Travel Nurse Scam?

Hello Everyone

Recently I applied for a travel nursing job at company called: The Right Solutions or TRS.

Travel Nursing Healthcare Staffing Agency | TRS Healthcare

They called me back asking for my date of birth and social security number.

Also in an email they asked for a copy of my drivers license, social security card.

They also asked for usual RN license and certs (ACLS, PALS, CPR).

My question is: Is it normal for the company to ask for these before I have a position or do they ask for this normally right away.

I ask this because everyone is used to giving a copy of drivers license, birth certificate and social security card in HR at all permanent jobs to do background check.

But is this standard for travel agencies? Should I be concerned about identity theft?

I am new to travel nursing agencies.

Hello Everyone

Recently I applied for a travel nursing job at company called: The Right Solutions or TRS.

Travel Nursing Healthcare Staffing Agency | TRS Healthcare

They called me back asking for my date of birth and social security number.

Also in an email they asked for a copy of my drivers license, social security card.

They also asked for usual RN license and certs (ACLS, PALS, CPR).

My question is: Is it normal for the company to ask for these before I have a position or do they ask for this normally right away.

I ask this because everyone is used to giving a copy of drivers license, birth certificate and social security card in HR at all permanent jobs to do background check.

But is this standard for travel agencies? Should I be concerned about identity theft?

I am new to travel nursing agencies.

Quick Google search reveals it to be a legit company in Arkansan with physical address

Since it's standard practice for any HR to do background checks on employees prior to making offers (or they make an offer contingent upon passing the check), why wouldn't you expect a travel agency to do the same? After all, they are responsible for making sure that the people they place aren't frauds or criminals, so.....why not?

FYI, my current job required A TON of information including what you mentioned, all prior to receiving a firm offer (based only on tentative).

Since it's standard practice for any HR to do background checks on employees prior to making offers (or they make an offer contingent upon passing the check), why wouldn't you expect a travel agency to do the same? After all, they are responsible for making sure that the people they place aren't frauds or criminals, so.....why not?

FYI, my current job required A TON of information including what you mentioned, all prior to receiving a firm offer (based only on tentative).

I am more gearing my question toward someone with experience dealing with travel nursing.

I am all familiar with whats required in standard practice.

What usually happens per my post is that at any nursing job you go through interview, and then they check your references and background.

Then if by saving money or standard protocol (as usual by my past hospitals I have worked) HR will get your copies of RN license, state license, ACLS, and what have you later, along with your social security card when they want to hire you.

My question is geared toward someone that know travel nursing not someone that blindly thinks they know.

I want to know is it standard to ask information such as social security card and drivers license right away before anyone considers your employment feasible to hiring you at the travel nursing company.

Someone who recently or is doing travel nursing please answer.

My concern is regarding identity theft, after reading articles posted on this site.

Question is about protocol and focus on travel nurse

Edited Apr 13, 2015 by 1alphamale
clarify

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

How rude.

You may wish to go to the travel nursing forum if you are that specific about the only people who you want to help you. You posted in a general forum on a public board. As such, anyone can answer. You aren't entitled to any kind of level of expertise. If you are suspicious call the Better Business Bureau and do some investigating rather than asking strangers to do it for you and then getting irritable when you don't like what is being said.

Good luck.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I applied with an agency (local, not travel) and I had no interview at all. They went straight to documents. When I finally did go by the office, it was to fill out more documents and talk about what kind of shifts I was looking for.

Agencies don't actually care about you. They care about having bodies on their roster.

I am more gearing my question toward someone with experience dealing with travel nursing.

I am all familiar with whats required in standard practice.

What usually happens per my post is that at any nursing job you go through interview, and then they check your references and background.

Then if by saving money or standard protocol (as usual by my past hospitals I have worked) HR will get your copies of RN license, state license, ACLS, and what have you later, along with your social security card when they want to hire you.

My question is geared toward someone that know travel nursing not someone that blindly thinks they know.

I want to know is it standard to ask information such as social security card and drivers license right away before anyone considers your employment feasible to hiring you at the travel nursing company.

Someone who recently or is doing travel nursing please answer.

My concern is regarding identity theft, after reading articles posted on this site.

Question is about protocol and focus on travel nurse

Wow, you are really QUITE rude, you know that? I was polite and didn't "blindly think I knew" anything, I was completely appropriate. It's not like you were paying for a service, for heaven's sake, and it wasn't ME who was totally out of line.

Perhaps, for you, travel nursing with very short assignments in which no one has to spend much time with you is a GREAT idea.

Buh-bye!

Edited Apr 13, 2015 by RNsRWe
stopped myself before I went too far...

How rude.

You may wish to go to the travel nursing forum if you are that specific about the only people who you want to help you. You posted in a general forum on a public board. As such, anyone can answer. You aren't entitled to any kind of level of expertise. If you are suspicious call the Better Business Bureau and do some investigating rather than asking strangers to do it for you and then getting irritable when you don't like what is being said.

Good luck.

