verbal contract with American Mobile Nursing

missypriss19 · Apr 25, 2014

I have never heard of such with a travel company. I travelled for over 10 years and nothing was concrete until I had a contract in hand and it said exactly what I wanted it to say. I only travelled with American Mobile once and left them quickly. Better companies with better pay and benefits out there.

NedRN · Apr 25, 2014

Verbal contract for what exactly? You interviewed for a travel position, and told the hospital you would take it? You told AM you would take it? Were you read all the terms in their multipage contract and perhaps 50 page handbook and agreed to all the terms? Have you the appropriate license and certifications? Background check, physical, vaccinations, titers, references approved, satisfactory housing obtained? Without that, I don't think you can be held to a verbal contract.

If you had already worked for AM, a verbal contract has a bit more likelihood of being enforceable, but first time? I would get a copy of the written contract and decline it for cause in writing, an email will do. Simply state you were not informed of the terms. You can even cite a specific deal breaker if you want, at-will language, or the excessive penalty clause.

They can threaten and bluster but they are not going to take you to court, and if they did, they would not win. There cannot be the meeting of minds a valid contract requires without knowing the terms of the contract.

rufftammy · Apr 25, 2014

I got interviewed by Hillcrest Medical Center in Waco Texas. The recruiter asked me if she should tell the hospital that I wanted the job and I told her yes. I received an email from her that said it's a contract and the verbal contract is held the same as a written contracts. It's verbally binding and i will be charged if I cancelled this verbal agreement. I did not recieved a handbook before. Ijust got the handbook today but lied to me that she did send the handbook by email before. I haven't applied for Texas RN license yet. I did send health documents to AMN before I got interviewed. The contract that she send to me also stated that I will not be able to work with there AMN or there affiliated company. Can they band from travelling with other companies? I didn't send in the requirements that the quality personal send me or even sign the contract on their website. The only thing I filled out is the background check. Please tell me if I cancel with them regardless of getting this written contract. It didn't have any place on it for me to sign.

rufftammy · Apr 25, 2014

can you please give me a couple companies?

NedRN · Apr 25, 2014

Wanting a job is very different from getting the job. In the future, always say you are very interested but have to check with the agency and look at the contract offered. Once you have had the interview and they want you, you now have more negotiating power if you are unhappy with the compensation or other details. For what it is worth, without knowing your full compensation; travel pay and bonus are both irrelevant and probably trivial compared to your three month pay. If you want a completion bonus and less hourly, most agencies will be happy to oblige you (hint: it is not to your advantage).

If you don't have a TX license, obviously you can't perform on this contract. Tell AM that there are unspecified snags in getting the TX license and that you can't discuss it. Say so sorry, can't do this contract.

AM is the very largest agency, and they can ban you from working with them and their numerous brands. For hospitals and chains (such as Kaiser) that they are the prime vendor for, they can also ban you from working through any agency. Will they do that? It seems unlikely but does it matter? Do you want to work for them again after they played hardball with you? There are hundreds of other agencies to work with.

I have survived almost 20 years as a traveler now without working with American Mobile. You can manage too.

NedRN · Apr 25, 2014

can you please give me a couple companies?

A couple? You need to talk to perhaps 10 to 20 agencies and pick the best 5 to work further with. A lot of work, but these choices are very personal. A lot depends on the quality of communication between you and the recruiter (even more important that the agency brand). Every single agency, including American Mobile, will have very happy long term travelers. That does not predict your success with the same agency.

A simple Google search for travel nurse companies will turn up hundreds of results, weighted by the size, popularity of a particular agency search, and the web savvy of the agency. Dozens of ads will also come up that you can check out. It is like looking for a significant other, largely it is numbers game. So start calling!

It would be easier for me to suggest agencies to not use (and American Mobile is not on that do not use list so you can see how helpful I will be here). You can also read traveler forums and other sites for anecdotes about specific agencies (remembering that the recruiter is more important). Most anecdotes are negative per human nature, like yours (I doubt you would have come here to say how well everything was going). The larger the agency, the more negative anecdotes you will find (also a numbers game, the more travelers an agency has, the more chances for an upset traveler).

Strawberrykool · May 1, 2014

Sorry I didn't read all the responses. You don't have to accept it. What they will do is black list you from working with any sub company under the AMN umbrella. They did it to me 2 years ago.

rufftammy · May 1, 2014

Thank you

sweetgurly25 · May 4, 2014

As far as i know its not valid until you sign a contract.

LyricsRN · May 10, 2014

If you did not sign a contract, you are free to cancel period. I have verbally agreed to hospitals and recruiters and even started completing certain documents. If I do not agree to the terms, and haven't signed the contract, I simply back out.

JenNurse1972 · May 10, 2014

That $250 travel is not far off from other companies. Some quote $500, but that can be going to the next assignment. It would be the same with American Mobile if you took another assignment. (Both $500). It is correct that you will be not be able to work with AMN companies if you pull out like this. Try working with them. Express your concerns and ask your recruiter to look for an assignment closer to you so it costs you less to move there.