they don't tell you EVERYTHING!!!!

KATHRYNERN · Jul 20, 2006

that really stinks. what company did this? hope it wasnt american mobile or ill become paranoid!!!

soliant12 · Jul 20, 2006

Start getting paranoid Amercian Mobile is one of the worst companies I have ever seen. Look at fastaff or some of the other better known companies.

that really stinks. what company did this? hope it wasnt american mobile or ill become paranoid!!!

Maynmom · Jul 20, 2006

There are too many companies out there for you to stay with one that you feel may be ripping you off.

DarlinNurseRed · Jul 23, 2006

I am looking at two companies at this time, TNS and Trustaff. Both of these have good points, and the recruiters are very helpful, although I haven't decided yet on one or the other. Has anyone had any contact with these or heard of any?

ruthiebaby88 · Jul 24, 2006

travel companies can be very deceptive and you better take notes while you are talking to them on the phone - read all the fine print and be willing to change companies if they won't give it to you in writing

i have done several assignments with american mobile and i feel like at least when i work for them i know what i will be getting - in my experience they have stood behind what they promised - in my experience the smaller companies work harder to hook you and then you may find surprises in the fine print - however i'm sure there are some good smaller companies out there

JazzyRN · Aug 13, 2006

Every travel company requires you to work a certain amount of hours to receive your housing and other benefits. It would be ridiculous for you to not expect to have to work 3 days a week to live in a free apt. If you think you can find an agency that allows you to work as few hours a week as you want and live in their housing free and use their health insurance, good luck searching. If you receive your contract and it says something you dont like, dont sign it and call your recruiter. Most instances they will amend the contract to your liking within reason. Say if you want $100 reimbursment for utilities, tell them so and 9 times outta 10 they will change it. The company makes more money off you than you can imagine. They would rather give you and extra $25/mo than lose your whole contract, esp that late in the stage of working with the hospital. You have to negotiate, I treat them like carsalespeople, until i get what i want.

NurseguyFL · Aug 16, 2006

I'm learning that you really have to be careful. One recruiter at a company I recently applied to flat out lied when I asked about housing and travel arrangements. The information on their website went on and on about 'free, all-inclusive, furnished housing and full travel reimbursement.' But, for some reason I did not believe what she was telling me when I asked for more details. It turns out that the "free, all-inclusive housing" consists of just a few basic items of furniture and thats all. You have to either tote all your own stuff or go shopping for almost everything once you get to the location. I plan to do neither because I've found other agencies out there that both offer decent pay AND cover your travel and housing expenses.

Not to mention the travel. The so-called 'full reimbursement' was also a lie. All they give you is a few hundred $$$ towards your travel costs, and if you are travelling cross country your gas and mileage are definitely going to more than exceed the amount they will reimburse you.

She lied about a number of other things, too. For instance, she told me that I should expect to be floated with the same frequency as the floor staff while I'm on assignment, but when I did my phone interview with the nurse manager for the unit she told me it is their policy that travellers are always floated first, and that they are usually floated first to med-surg areas rather than to tele according to the med-surg patient census. I also felt like this recruiter was trying to pressure me into accepting the assignment because of the way she kept rushing everything and trying to get me to commit to it. The more questions I asked, the more I realized that I was being lied to, so I eventually declined the assignment and decided to go elsewhere with another agency that is offering me high pay with more reasonable terms written into the contract.

nightingale, RN · Aug 17, 2006

I'm learning that you really have to be careful.
The more questions I asked, the more I realized that I was being lied to, so I eventually declined the assignment and decided to go elsewhere with another agency that is offering me high pay with more reasonable terms written into the contract.

I am glad you found something fair. Thanks for posting.

sumoe · Sep 9, 2006

My recruiter told me everything up front except the hourly rate, apparently. I also would receive minimal travel expense coverage. Flying is expensive, and leasing a car is out of this world! Plus, when I found out the hourly rate, it was almost 25% less than I would make close to home...so why travel? I will try again next year with another company.

cydney7 · Sep 11, 2006

Hi all--

I would be really interested to hear about bad and good agencies to travel with. I haven't done it yet, but I'm definitely interested. Has anyone heard anything about Onward Healthcare? It looks promising, but after reading all of these posts, you just never know. I know that I need to do my research and ask all the right questions, but it would just help me to know what agencies to look into. Thanks.

cjmt · Sep 20, 2006

I am looking at two companies at this time, TNS and Trustaff. Both of these have good points, and the recruiters are very helpful, although I haven't decided yet on one or the other. Has anyone had any contact with these or heard of any?

Iam on my second assigement with TNS and have been very happy with this company. I had to leave them for another company due to area that I want to go to and they had no hospital in that area. I am returning to them for a Fall contract. They did everything that they said they would do but remember they are sales people making money from your work so dont be afarid to ask for what you want. Ihave applyed to trustaff but have never taken assigment with them. Hope this helps