Travel Nursing: Recent experiences with Aya Healthcare?

[VeniceBeachNurse]

Hello:

I have been interested in travel nursing for a while. I was wondering if anyone had any recent experiences with Aya Healthcare? I see they weren't getting such great reviews, but in the past year, it seems maybe there were some management changes and the reviews seem a lot better.

Any other good experiences with any other travel agencies?

Any pointers to give someone who is new to travel nursing?

I have been a nurse for 3 years, mostly Urgent Care, Inpatient and Outpatient Psych and Hospice. I live on the east coast, but have roots in Los Angeles, so one of the things that makes it easy is I have a lot of housing options available to me independently and I know my way around the city.

Any negotiating pointers? Things you hadn't thought of that you wished you asked before signing on?

Thanks in advance!!

"VBN"

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Moved to the Travel Nursing forum.

[Emster83]

I have not traveled with Aya, but I have traveled with American Mobile and Aureus. American Mobile was okay but the pay is low. My recruiter was nice and efficient. Also, with American Mobile there was a better selection of rehab nursing opportunities. Aureus has been good too, the pay is better, the housing is better, but less rehab opportunities.

I've been traveling for almost a year now. Some things I would suggest:

-shop around (for pay packages, recruiters, housing options, etc.)

-get what you want written in your contract (vacation time, guaranteed weekly hours, what units you could possibly be floated to, etc.)

-Your recruiter really makes or breaks an experience. The company could be great but your recruiter might suck... it makes a difference :)

Best of luck!

[ierland]

I currently travel with aya. When I started working towards traveling in Oct. of last year I talked to 4 or 5 different companies. I had lots of questions and was very unsure about traveling. When most of the companies found out I wouldn't be available until Dec. they wouldn't return my calls or emails to answer my questions, but Aya took the time with me. They answered my questions and basically handheld me through the process of figuring out the breakdown of travel nursing. By the time the other companies bothered calling me back I already had all of my classes done that I needed and a signed contract within the area I wanted. My recruiter texts or calls every week to check on me if I need anything, she even offered to talk with my husband to answer any of his questions and ease his fears as we are considering our third travel with the company being all the way out in California. Everyone there really took the time with me, and that made a big difference for me, as I had worked for the same company for my entire 10year nursing career it was a huge and scary change for me. So far I really love it, and would recommend Aya. I have talked with other travelers at my facility and Aya did have a bad reputation but according to one its because they have been mixed up with a company that changed its name that was terrible and they no longer are, or something like that. It really comes down to how much your recruiter wants to do, I just like the personal care I'm getting at Aya.

[NedRN]

They changed their name from Access in part because of their bad reputation - any suggestion that they were confused with other agencies is just misdirection or a flat out lie.

It sounds like you have a great fit with your recruiter there, and I would suggest that it is not Aya primarily responsible for your success. It is far better to have a good recruiter at a bad agency than the reverse - any day!

[ierland]

Being as the other travelers work for companies other than Aya,(one had her own things to complain about Aya) and the fact that I am already working for Aya, I have no clue as to why they would misdirect or lie(kinda feel there is more of an implication here). Regardless, I did bother to look it up and found statements that backed up and refuted their comments but was unsure of the authenticity of the sources as I just did a basic internet search and could not find any definite unbiased resources. So did not use either in my decision making process, nor have they affected obtaining a contract or getting paid.

So VBN- If you read around on the forum it suggests having active profiles with around three travel companies. This way if one is not fitting your needs it is an easy thing to go with another. I picked my companies by going to a review site and picking the five with the highest reviews for the last year, I then spoke with people at each one and narrowed it down to three. I talk to other travelers and ask their honest opinions. I found that someone with a bad experience barks louder than someone with a good one, keep that in mind and really listen to what they say. As it is said time and again on here it's 13weeks, you can do almost anything for 13weeks. But buyer beware- do your research too ,when picking a hospital/contract. Ask questions, know what your getting yourself into. And read your contracts, before you sign! As NEDRN and others have said, your recruiter can make or break the company.

[NedRN]

Being as the other travelers work for companies other than Aya,(one had her own things to complain about Aya) and the fact that I am already working for Aya, I have no clue as to why they would misdirect or lie(kinda feel there is more of an implication here).

So think about how you have countered criticism about your employer at every job you've ever held. Human nature to spin the bad stuff. I'm not saying that Aya is evil for misdirection, the recruiters and other office staff have to feel good about their own jobs when there is a history to overcome.

It sounds like you may not have been traveling that long, or much experience in sales (recruiters have a commissioned sales position), but finding ethical sales people who also know their stuff (not have to make up stories, or repeat BS knowing it to be so) is fairly rare. In travel, you have to talk to a lot of recruiters generally to be able to discern how things work and who is telling the truth. Sometimes you will never learn it from talking to sales monkeys. For example, "just use your parent's address and you get money tax free". There is a vested interest in getting you to accept the tax free money, a higher net pay means they are more likely to nab you for an assignment. Very, very, very few recruiters really understand taxes, or care. If they cared, they would lose business. Simple. Same with a potential traveler on the phone asking about bad stuff they heard about the agency. Are you going to get the truth? I don't think so.

I have a point to make about paying attention to those with bad experiences. Every single agency, even the very best ones, have disgruntled travelers. The issues are always the same, but they are just so much noise usually. You see more complaints about larger agencies. Some of that may be because they are less personal, but it is mostly because larger agencies have many more travelers. More travelers, the more likely someone is to voice their displeasure online.

