New Travel Nurse-Advice Please?

GM2RN · Dec 6, 2010

I have no experience with travel contracts, but I would think that you can't be locked in if it's not in writing.

Viviana, ASN, RN · Dec 6, 2010

Thanks, GM-that's what I think also, but I'm still just not 100% sure and I'm not sure who else to ask.

britgirl37 · Dec 6, 2010

Usually a verbal IS binding. However, I was in a situation once where I had verbally agreed to a contract, but within 2 days had extenuating circumstances and pulled out. I spoke to both my recruiter and the hospital myself explaining why I coudn't do the contract and was permitted to pull out. Explain your reasons to your recruiter and be firm, then offer to speak to the hospital yourself about your reasons and see what happens......... Good luck.

Viviana, ASN, RN · Dec 6, 2010

Thanks, Brit!

Simply Complicated · Dec 6, 2010

For the couple years I traveled, if I had not signed, I was not held to a contract. I knew other people who had verbally agreed, then decided not to stay. They never had any problems. If it is safety concerns, etc, then I would talk to your agency. Tell them you are no longer comfortable staying there. GL!!

AltaEnfermera · Dec 6, 2010

In my experience, no signature = no obligation. My last contract job offered me an extension, I accepted, and found out the next day that it hadn't been approved by the corporate office. They decided to change agencies to save money. I asked my manager if there was anything I could do to stay, since they'd given me a verbal extension and she told me that unless it was in writing, it was not binding.

Viviana, ASN, RN · Dec 6, 2010

Thanks to all!

DC Collins, ASN · Dec 7, 2010

Verbal contracts *can* be binding, if there is a financial impact to one or more parties due to that verbal understanding.

But more important, how much do you want your recruiter on your side in the future?

DC ED NOC RN :)

Abbreviations R Us

Viviana, ASN, RN · Dec 7, 2010

DC, the recruiter is not really a concern because I'm more concerned about my license. She is not concerned about my situation, and because she's not a nurse, she has no understanding of the problems that we face.

There are other travel agencies, that part is not a big deal.

Thanks,

Vivian

Owensaunt · Dec 10, 2010

It's bad business to accept then decline in case you ever want to go back. You don't want to burn your bridges. But a contract is only official with a signature. Just tell them that you've decided to get closer to "home". I have had to cancel a week before a contract because my family freaked out over the distance. The company said I could never work for them again but there's a thousand companies out there.

I started working as a travel nurse about a year ago. I worked with one facility and my contract was renewed twice there, now I am on my second facility. The second facility asked me about a month ago if I would stay on for another contract period, and I told them that I would.

Since that time I have changed my mind because I have some new concerns about the work environment, and I no longer want to stay. My agency says that I must stay because I verbally agreed to do so. They claim that because this is a state hospital, the state already issued a purchase order for my services, locking me in-- but I have not yet signed a new contract for the extension.

Do I have to stay on for another 13 weeks, or can I leave? Thanks in advance, Vivian