travelers, do tell

nsgshortage · Apr 20, 2007

The first thing to keep fair is the pay. If the travel companies sliced a bit more off their profits it would be easier to get the nurses.

Always listen to the customer. If someone says they want to go to point A,

and there is nothing currently open at A, leave it alone if that is what they really want. Don't go suggesting point Z. I have dropped so many companies on that alone. All the contracts in the world with no one to fill them is worthless.

kalbo3 · Apr 21, 2007

Follow thru with what you say you are going to do and return calls in a timely manner. Nothing more than I hate is not having my calls returned or when I do and by then it's too late. Having your recruiter there for you when you need them is of the utmost importance.

sandals · Apr 23, 2007

well im glad to hear that that counts for so much. we have maybe a 3-5 minute turn around for returning calls. our perdiem nurses really like that.

i also appreciate the advice about not having nurses go where they dont want to. we can have all the contracts in the world, with no nurses, i agree. we can also have all the nurses in the world, but no contracts. it is very much a two way street.

i feel that when we get a nurse, we will have no trouble retaining them. im just not sure how to best go about getting them

i will continue to look for more input from you

thanks again

sandals

LadyNASDAQ · Apr 25, 2007

Pay is #1. If they keep most of it, no one will work for them. Second is accomodations. Third is transportation and bennies.

sandals · Apr 27, 2007

Are Most Of You Med Surg Nurses? Do Most Of You Work Days Or Nights? Did You Have To Provide Fingerprints To Your Agency? Were You Tested At The Facility Before You Started?

Sandals

FinNurse · Apr 27, 2007

i have been working with a small healthcare staffing agency for many years. they concentrate on treating the nurses fairly with great respect. pay has always been competitive. i am now trying to help them start a travel nurse business. are you better off seeking med surg nurses or is it better to go for the specialty nurses. i dont think that they can go too widespread, so i think concentrating on a smaller group may prove to be more profitable. i also think that they will start fairly local and then branch out. how do you get a travel nurse to want to sign on with a smaller company that maybe cant offer all the perks as the bigger companies, but will always be there, play fair, and will always fight for what is best for the nurse including good salaries. any input that you can given will help
thanks
sandals.

Does your agency work abroad? I mean do you help nurses like in my case from EU to find job in US?

LadyNASDAQ · Apr 27, 2007

I work ICU. I can work Tele and Med Surg in a pinch but I am specialized in all the ICU's. I only work day shifts. I have been fingerprinted coast to coast lol!

sandals · Apr 30, 2007

HOW DO YOU PRESENT YOUR CURRENT LICENSE TO YOUR AGENCY IF YOU LIVE OUT OF STATE? THEY SAY THAT YOU CANNOT MAIL OR FAX IT. HOW IS IT THAT YOUR AGENCY VERIFIES THAT YOUR LICENSE IS CURRENT?

DOES YOUR AGENCY DO YOUR DRUG SCREEN OR IS IT DONE BY THE PARTICULAR FACILITY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO WORK IN?

how is your identity verified again if the agency that is placing you, has never met you. there is an employment eligibility form that needs to be filled out to validate citizenship, just wondering how that is done?

again, all help is greatly appreciated

thanks

sandals

oMerMero · Apr 30, 2007

Hello

I work in the ICU and work both days and nights.

All of my paperwork was done via fax.

My company told me where to go for drug testing. It was always an independent place not affilitated with the company or hospital. I filled out the eligibilty form and then faxed it to the company. It did not need to be filled out by the agency.