Travel Nurse Scam?

[1alphamale]

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.

[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.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

This thread is popcorn-worthy ... meow!

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

[elkpark]

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 ... )

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Correct assumption, elkpark

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

(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 ... )

Ha! Missed that.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Correct assumption, elkpark

Hey, no meows, but lots of HISSING when someone BARKS at me, LOL...

[amoLucia]

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.

This was my first thought, too, as I read the post. I9 information to get the application started is common SOP. Did it all the time.

Funny how there's a couple of current posts right now that OP posters complain about respondents being 'rude'.

Seems 'rudeness' is equally opportunistic for posters.

[NedRN]

As a traveler of 20 years, I have never once filled out an I-9 or supplied a SSN prior to a job offer. Nor would I unless I was given a really compelling reason. I-9s, W-4s and the like are always done post offer after you have accepted a job. While I haven't worked for them, I do know of several agencies who do run background checks prior to submitting travelers. That can be done without a SSN, but most use them to help verify identity.