recruitment agency vs own search

suzanne4, RN · Mar 16, 2005

If you want the hospital to pay a bonus, etc., then yes, you will need to sign a two year contract. Same thing that the new grads down here have to do.

But you are talking about a regular work contract and not a travel contract. Very big difference..............

A travel contract will pay your housing, etc. where the regualr contract won't, just for a simple difference.

shy_nurse604 · Mar 17, 2005

If you want the hospital to pay a bonus, etc., then yes, you will need to sign a two year contract. Same thing that the new grads down here have to do.
But you are talking about a regular work contract and not a travel contract. Very big difference..............
A travel contract will pay your housing, etc. where the regualr contract won't, just for a simple difference.

Thanks for your advice. Think I may have mistaken....I guess I'm not looking for travel nursing. I want to relocate to cali for 18 months to 2 years and I have talked to recruiting agencies and I have looked on my own.

I don't know what to look out for in a hospital or what to do. I passed the NCLEX already and I am halfway through the visa application. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks for responding! :)

Da Monk · Mar 17, 2005

If you're looking for a headhunter, I highly recommend Martin Fletcher Associates. They are super-professional. Call this guy-John Ingram at 800-390-4137. He knows his stuff. There is no fee from the candidate. I used him. Good luck.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 17, 2005

Thanks for your advice. Think I may have mistaken....I guess I'm not looking for travel nursing. I want to relocate to cali for 18 months to 2 years and I have talked to recruiting agencies and I have looked on my own.
I don't know what to look out for in a hospital or what to do. I passed the NCLEX already and I am halfway through the visa application. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks for responding! :)

How are you doing a visa application without an employer? Are you talking about the Visa Screen application?

Which country are you from?

What specialty are you looking to work in?

If you need sponsorship for a visa (green card), then you are also looking at something different as well. I suggest that you look at the International section, you will find much help with your dilemma.

shy_nurse604 · Mar 18, 2005

How are you doing a visa application without an employer? Are you talking about the Visa Screen application?
Which country are you from?
What specialty are you looking to work in?
If you need sponsorship for a visa (green card), then you are also looking at something different as well. I suggest that you look at the International section, you will find much help with your dilemma.

I am from Canada and I want to work on a Peds unit. I've been working on a Peds unit since last Sept.

I don't need a green card to work in the States, only a TN Visa. It's a temp 5 year working visa.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 18, 2005

You still need to have a job offer to obtain the TN Visa. Do you have a Visa Screen Certificate yet?

TN Visas also need renewal. They are tied into your employment contract.

Now back to basics. You have been working in peds for the past 6 months.

What type of patients have you been carrying for? Do you want to specialize in a certain area?

Believe it or not, I am trying to help you but I need much more info from you.

Can I suggest that you check out the International forum..........you will find quite a bit of useful information that you can use.

shy_nurse604 · Mar 18, 2005

You still need to have a job offer to obtain the TN Visa. Do you have a Visa Screen Certificate yet?
TN Visas also need renewal. They are tied into your employment contract.
Now back to basics. You have been working in peds for the past 6 months.
What type of patients have you been carrying for? Do you want to specialize in a certain area?
Believe it or not, I am trying to help you but I need much more info from you.
Can I suggest that you check out the International forum..........you will find quite a bit of useful information that you can use.

Thanks for all your help!! I really appreciate it!! I'll go check out the international forum.

I'm working on my Visa Screen Certificate and I am looking for a job right now. That's why I have a lot of questions on whether I should be looking for a job myself or if I should go through an agency and things I should be looking out for.

The peds unit I am working at is general med/surg. I take care of patients that are a few days old up until 17-18 years. Patients usually include gastroenteritis, RAD, respiratory distress, RSV, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, jaundice, feeders and growers, diabetes, appendectomies, fractures.

Honestly, I haven't thought about specializing but I'd be interested if the opportunity did come up. Do you think I'm on the right track?

suzanne4, RN · Mar 18, 2005

Have you completed your NCLEX exam yet?

It will take you minimum of about four months to get your Visa Screen Certificate after completing the exam. And that is if your school sends in the documents in a timely fashion. I am currently working with a Canadian nurse, whose school never sent in the complete transcript as requested, so of course, she still hasn't received her Visa Screen Certificate and she started the process over six months ago..............

There are several excellent pediatric facilities in the state of California. It depends on where you wish to live and work...........

shy_nurse604 · Mar 18, 2005

Have you completed your NCLEX exam yet?
It will take you minimum of about four months to get your Visa Screen Certificate after completing the exam. And that is if your school sends in the documents in a timely fashion. I am currently working with a Canadian nurse, whose school never sent in the complete transcript as requested, so of course, she still hasn't received her Visa Screen Certificate and she started the process over six months ago..............
There are several excellent pediatric facilities in the state of California. It depends on where you wish to live and work...........

I wrote and passed the NCLEX Feb 4th!! so I don't have to worry about that. I still have to get my college, university transcripts and I need both my nursing board and the Minnesota nursing board to send papers that say I qualify to work in the states. My friend who took the NCLEX a week before me and had her paperwork filled out got her visa pretty quickly. I went to the same school as she did so I'm hoping it won't take that long.

I had a telephone interview with a hospital in Modesto. There is a hospital in Salinas that I hope to interview with and I am also talking to City of Hope, a peds oncology hospital. I'm hoping to have a job and working in the states by Oct....at least I'd like to leave around then. Are there any peds hospitals you'd recommend? I'd like to go somewhere that isn't extremely hot...that's why I like Salinas but then again, I rather be at a good reputatable hospital working in a good team environment so I don't mind going as far south as San Diego.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 18, 2005

The Children's Hospital in LA has a very good reputation and I love the Children's Hospital of Central California.

shy_nurse604 · Mar 18, 2005

The Children's Hospital in LA has a very good reputation and I love the Children's Hospital of Central California.

There was a nursing job fair on Tues and I spoke with a nurse from Children's Hospital of Central California, unfortunately, they are only looking for nurse in NICU, PICU and ER. I would question my abilities since I just graduated...I don't want to be unsafe. I will look into Children's Hospital in LA though. :)