Talking with more than one agency?

NedRN · Mar 6, 2015

I recommend it! How else will you cover all the available assignments, find out the fair market rate for you, negotiate compensation, find out who treats you the best, and be able to have a Plan B available if your first choice fails for any reason?

BecomingNursey · Mar 6, 2015

Thanks for the response! Needing feedback like this so this newbie doesn't get screwed. Lol

I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it.

Author: Art Williams

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 6, 2015

I also am signed up with multiple agencies. I like to get quotes for the locations I'm interested in to make sure I'm getting a good rate.

FPCCRN · Mar 6, 2015

I am just starting out and recently signed my first contract. I signed up with about 4 or 5 after grilling about 20 agencies. I think it worked out pretty good for me as I was able to see who was offering the most. It also gave me solid footing when I negotiated my contract. I think I would easily have been taken advantage of if I had only signed with one.

BecomingNursey · Mar 7, 2015

When I say "newbie" I mean I'm a total newbie. Lol what is this "signed with multiple agencies" mean?

I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it.

Author: Art Williams

NedRN · Mar 7, 2015

It has the general meaning that the agency has all the required documents on file to submit you to hospitals for consideration and possible interview and assignment. This includes your work history, skills checklist for your specialty, and at least two verified references. Most agencies will require a formal signed job application as well.

There are more documents involved before you can start an assignment, and some agencies require them before they even submit you to a hospital. This includes your credentials such as license, BLS, ACLS et cetera, and physical clearance and proof of vaccinations and actual titers. Identification is required for the government I-9 to verify you can work legally, and of course you need to fill out a W-4 tax withholding form. There is typically a wide variety of mandatories that need to be done before you can start such as medication tests, fire and safety, HIPAA, and others (often repeated in hospital orientation).

It is a lot of work to be fully signed up with an agency, and you are not even officially an employee until you receive an assignment contract and start working. While you can organize all these required documents at least in part on your computer, there is a reason why many travelers stay at one agency, even when they know it is not so great - it is just the path of least resistance.

The multiple agency idea is that you can best compare agencies and assignments and compensation if you are signed up with several for maximum personal benefit. Generally the sweet spot is around five. More than that and you can't keep up with staying current with all of them, nor will they want to keep up with you if you don't ever take an assignment with them. Fewer than that is OK, but diminishing benefits. Large, medium, and small agencies all have their benefits, as do actual recruiters interactions with you.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 7, 2015

What Ned said :)

BecomingNursey · Mar 7, 2015

Thanks so much. Do any of you travel with your families? My husband and daughter are going with me. I've heard Trinity is good with families but I'd like to as you've said kind of shop around to get all of my options.

I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it.

Author: Art Williams