Unreal, right? I think I can see why "Alpha Male" might have issues finding employment at all....anywhere.

To any travel nurses out there who have the information the OP so rudely demands, I say CHARGE him for it!

SO rude!

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I have a tip for you, since you're so concerned about identity theft. Sign up for identity guard & credit monitoring.

I have a tip for you, since you're so concerned about identity theft. Sign up for identity guard & credit monitoring.

Since English is obviously not his first language, such a contract might be more than he can manage. Better have someone else EXPLAIN it to him, on his terms. But, of course, only an expert in the field will do.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thread moved to Travel Nursing forum.

OP, members are just trying to help. All Nurses have opinions that can benefit you.

Let's all cool down and go from here ...

It is the usual custom to submit all the documents required to land an interview first and find if the hospital wants you before going to the expense of a background check. Most agencies will require an application, but the minimum is your work history, credentials held (just a list, not copies), a skills checklist, and two references in hand. They can ask for more, personally I don't give it. I don't want the extra work either!

It is possible that TRS has been burned a couple times going through the process and then the traveler failing the background check or using someone else's license. That makes them look bad to their client hospitals so I can't blame them if so. Some hospitals also require a SSN to look at the initial traveler profile so that is excusable as well. But TRS should explain why they want sensitive information up front.

It is true that the more your SSN is out there, the easier it is for your identity to be "stolen" or misused. Once it is out of your hands, you have no idea if it going to be faxed insecurely or emailed (almost as insecure). I would express your concerns and ask why they need your SSN before a job offer. If you like their answer, proceed. If you feel like you cannot trust them, move on. Lots of agencies eager to help you find travel assignments!

And BTW, TRS is a well known and respectable agency, not a newcomer.

[DatMurse]

My question is geared toward someone that know travel nursing not someone that blindly thinks they know.

lol wow

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I am more gearing my question toward someone with experience dealing with travel nursing.

I am all familiar with whats required in standard practice.

What usually happens per my post is that at any nursing job you go through interview, and then they check your references and background.

Then if by saving money or standard protocol (as usual by my past hospitals I have worked) HR will get your copies of RN license, state license, ACLS, and what have you later, along with your social security card when they want to hire you.

My question is geared toward someone that know travel nursing not someone that blindly thinks they know.

I want to know is it standard to ask information such as social security card and drivers license right away before anyone considers your employment feasible to hiring you at the travel nursing company.

Someone who recently or is doing travel nursing please answer.

My concern is regarding identity theft, after reading articles posted on this site.

Question is about protocol and focus on travel nurse

Let's see, you signed up here today, listing 0 years of experience and highest education as prenursing.

You ask a question and preceed to get snotty with those that attempt to assist you.

Way to make a lasting bad first impression, Mr. Alpha!

As a very experienced traveler nurse, yes, many good agencies require a lot of data, well before presenting you as one of their nurses. I will be honest, in that they never requested copies of my SSN card, but they did request the number, and got a copy of my passport.

Use some logic and common sense. They are accepting you without seeing you and seeing your performance. They are presenting you as their candidate, and if you perform poorly or have issues in the past that are problematic, that get found out on assignment, it detrimentally affects the agency, the nurse and the hospital.

When a traveler's name is submitted to a hospital, the facility has the expectation that licensure, credit and background checks have cleared, that their records of performance from , and that you have a skill set tat they can use. They don't wish to waste time on someone that has not cleared those hurdles. Accept that traveler nursing involves a lot of special clearances, checks, drug testing, etc.

But if you are truly worried about identity theft, call the Better Business Bureau.

One last thing, if you demonstrate the rudeness that you did before, it will sorely limit your prospects as a traveler.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Drivers license and social security card/ VISA used to provide proof of identify for US government:I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification - USCIS

With the influx of Internationally Educated Nurses passing NCLEX but don't meet I9, Travel agency doesn't want to spend interview time if unable to meet employment eligibility requirements.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

This thread is popcorn-worthy ... meow!

In my experience with travel nurse agencies, I've never been asked for the HR sensitive info up front before interviews. That all came afterwards once an offer was made and accepted. Only things they needed for my profile to be sent to hospitals were my application, my skills checklist and references. The application itself has questions about eligibility to work in the USA and such. After you accept an offer, someone from the compliance dept of the agency sends you an email with a list of docs that you need. That's usually when the background and drug screen happen too.

As a first time traveler, I recommend going with the larger agencies first, despite their reputations, reviews online and purportedly lower rates of pay (which I haven't really considered too paltry anyway). They have many more opportunities to offer and get you going quickly until you have experience under your belt to move on to other agencies.

This thread is popcorn-worthy ... meow!

Better change the 'meow' to 'woof woof': the OP is a male. Or, self-described "alpha male".

Better change the 'meow' to 'woof woof': the OP is a male. Or, self-described "alpha male".

(I assumed that male PacoUSA is referring to the people replying to the OP, not the fellow-male OP. But maybe that's just me being catty ... )