multiple travel co. apps

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I am in the process of getting my first travel assignment. I have applied to 4 or 5 companies, but am in daily contact with only one of those. It seems that alll the travel companies have access to the same bank of jobs, because when I speak with a recruiter at one co. and tell her my qualifications and requests for a position, she will tell me about the same positions I have heard about from other companies. My question is, does it look bad to the hospital recruiters if your name is submitted for a position by more than one company? I certainly want to maximize my opportunities for being placed, but at the same time I don't want to look like a scatterbrain who doesn't even know where she is being submitted. Any thoughts?

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It can lose you the job depending on the hospital. Beware especially if it is a chain of hospitals like a CHW or Kaiser.

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Hey girl just to offer my 2cents. I am also with a few travel companies but I have yet to take my first assignment. I suggest you informing the companies you want to be notified of where you are being submitted in advance so you can research where the facility is and what is has to offer. Being submitted to the same facility by more than one company is sloppy and does not make a good impression. Keep a list of all the companies you have been submitted to and who submitted you, so you know where to allow a profile to go. I would be very learly of a company that submits you to a facility they did not inform you of in advance, they should inform you of the offer inadvance, pay ect. The best defence is a good defence and to always be prepared! The more you know about an area, facility and location the more informed your decision will be.

I use epodunk.com to look at locations.

You can PM me if you would more info.

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Sorry, but it is not multiple agencies that you are applying to. There are several that are under the umbrella of the same parent company, do they have the same listings list that each have. Hospitals do not normally list their postings with many, many agencies, they have a coupel that they work with directly. But if you apply to a sister agency, they will tell you about the listings that they have, even though they are thru the other agency. Be careful with those.

And yes, you can actually get banned by having more than one company submit your resume to the same facility. Not a good idea. Because it looks like you are just playing each company, and it doesn't make anyone happy.

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

Yes, many agencies do have the same jobs, as every other agency! A hospital will send out needs lists to every agency they have a contract with, and it could be as many as FIFTY or more! Even small hospitals can have as many as 30 or more agencies, they deal with. I have walked into hospitals staffing office, and seen numerous sign in books!

Because of this, many hospitals have started using primary vendors, or posting boards, just to help them deal with all the different agencies! Any Traveler can tell you that, they have worked with Travelers from several different agencies, while they were on assignment. However, you will also find that different agencies will have different bill rates for these facilities. So do not automatically think, that another agency is cheating you or not dealing fairly with you, just because they can offer you more money for an assignment.

And be VERY careful NOT to be submitted to the same hospital by more than one agency! You will find you have a hospital, that never wants to talk to you ever again! Also be very careful, the agency you give your paperwork to, is trustworthy! You may find you have been submitted to places, you know nothing about, and never want that agency to submit y ou too! Get it in writing that each agency you deal with, will only submit you when and where you tell them to. Travelers find out this the hard way, all too many times. When you tell an agency to submit you, tell EVERY agency you have been submitted, and where! Do NOT allow any agency to submit you, without telling you exactly where you have been submitted. This may sound basic, but you would be surprised how many Travelers, allow agencies to just to submit them, and they have no idea where!!!

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Suzanne, I would like to share my most recent experience , and ask your advice . I am new to travel nursing , I have had one assignment , it was very brief to New Orleans.

I have files with 4 agencies. ( 2 files complete ready for me to go to work) . I have been at home since Jan 16th awaiting an assignment . It is my goal to go to California , which has been a challenge,due to the distance from where I am in SC . Initially I was all gung ho about a position , but then came to the realization that the drive would be too much and the contract i was offered just wasnt sufficient . I changed the company I desired to go to California with , because they offer rental cars, free airfare , and free private housing.

But at the moment I am so disillusioned with the whole process , because a position changed ( the shift offered) , I never interviewed.. was resubmitted and then told the hospital went with a less expensive agency . (california)

I can not believe that I am sitting at home not working . RN such a shortage... it just baffles me . The process of getting an assignment is exhausting . I was so looking forward to travel, but at this point I am considering just applying at a neighboring hospital , and trashing the whole travel idea .

Any words of encouragement or advice would be appreciated.. Agencies just seem disorganized... limited...folks do what and when it matters to them to do.( No more )

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

I am so sorry that happened to you. I think I listed with 6 when I started and everyone had what I wanted but low and behold no one ended up having what I wanted. I finally gave up for a bit.

renerian

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I have had one assignment , it was very brief to New Orleans.

I can not believe that I am sitting at home not working . RN such a shortage... it just baffles me . The process of getting an assignment is exhausting . I was so looking forward to travel, but at this point I am considering just applying at a neighboring hospital , and trashing the whole travel idea .

Any words of encouragement or advice would be appreciated.. Agencies just seem disorganized... limited...folks do what and when it matters to them to do.( No more )

I hope you do no not mind my commenting.

I would diversify and submit to other Agencies. I have used an organized packet to hand out to several Agencies so I do not have to necessarily do "their" packet.

Keep a list or binder and keep your notes (long term); it does get easier over time. Be patient and hold out for what you want. I do mostly local per diem Agency and travel from time to time for now. See what local Agencies have to offer and do not lock yourself into a contract if you really do want to go elsewhere.

Let us know how you are doing.

What is your specialty?

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Suzanne, I would like to share my most recent experience , and ask your advice . I am new to travel nursing , I have had one assignment , it was very brief to New Orleans.

I have files with 4 agencies. ( 2 files complete ready for me to go to work) . I have been at home since Jan 16th awaiting an assignment . It is my goal to go to California , which has been a challenge,due to the distance from where I am in SC . Initially I was all gung ho about a position , but then came to the realization that the drive would be too much and the contract i was offered just wasnt sufficient . I changed the company I desired to go to California with , because they offer rental cars, free airfare , and free private housing.

But at the moment I am so disillusioned with the whole process , because a position changed ( the shift offered) , I never interviewed.. was resubmitted and then told the hospital went with a less expensive agency . (california)

I can not believe that I am sitting at home not working . RN such a shortage... it just baffles me . The process of getting an assignment is exhausting . I was so looking forward to travel, but at this point I am considering just applying at a neighboring hospital , and trashing the whole travel idea .

Any words of encouragement or advice would be appreciated.. Agencies just seem disorganized... limited...folks do what and when it matters to them to do.( No more )

It depends on the agencies that you signed with. I only signed with two, but only use one currently for all of my assignments and have not one issue with getting what I want.

Soem of the agencies out there, and they are the larger, are actually under one corporate umbrella. The more reputable facilites do not list with thrity or forty different agencies, as some have mentioned, they usualy give the job bid to one or two agencies and see what they can produce first. Otherwise things would be a mess, with calls coming in from all over, and too many needed in the office to handle all of that. If one agecny can meet all of the facility needs, then they will just deal with the one. That oen can contact other agencies, but that is something else entirely.

You never, ever want to be sumbitted to the same facility by two or more different agencies. That is a big no-no for the agencies, as well as the facilities. I am sure that there are others that many not agree with that, but I have been doing this for way too many years not to know otherwise.

Same things for per diem, you sign up with several agencies, but ones that go to different facilitied, so that you can get work. When on hospital is quiet, there is usually another that is busy.

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Regarding per diem, I have signed up with more then one Agency at a facility... whoever calls me first, gets me...

I never play one Agency over another, some recruiters are better at calling faster then others. I tell the facility up front that I have done this to be sure there is no confusion; then I tell my Agency.

Travel Contracts ARE different then local per diem. I agree you should have only one submit you; I would make sure they have it in writing to NOT submit you without your written permission.

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