Really low "orientation" pay?? Advantage -

[Ashera, LPN]

Interviewed with Advantage agency in San Antonio. They are asking me to go through various 'orientation' periods at several of the facilities they represent and offering only $12 orientation pay. One facility they are rep'ing wants two full days of orientation to the 'new' agency nurse.

Is this common? I'm wondering if they are still billing the facility the full amount for my time.

[suzanne4, RN]

Actually that is quite common is certain markets, but two days is excessive.

It is required on almost all of the hospitals in the Tucson market for agency as well. And the hospitals there do not pay the agency the full rate, many times the agency is not even paid for the orientation time, they are giving you that.

[kitcat3968]

Consider your orientation pay a raise. Cleveland's orientation rates can be pretty bad. But I just kept reminding myself that the perks of agency AFTER orientation are well worth it! Cathy, RN, BSN, Cleveland

[brown eyed girl]

I was told my orientation pay would be $7/hr for my first 4-5 shifts! I was expecting it to be low but not that low! I am just trying to keep my head up during this time until my pay jumps significantly.

[icucharge]

The reason the orientation pay is so low is that the agency/hospitals want to make sure the nurse that is orienting is going to be commited to work some shifts at that facility. It can get pretty expensive to pay full rates to a nurse to orient and then they do not go to work at that facility. I heard stories of nurses making a living by just going and orienting to different facilities back when they were paying full rate for this.