OnAssignment Nurses?

Selke · Mar 26, 2008

I'd check around if I were you. My experience may differ from others, as I think compensation, repsonsiveness, &c, depend on your particular recruiter. I am working at a SFBA facility and making less than the other travelers (all with other companies): $10/hr less in pay, the same housing allowance, and NO insurance. Plus a horrible commute from East Bay to South Bay, over 1 hour each way with a 12.5 hour shift, and gas nearly $4.00/gallon. This recruiter just doesn't compare with the one I had at Access Nurses. The job isn't very good, anyway -- arrogant young residents trash talk the RNs, the RNs are expected to function outside legal scope of practice (epidural boluses), and they don't follow state staffing break and lunch rules -- but this is another issue. I took this job knowing I'd be quitting the contract early for school reasons, so I took it with a company I'll never work for again, will not put the job on my resume, and with a facility I know I'll never want to return to (this is why I didn't take the job with my other agency -- I did not want to jepordize my track record with them).

But, others may have different experiences, depending on recruiter. I'd check with other agencies, however.

KatieBell · Mar 26, 2008

Firstly, you do realize that the fully furnished housing is going to reduce your pay rate? By taking a set of sheets and towels, and buying some dishes at goodwill, you can generally increase your pay.

I have not worked for On Assignment. This woud be the reason why. I told the recruiter, "I want to go to a more rural area" to this I got the immediate response "Do you want to go to Los Angeles?"

So that was the end of any relationship with them.

merae · Mar 27, 2008

I thought the rate they quoted me was pretty good. She said $39/hr without the rental car and $33 with the rental car. I am still trying to decide if I should take my car down. OP told me 31.50 for the same facility.

loricatus · Mar 27, 2008

I thought the rate they quoted me was pretty good. She said $39/hr without the rental car and $33 with the rental car. I am still trying to decide if I should take my car down. OP told me 31.50 for the same facility.

Better make sure that it isn't a blended rate. Seems like a good rate if it isn't blended & you get time and a half on it after 8 hours in a 12 hour shift (CA law for most hospitals). OP (and the others included in what is known as the 'evil empire') are the lowest paying in the industry. If you have a blended rate with OA, then you are essentially coming very close to what OP would be paying. If I am calculating things right (based on a 36 hour workweek), the rental car is costing more than $216 per week (or over $800.00 per month)-which seems a little too high unless they provide a luxury car. Also, if you have a permanent tax home, you should be able to get a non-tax per diem portion of the rate quoted (although what OA once quoted me for this tax advantage was a joke).

Selke · Mar 27, 2008

$39/hr without rental car is pretty good. I'm getting $24/hr, no rental car, no insurance, but am getting a housing allowance.

merae · Mar 27, 2008

The $39 and $33 from OA are blended rates. Ogrady Peyton told me they don't do a blended rate for that facility and the rate is 31.50 for the whole 12 hours, which seems low to me. I am thinking it might be better to take the $39 and find my own transportation.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 30, 2008

Those rates should not be blended, On Assignment does not quote with blended rates. At least that I have never seen, even when you get your paycheck, it has it broken down into 8 hours regular as well as 4 hours OT for the last four hours of the shift.

I have been with them for quite awhile and just love them. I also have a recruiter that has just been fantastic; and that can make or break a company. There are hospitals in the Bay Area that are great to work at and others that you would not consider going to if you know the area.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 30, 2008

The $39 and $33 from OA are blended rates. Ogrady Peyton told me they don't do a blended rate for that facility and the rate is 31.50 for the whole 12 hours, which seems low to me. I am thinking it might be better to take the $39 and find my own transportation.

Then that is a problem with how OGP is paying, in CA they are required to pay you 8 hours of regular and then 4 hours of 1 1/2 times up to 12 hours and then double time after that. So that rate is extremely low.

I would check again with OA as do not believe that those rates are blended but the 8 hour rate.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 30, 2008

Just had a thought, that rate is quite low for the area, unless it is for a Kaiser facility. Their rates are about $6 to $7 per hour less than the going rate for most other facilities in the area.

They actually pay quite well for their per diem nurses, but the travel nurses are at the low end of the totem pole. Add into it the fact that they only guarantee a 36 hour work week so that influences things as well since housing costs are based on guaranteed hours, and not what you work per week with OA.

Sable's mom · Apr 5, 2008

I've never worked with OnAssignment, but they have a new recruiter that I have worked with and she is wonderful!! I don't want to break any rules so I can only saythat if you email me privately I will get back with you. Having travelled for over 4 years, I will say that your relationship with your recruiter is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the entire process. Any recruiter can make or break a company regardless of the other aspects of the company.

whoofers · Apr 5, 2008

I've never worked with OnAssignment but they have a new recruiter that I have worked with and she is wonderful!! I don't want to break any rules so I can only saythat if you email me privately I will get back with you. Having travelled for over 4 years, I will say that your relationship with your recruiter is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the entire process. Any recruiter can make or break a company regardless of the other aspects of the company.[/size']

Someone privately emailed me a recommendation sounding very similar. By any chance is the initials of the person you are talking about C.L.? If so, could you tell me more?