How to select a travel company? tips

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Specializes in ICU.

Tip one: There is no perfect company. There is better and worse.

Tip two: A lot of your experience depends on the recruiter. If you sign up with recruiter A and there is disconnect between you two, then you can be switched to recruiter B. Usually just takes an email or phone call to their manager. Keep it short as the reason for the switch. MOVE ON, if they will not meet your request.

Tip three: Sign up with 4 agencies minimal. That means have active profiles ready to go. If you get canceled or terminated you have three other agencies that can possibly cook up something for you quick.

Big question: What companies should I look into? Depends if you want to fatten the pockets of investors or mom and pops, lol Seriously...

*Bigger companies are going to have more volume and desirable locations. You know them they invest highly in advertising...Cross Country, Aya and American Mobile. These companies are the main vendor for many hospitals. That means other agencies have to pay them a small percentage. A nurse can work directly with these large companies. Working directly does not mean the RN will get more money. Bigger companies have many different departments you have to deal with.

*Rapid response companies like Faststaff and Healthsource Global are going to be limited locations and not as desirable. Taxable hourly is a high rate and the two listed will provide housing. Blue Force and Cru 48 will seldom provide housing.

(Rapid Response means a nurse can start in 1-2 weeks. Critical emergent needs of the hospital.)

*Smaller agencies might be limited to just 1-2 states but, they have less overhead cost. Less overhead means more money for the RN..

**Ask some of the mid size or smaller agencies do they have direct contracts through the hospital. This usually means more money for you the RN.

For those who have traveled please chime in why you work with XZY company.

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Specializes in ICU.

Personally for me the best paying companies: Faststaff & MSSI.

Decent companies to use for California jobs only are: KPG & MGA .

A small company I saw, Hamilton Staffing based in Florida rates are very good to. Mostly jobs in NY, CA and FL.

Companies I thought have good rates are Moore Nurses and Nurse to Nurse staffing. I am not signed up just saw rates based on facebook travel nurse groups.

Other companies I would say to call are The Quest group (Dallas I think) and RTG.

Companies that give the max stipends. USSI, taxable hourly is usually low.

Companies that find hospitals to cross train are Soliant and Total Med Staffing. You can land an IR job with an ICU or ED background with Soliant. Total Med had PICU and Cath lab cross training for ICU Rn's. PM me if you have questions about actual recruiter names I cannot openly disclosed that on all nurses.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

You aren't kidding about big companies having multiple departments to work with! I'm working on getting my second contract, and I've been dealing with companies where it seems the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. I'm finding it frustrating, but like you said, with a larger company comes a larger volume of positions to choose from, and that is very attractive for me right now. I think I will find some smaller companies to compare with on the next go 'round.

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Specializes in ICU.

Check out some other tips.

 

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I've worked with American Traveler and am also beginning to work with KPG. AT has a decent amount of positions in the DC area, whereas KPG has more options in California.

My recruiter with AT is AMAZING. I mean this woman works SO frickin hard for me, goes way above and beyond (I'm such a pain in the a$$) and she always pulls through and always makes me feel like she's trying her hardest to work for ME not the hospital. My friend works for them as well and LOVES her recruiter too, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, however they are limited in California.

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I live in southern california and am thinking about travel nursing within california. How do you feel about recruiters in Ca? could you give me some recommendations or referrals? :)

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espress099 said:
I've worked with American Traveler and am also beginning to work with KPG. AT has a decent amount of positions in the DC area, whereas KPG has more options in California.

My recruiter with AT is AMAZING. I mean this woman works SO frickin hard for me, goes way above and beyond (I'm such a pain in the a$$) and she always pulls through and always makes me feel like she's trying her hardest to work for ME not the hospital. My friend works for them as well and LOVES her recruiter too, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, however they are limited in California.

I live in southern california and am thinking about travel nursing within california. How do you feel about recruiters in Ca? could you give me some recommendations or referrals?

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thank you!!!

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Specializes in ICU.
scarcity21 said:
thank you!

You're welcome. Who did you go with?

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Specializes in A variety.

You should add to tip 3: Do the math. Even I had to catch myself being tempted by some higher paying assignments that wouldn't have resulted in more in the bank

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Specializes in ICU.
jive turkey said:
You should add to tip 3: Do the math. Even I had to catch myself being tempted by some higher paying assignments that wouldn't have resulted in more in the bank

That goes along with housing.

Research housing before inquiring about an assignment. 2200 in san jose might sound lovely but where are you going to live with your pet? Many are not aware of the housing crisis. Company housing? There goes you tax free money. I never let anyone get over on me. I questioned them repeatedly. I always made out.

Amazing this is the one thread that was not hijacked by the OR twins.

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