BARNgirl

Thank you for your comment, BluntForceTrauma. I still mention Fastaff to other (potential) travelers looking for generous compensation, but I also urge them to have a "plan B", and never to quit their jobs until they have a contract in hand.

I shall do that. Thank you for your prolific postings!

"By the way, that is exactly the scenario it takes to do the contract independently. Once they want you, you have leverage with HR to do your own contract. You need to have a contract written, get insurance, and a few other ducks in a row (basically presenting yourself as any other agency), but it is not especially difficult. Just requires a certain inclination, and some set up." NedRN, could you please expand on this? Thank you!

UtErRnEmt, I was also lured by their generous compensation when they offered me a Peds ER position in the Bronx earlier this year. After completing the marathon of online testing, running to the lab for blood titers and drug screens, my (intake) recruiter did not remember me anymore! She simply did not return my calls or emails, and when I finally got hold of her she offered a meek: "I don't know why they (her clients?)never called me back, I don't understand". On top of that, she refused to send me my titers results, which I could have used with the company I am traveling with currently. NedRN, I should have asked you before entertaining their offer!

As an active ER traveler, I have learned that each facility's approach to utilizing us is different. One thing is for sure: in the end, it is up to the charge nurse to arbitrarily assign your rooms for the shift. Whatever your ideal ER patient population/skill is: trauma? triage?newborn IVs? geriatrics? pediatrics? psych? let the charge nurse and coworkers know that that is YOUR ZONE by MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE AS A TEAM MEMBER. Humbly prove yourself to be the resource person for this or that, and next thing you know, you will earn your coworkers trust and respect and find yourself caring for those you care best! For example, as a former Pedi ER staff nurse, I realize that most ER nurses are not comfortable starting IVs on newborns, so I keep my eyes open for opportunities to help whoever gets that challenge. Before the end of the shift, you are already identified as valuable in that arena, and the assignments magically follow. Even at a trauma hospital, sometimes they will let you be part of the trauma team when no other RN is suitable among their newest batch of new grads, but that circle is still the hardest to penetrate. ER travel nursing and taking are of critical patients are not mutually exclusive concepts at all, as long as you prove yourself to the team before you are trusted with the sickest patients. Happy travels!

Yes, they still offered me the same housing location, plus a commuting stipend. The only issue was getting a confirmation for the assignment from the Fastaff recruiter after she sent me to do all bloodwork and took a marathon of online tests...she claimed that Montefiore never got back to her. If that was true, it was utterly unprofessional. Or it might have been the recruiter herself...I went somewhere else with a different company!

I Hi I'mAnRN, I am relatively new to travel also, and realize that three months won't kill you, no mater where you go. My first assignment was horrible, but I stuck to it and I am a better nurse because of it, in part thanks to our fellow nurses here, who encouraged me to keep going. I appreciate my current assignment so much more...it is all a matter of perspective and an exercise in positive thinking! Do not burn any bridges either, and leave your current staff position graciously in case travel is not right for you and you decide to plug back into your local community. That is the best safety net to have, I call it job insurance. As far as the first choice in assignments, set yourself for success by choosing a hospital that uses a charting system that you can do in your sleep. Staff appreciates it when a traveler can show them a shortcut or two.

Look up Solstice. I spoke with a recruiter recently and they seem to cover Raleigh_Durham pretty extensively. Medstaff is another one. God luck, we might end up working there together :)

This might have just been the case. After collecting all my information, they called me the next morning to tell me the position had already been filled (which could be true). Now they have my profile! In the mentime, I accepted another offer with a reliable company I worked for before. Bird in hand......

They offer very competitive packages, and the recruiter seems top-notch. Like you, I noticed their RN job search is blank...they called me and I stil do not know how they got my number!What did they specialize in before?

I am contemplating one of their offers but I have never heard of them...have you?

It is one created by our Christian founding Fathers :)

If I pray openly (with words), I ask the patient and family first. If they decline, I still pray FOR them on my own. As a Christian patient, I would not be offended if a Native American caregiver offered me a charm with the belief that it would help me in my suffering: I would see it as a sign that I got a great nurse taking care of me!

My recruiter just informed me that this is a typical ER situation at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, NY...can anyone confirm/deny this?

I recently visited Boston for the first time, and was truly amazed at how hospitable and intelligent its people are. From the scholar/tour bus driver to the train commuters who put their newspaper down to engage with clueless tourists from Florida. I cannot imagine a nicest group of people to do something like this to. My heart is shuttered, and I only wish I had been there to help. Praying for you, dear Boston.

One thing I have noticed about NYC assignments is that--much like its people-- its rates are far from "average"...I have recently seen them as low as $24, and as high as $50 for ER positions. Sometimes within the same agency, different hospitals, of course.

Thank you for my first "chuckle of the day"!

HCA has gone to electronically-entered physicians' orders, but not all providers comply, it depends on the facility's zeal to enforce it. When taking ER admission orders by providers who cannot-or care not- to articulate their words, I simply ask them to repeat/spell out. Often, I just get the same unintelligible sounds, but louder. My response is: "It is YOUR license I am looking after, Sir/Ma'm, not mine." This usually gets their attention. As a foreigner myself, there is NO EXCUSE for not speaking proper English when accurate communication is vital to your profession and when patients' safety depends on it!

You've just made my day! I love outspoken advocates like her, and tobacco use is a thorn in my side, too. As a pediatric ER nurse, I educate just about every parent (expectant or not) about the dangers of chemically exposing children to tobacco residue. I also love the "I never smoke around him/her" excuse they often give. Although some selfish parents choose to ignore this fact, I believe others truly do not know that that does not matter!

Thank you, that makes perfect sense. My recruiter just assured me that BSN is not needed for this assignment, so I should be GTG for now. I have been putting off my BSN, but it might be time to start researching online programs...I feel a bit insecure at the moment!

Thank you! I am waiting for a call back from my recruiter...I will share the findings :)

Have you worked for Montefiore in the Bronx? Staff or travel? Thanks!

It' s in the Bronx, NY. I fear that the potential recruiter might not be totally truthful in hopes I do all the paperwork submission for him and then have me at his disposal for something else!