Sometimes you can filter the noise and find some truly bad agencies that are not the usual issues. While your recruiter is far more important that the agency brand, I see little point in bothering with historically bad agencies. There are so many better ones to choose from. I don't typically recommend agencies except for special reasons (like a focus on an area or specialty), but I do try to steer travelers away from agencies that have histories. Corporations are like people with personality and culture that is difficult to change. Think about an attractive man you know beat his previous girlfriend. Would you still go out with him? Do you think things will be different? That is my thoughts about abusive agencies too.

I should compile a complete list sometime, but really it is less than 10 bad agencies out of almost 400 agencies that use travel nurses. Off the top of my head, and not including now defunct or merged agencies, my short list of agencies to avoid would be Aureus (the very worst), Aya, Trustaff, amd AdvantageRN. A couple more I can't quite name right now. Parallon just because it means you would be working for an HCA hospital - no thanks (also too risky). Any agency that does strikes cannot be trusted - if you must work for one, watch 'em like a hawk. Fastaff is in a special category. Not for new travelers, but OK for experienced ones as long as you know what you are getting into.

Mind you, I'm not suggesting that you quit Aya. You have a good working relationship with your recruiter, and you sound like you shopped around enough to know you are being paid fairly. Aya is getting a lot of buzz lately, which means effective marketing. To me, that is also a red flag, more money spent on marketing is less for travelers. The list you referred to are just large agencies. I would shop some smaller agencies as well. In general, smaller agencies pay better as they have less overhead. They have to pay more to compete with large agencies that may have better benefits and certainly more assignment options.

[Witty Kitty]

I am a first time Travel RN and AYA was the first and only Agency which I signed on with after they were referred to me by another Traveler whom I had worked with while employed as a Staff Nurse in NYC.

Without getting into too many details, my recruiter, (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) obtained several interviews and ultimately secured me a position with a County Hospital here in CA. It felt like a perfect fit. He had been consistently forthright and available throughout the entire process, throughout the various facility interviews, in response to my questions, (EDIT) was able to relay his cumulative knowledge of the various facilities via feedback from previous RNs whom had worked there, etc. All valuable information.

Anyway, after signing the contract and choosing to find my own housing, after completing the inevitable but formidable volume of compliance requirements (a daunting, preliminary task during any Travel Nurse's initiation to an Agency who has never worked with you) as well as relocating (all within three short weeks) in order to meet the Facility's needs, the Facility cancelled my contract on the Friday before my Monday start date!

PLEASE DON'T STOP READING!!!!

(EDIT) called me with the devastating news and I could tell by his voice that it was probably one of the hardest professional calls he had, at that point, had to make. He was beside himself. His sorrowfulness was palpable as he solemnly relayed that this has/had never happened before. He was so sincere, I knew he was telling me the truth. The Hospital was solely responsible and it was very evident that AYA, my Agency, did not take this lightly.

After my initial shock and before I had even had time to process all of the repercussions of this news, (EDIT) was assuring me that I was not alone. He ensured me that not only were all of the other recruiters working on finding me immediate placement in another facility but AYA's Leadership were also personally involved with my case.

Shortly, within an hour, AYA's Team had procured two interviews for me with two separate facilities, both of which offered me immediate positions and in fact, one of the Nurse Managers who interviewed me on that Friday afternoon at 5 pm was interviewing me while she was on her vacation! Both Nurse Managers were so kind, it was difficult to decide between the two.

Now I know this all sounds very 'Kumbaya' but let me remind you....I am not generally (or probably have ever been) known as a warm, fuzzy person. I am an ER Nurse who gained my experience in the South Bronx, NY, one of the three busiest ERs in the country, in a hospital I can only describe as "the belly of the beast"....hard core to say the least... However, I have to give recognition where recognition is due. Every single member of my Team expressed their empathy for my circumstance upon being reunited in preparation for my (new) re-assignment.

AYA Healthcare went to bat for me and had my back every inch of the way through this unprecedented situation despite being a brand-new traveler with no previous track record with their company....and THAT, my friends, is meritorious of a 5 star review.

BTW, I start my first assignment on Wednesday.

Thank you AYA, you have earned my gratitude and respect.

[NedRN]

Nice to hear a positive review. A word of warning though, your recruiter is not your friend so try to keep it professional. His actions reflect that of a good recruiter (and a keeper), however they also benefit his self interests. If he did not place you in an assignment, he earns no commission off of you.

A good recruiter at a bad agency is much better than the reverse. I say this because you apparently have a good recruiter and historically Aya has a poor reputation. It is my belief that much of the negativity comes from their large per diem business, and no per diem agency has a good reputation.

That said, keep it professional. In my opinion, that means forming a relationship with other agencies. You got very lucky without a Plan B. If you were ready to go with other agencies, if Aya failed you, then you would have other options. In addition, having other agencies will also get you broader access to jobs, and allow you to find out what the market rate is for you in a given location. That allows you to give your preferred agency a chance to match or beat the best offer. Also, critical rate jobs will vary between agencies. Signing up with several will get you more access. Another 10 to 15 dollars an hour is very appealing and you might hate to miss such opportunities. As a NYC ED nurse, you certainly have the skills necessary for rapid response assignments, no matter how difficult.