Travel Agencies

[lhrn1977]

I am getting prepared to hopefully pick up a travel contract in California in late Feb/early March. I currently have applications submitted to Valley Healthcare, Emerald, HRN, Cross Country, and Trinity. Here are my personal pros and cons for each one so far:

Emerald: Great pay rate and benefits but it seems like my recruiter does not have much healthcare knowledge. Good communication though.

Cross Country: To me, seems like they have more access to teaching hospitals (which I prefer), but pay isn't all that great.

HRN: What I like about HRN is that they have regional offices in California,so the recruiters are very familiar with their area and if I have any issues, they are nearby and not across the country. Plus, they do a lot of PRN staffing so if I need to pick up something in between contracts, I can utilize their database.

Trinity: My recruiter has been vigilant and keeping in contact with me and always calls me back. They get their California jobs through AMN - so they have jobs with Kaiser, HCA, and Alta Bates. The rates aren't all that great...I'm guessing that it's because they are going through a middle man to gt the jobs. Plus I have heard that Kaiser tends to pay less.

Valley Healthcare: Don't know much yet - just submitted an application this morning so we'll see!

Does anyone out there have any feedback on these companies? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[luvsfallin]

I do not have an answer to your question but I am interested in those same companies for a travel assignment in May... Have you learned anything new about these companies? Have you started working for one?

[Sg0223RN]

Hello I know this thread is a year old, however I would love your input. I'm from Georgia and plan to start traveling with my wife. First time going to California. I applied to Emerald and would like your input on them. I want to have a company that won't "pull a fast one" seeing how this the first time I will travel :) Any advice on this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

[sandi917]

I think those companies are good, from what I have heard. Travelers do not make good money, contrary to popular belief. Rates change from assignment to assignment and supposedly differ from Southern CA and Northern CA. I was told rates were higher in Northern CA, but that was not my personal experience. I would stick with the larger companies. I have dealt with the local companies and was really raked over the coals....poor housing, at one assignment they never signed me up for insurance (totally bad experience). Also, the local companies play games with assignments....they wait until the last minute to say a deal fell through or whatever, then stick you with a lousy assignment in a place you don't want to be in crummy housing. You are stuck because you need a job and your contract is up. Uh....nightmares!!!

[pdrgeez]

Emerald is great. Stay away from HRN...they took 3 months to get me an assignment, then I had to pay for my own hotel for the first week, took an apt. from them for one week, after 3 weeks they didn't send me a contract, nor pay me. Now they tell me that because I took housing from them for one week that I don't get any pay. STAY AWAY FROM THEM. I have worked for AMN and Liquid Agents. They have their good and bad points, but no one is as bad as HRN.