dont care about one another, but if you are bargaining for things, they will communicate with one another, this is a fact. Get at least one company on your side that is not under their umbrella.

I travel with American Mobile right now, but this assignment is my last with them. Too many backhand tactics for me. I've been stuck with large parking fees, put into unacceptable housing, on this contract they tried to make me responsible for 40hrs a week when the hospital was offering 36 hrs (which means I get deducted pay for not working the extra 4 each week), they took my sign on and made it a contract completion (sign on comes sooner and is not affected by call offs and such). So, they've lost myself and my wife for good pretty much.

Be carefull about the pay system the company you go with offers too. If they use that new tax deduction system, you'll find yourself being audited.

skigr · Feb 5, 2009

With the media telling everyone there is a "massive nursing shortage", why can't they find me a job? I don't think the shortage is over, I believe that ALL business are holding on to cash right now with the uncertainty of the market, and government policies surrounding them. This will cause the same problems hospitals had in the late 90's when they burned there own staff out and nurses left nursing altogether. I have been local per diem agency now for 8 yrs and I too may have to take a staff position to get through this time. I don't know how long you have been a nurse, but I remember the late 90's and it wasn't pretty how management treated nurses and thinking were where a dime-a dozen and flunked out doctors. Thank you for you advice with the travel agencies because I think you are correct about how they talk with each other and con us out of our fair share. I don't think the ones that I am talking to are with american mobile, but I will ask. I like the girl I am talking with at PPRhealthcare and she seems to be the only one mailing me a "list" of jobs. Advantage RN I believe is going to end up getting the best of me (see PBDS woes). Thanks, Greg

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

I dont know why people say nursing is recession proof.

With the recession, less "paying" patients are coming to the hospital. The ones who use the ER as their primary care and have no insurance dont stop coming, its all the same to them, not like they are paying anything anyway. So, elective surgeries and even some not so elective things are being put off so people can put food on the table for their children.

Now, with the hospital bringing in much less money, the bottom line drops obviously. And, when the CEO's and administration look at said bottom line dropping.........there are two reactions that can take place:

1. "Oh well, hope we do better next time. Guess I'll cancel my private jet flight to Paris and maybe things will improve."

or

2. "&@%$ that. We are cutting back to bare bones staffing. First, cut out as many houskeeping and dietary staff as humanly possible. Next, get rid of excess CNAs and transproters, make them do twice the work, if they dont like it, they can find something more to their taste elsewhere. Then, get rid of RNs who are close to retirement. Dont give any more OT, make the people on the floor work short if someone calls off, I almost prefer it. And certainly dont hire anyone that we have to spend money on training for, just put whoever in the position and if something happens, it'll be their license so no skin off my nose."

I tend to think the reaction is more like option #2. And, the first cut made by most hospitals is to quit using Agency/travel nurses.

skigr · Feb 5, 2009

I will agree with you #2 assessment also. However, I am perplexed about the amount of new hospitals being built and bought out? I am in Ohio and hospitals here are spouting up like mushrooms in the spring. Does capital improvements come from a different part of the buget? Maybe with all the money they are saving cutting agency they can build a new hospital? Premier Health Partners have corner the market here in Dayton, Ohio. The best part of their "scam", if you get fired from any of their hospitals you cannot work at another one. The nurse would be very limited on places to work here in Dayton, Ohio. I feel like I am venting now and going to get myself in a "ringer" posting this on a website.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

There are new hospitals going up in WA too. I dont think its as bad as people are saying in here. I think if you are picky, not willing to take something that pays a little less than you are used to, you can find yourself in a jam. But I dont know anyone who cant find anything at all.

New hospitals are coming up cause its a great time to buy property and.........lots of agency/travel nurses going staff right now.