Jedi Master

I remember using one at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. It was mandated by their union but was a work in progress to implement in the NICU there. It was good because you could grade acuity but it helped the next shift more than the current shift. However, it required documentation of parent teaching or if an infant required mored than 3 hours of care per 12 hour shift and was an another sheet to fill out per patient, per shift. e.g. "Two RN's required at the bedside during admission for 1 1/2 hour, assisting with line placement and starting IFV and drips." I can't remember the name but it was done by an accounting firm that used a 1-7 scale. 7 being critical. To me, it had its merits but also its shorcomings as it was used by all units.

I just got an assignment with Fastaff. I did have to make concessions on benefits and carry Cobra. I do need to clarify something. I did not travel with Medical Express but felt that they did not honor my experience and pulled a bait and switch. Meaning that you applied for a job because of a specific location and next thing you know the recruiter is wanting to send you to other parts of the country.

American Mobile is under an umbrella company call Worldview Healthcare Corporation. There AKA the "Evil Empire" on Delphiforums. There is a website that has all the companies under it. It is very deceptive. All of those companies, Nurses RX, AMH, Medical Express, Preferred Healthcare Staffing, and O'Grady Peyton International, are under the parent company, Worldview Healthcare. I would not go with any of them because the pay is lower than what other travel companies pay at the same place and housing is of lesser quality than that of other travel companies. AMH and Medical express would demean your credentials such as: Well, you don't have travel RN experience. (But, I had 6 years unit experience). This is a prestigious place, your in it to build your resumes not for the pay. (Been there, done that. I am trying to build my financial portfolio, not resume). Well, based on what the hospital bill rate is, this is all we can pay for this assignment, $25/hr. (I can make this at where I am now as a staff RN). Based on my experience with ME and AMH, I did one assignment with AMH, they set the RN profession back the way they treat you. The whole housing package was roughly $700-$800 per month, including furniture and electricity. The other traveler's got corporate housing with basic cable, high speed DSL internet and basic phone. I had to bring minor things like a shower curtain and hooks. Its kind of like moving, except for the furniture. Important to travel nursing is hooking up with a good recruiter that can offer a good package up front, instead of twisting their arms for the perks. If you are in debt and can't make headway, Fastaff and OnAssignment are two companies that pay well and I can only recommend them for that reason from second hand source. This is my criteria now when scoping for a travel company/assignment: Pay: $30 minimum in the Midwest and Southeast, $35 minimum on the coasts and Northeast. 36 hour weeks, will do 48 but not 60. Housing/Travel expense: Corporate housing, license reimbursement, pay airfare/rental car or reimburse travel expenses, and realistic health benefits, 401k, can retain benefits with four weeks between assignsments, etc. not HMO, benefits start 60 days after starting the assignment, or can't allow more than two weeks to lapse between assignments. This criteria may not apply to anybody here but its my criteria and I have no problem turning down assignments that cannot meet them. Make sure that you get all of the immunizations that your facility, if you are a staff RN, provides are up to date and a current physical, meaning less than a year. Hoped this helps answering your questions.