any ideas about access nurses agency?

[girley1]

I've been trying to decide which agency to go with...this is my first time. I am between american mobile, access nurses, and MSN inteli staff travel.

Pay is not the most important aspect for me...though it is almost at the top of my list. my priority is finding a company that looks out for their nurses and that treats them like more than 'worker ants'

[loricatus]

The 3 you mention do not have a good reputation for treating the travelers with respect.

American Mobile (& it's other affiliates) have the nickname of "the evil empire." I know a couple of travelers that say that since MSN merged, they were treated so poorly that they no longer will work with them (and these nurses were with MSN for a couple of years min.)

Try researching the traveler forums & websites (eg, highway hypodermics, delphi forums travel nurse and therapists, pantravelers, etc.) to get suggestions on decent companies.

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

I have spoken with Access Nurses over the phone when looking for assignments, but have never taken an assignment with them- their recruiters give out that "used car salesman" vibe, and they will really low-ball you on pay. Or, they will quote you a pay rate that sounds great, but "forget" to tell you that it doesn't include housing or insurance until you specifically ask them how much will be taken off your pay for those things....

[TravelingBSNRN, BSN, RN]

You can try any of them as long as you won't go with American Mobile. They have a very bad reputation. I experienced it first hand in my previous assignment. Good luck.

[JERSEY18]

I did 2 assignments with them and would personally not reccomend them. The first assignment was OK, but the second was horrible. They put me up in dumpy housing, with no washer/dryer, dishwasher or air conditioning. I had to practically beg them to relocate me which finally happened after about a month. My recruiter was almost impossible to reach and had excuses for everything. Good luck with who you choose!

[oldiegoldie]

They LIED to me about the health insurance being so expensive it wasn't worth it...I believed them and signed a contract with them....I had talked to so many people and I really needed a job so I was willing to deal with this. I was FURIOUS when I went back to the website and saw that they provide FREE health insurance from day one.....they don't know where I am going to live but made me sign that I would have to pay extra for a washer/dryer and microwave..I am going to try to get out of my contract, but I probably can't. I surely know I won't re-up with them. I only hope that if I have to take this contract the pay is right. Pray for me.

[IndigoCarmine]

I've been with Access nearly a year and have no real complaints. My recruiter is helpful and easy to reach. I take the stipend and find my own housing (always the way to go if you can swing it) so I can't speak to their apts. The health insurance is from day one, but not free. They also just changed providers and the price went up. Not sure by how much as my old rate got grandfathered in.

As for pay, there is no question that I'm the lowest paid traveler on my unit. But it's by very little and I've renegotiated the pay for this job twice without incident. I'm willing to lose a couple of bucks to be treated nicely.

Really my only issue with Access is that they have fewer jobs. Perios. Last Spring it didn't matter. This Spring, it means everything and I'm likely to go to AM solely for this reason.

The minute the economy picks up, though? I'd go back to Access in a second.

[Cali]

I've been with Access for about a year. I'm currently on my third contract with them. I haven't had any major problems. This is my only travel company so I don't really have anyone to compare them to. My recruiter is wonderful. If I ever need anything, she's always there to help and returns my phone calls promptly. I'm currently on an assignment with a few other Access nurses and I've heard complaints about other recruiters with this company. I've been reading the other posts about Access and it seems as though alot of the things people are upset about points back to the recruiter. I think your recruiter can make or break your travel assignment and it looks like different recruiters for the same company are telling and offering different things in the contract. I'm currently in the process of looking for another travel company just to see if I can get a better deal on pay and benefits. I just wanna see what's out there. The ONE thing I do not like about Access is that the benefits are not Day One. I'm waiting 30 days for my benefits to start. I had COBRA insurance from a contract I had with them and even though I had COBRA and my benefits had never officially stopped, I was told I would still have to wait 30 days after my new contract started for my medical/dental/vision to kick in. Other than that, I think they're a great company but I think alot of that has to do with my recruiter because she's the person I talk to 95% of the time. As I stated before, I think your recruiter can definitely make or break your assignment and they also may influence your entire view of the company. I was going to travel with FlexCare because when I initially called and got info the person I spoke with was very helpful, nice and informative and the pay sounded a little better than what I was getting at Access. Once I actually sent in my application, I spoke with another recruiter and he kept calling/harassing me and this changed my whole view of FlexCare. I'm at the point where I no longer answer their phone calls.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

The smaller travel companies pay nurses better, and treat them better, imo.

[deege58]

I did one assignment with Access and would not do another, I am with PPR Healthcare now and am very happy. They even sent 2 boxes of snacks as a welcome the first week of this assignment and I trust my recruiter.