Fastaff

Specialties Travel

Published

Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

Anyone work with Fastaff? Any information: good or bad? Are they good for a first time traveler? Thanks!

Anyone work with Fastaff? Any information: good or bad? Are they good for a first time traveler? Thanks!

I was "hired", and lengthy discussion of where I wanted to work...'Oh yes we can work you in these areas...plenty of work ....yes we can keep you busy'. They appealed to me because they do shorter contracts, and you have to be able to pick up and go...and I was able to at that point. I had moved to be near my children, wanted some time off and then would be ready to go to work. When I called ready to work, no one would return my calls. Where before while going through the hiring process they had lit up my phone lines. I finally called the director who after my questions had to admit, " We don't have any work right now"...." ( I have experience in critical care, cardiac, have ACLS, BLS, PALS ) in 6 weeks we may have some in CA" ( that was one place I did not want to go...)...never got work with them...had to go back to my home state to work, the state I had moved too was not a compact state, and I did not intend to work there, so had no license. I thought I had done my research, a friend of mine had travelled and she was helping me. But I think it is best to be registered with many many travel companies. I am sure there are some who may have had a positive experience with them, but for a new person trying to get in...this was mine.

Anyone work with Fastaff? Any information: good or bad? Are they good for a first time traveler? Thanks!
My experience with Fastaff has been great! My recruiter John has been great in keeping me in the loop on new jobs and is always responsive and helpful when I call. They are different than a traditional travel nurse company in that they specialize in rapid response nurse staffing. So you usually only have a week or two of notice before you need to travel. Housing and travel has always been good and smooth for me. The pay is the best I have found! I can't think of an assignment in a long time that paid less than $40/hr with a majority of my assignments being 48 hr work-weeks. If you are a first time traveler, just be sure to ask the right questions and set your expectations. The work itself is really no different from what you'd do as a staff nurse, although, there is an expectation at the hospital that you can hit the floor running. They provide orientation and there is usually someone that can help you with questions. Try to find an assignment where there are several other nurses from Fastaff on assignment there as well. You may want to even make sure your first assignment is not one where you will be the only person from that agency.If you are there to work and make money and you go with their housing and travel arrangements, it's pretty straight forward. The housing has been good although I tend to bring my own vehicle more now, but they usually have some arrangement to make sure you can get from the housing to the hospital.The important thing is to be willing to go with the flow the first time and be willing to take it for what it will be, a learning experience. If you stress out over little things, then traveling might not be for you. If you are too picky about what kind of work you are willing to accept, there won't be as much unless you bounce from one agency to another. That will be the same for most agencies though. Finally, I'd just suggest you consider what you want out of it from a career and work schedule perspective. There are larger agencies with more jobs, so I agree with above that it is a good idea to register and take an assignement with a couple of different agencies. That being said, licensing is very important. No matter how good or willing you are to work, if you don't have a license for the state where the work is, your options will be limited. Fastaff has helped me obtain a few additional licenses and that has paid off with more opportunities in some pretty great locations. Think ahead, becasue places like NY can take 3 months sometimes. Fastaff has pretty much handled the paperwork and submissions for me as well as picked up the tab for my new licenses. Like most places, if you show a willingness to work with them, they will work with you.Bottom line on Fastaff, best pay - great recruiters - very good travel dept - great assignments and plenty of work depending on where you are licensed. I'd give them a try. They are my top choice for travel nurse agencies.
Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

Thanks guys! I hope to talk to them soon and get more information!

Specializes in ICU.

Fastaff just staffed the hospital I work per diem at during a strike. I spoke with several of the nurses and not one of them had any complaints about Fastaff and the pay is amazing. I finish my current contract Feb 9th and will be looking to start a short contract with Fastaff then. The pay rates you see in the charts they give with openings DO NOT include housing. Housing is over and above that which is HUGE. Most of the rates you see are $1500-$2200+ / week and then housing is still free. Right now I'm taking home about $1300/week which includes my housing stipend. That's with AMN who I do not recommend if you're looking to earn a decent paycheck (though they are one of the largest travel agencies and therefore have the most locations available if you're particular about where you go which is why I'm with them currently...I wanted one specific hospital and they got me there).

Anyone work with Fastaff? Any information: good or bad? Are they good for a first time traveler? Thanks!

It's the beginning of the year, so they are pumping out assignments like crazy. I've received multiple emails and texts (1st time receiving one of those) regarding assignments. If you know any PICU nurses, they have an assignment in NY for $55/hr!! Gosh..wish I could make that!

Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

I have an ex-coworker that is traveling for the first time with AMN. Haven't heard anything from him in regards to the company. I would prefer shorter assignments which is why I'm looking at Fastaff and the money seems amazing. I do hear you do 48-hour work weeks which is cool. And it seems they don't have much variety but I'm willing to go anywhere for 4 weeks! I'm really interested in doing it sometime after the summer.

Specializes in NICU.

Thank you all for the info in these comments. It has provided me with alot of insight. I traveled for a couple of assignments last year and am now looking to do so again. I used the one travel company and was under the impression that its "not good etiquette"(per my previous recruiter) to use multiple companies?! (retrospectly, I was naive and new to the industry?!) Its awesome that fastaff has short term assignments available with great pay rates. Do you think it is wise to apply to fastaff and to use a larger company like CCTC (or any other suggestions) as well for more variety and options between assignments? is it ok to flip flop back and forth from one to the other?

Not good etiquette? That's a good one!

If you want to maximize your pay and assignment possibilities, you need to be fully signed up with at least 5 agencies. And minimize dealing with recruiters who make up fantastic alternate universes. What's next, tipping your recruiter at Xmas?

+ Add a Comment