Working with more than one agency?

It seems like you already answered your question as far as not putting all your eggs in one basket. Don't leave yourself to one agency. I work agency per-diem. So I'm not too familiar with travel agencies. However, I would think that depending on the agency's policy as far as how often you have to work a shift for them...you should be able to keep your profile active. I work for multiple facilities and it has never caused a problem. Good luck.

I think it's CRITICAL that you "spread the wealth" over at least two agencies. I am with three agencies and I am considering adding a fourth. If you work in a very specific speciality (i.e. NICU, PICU, etc.) OR if you REALLY want to be in a specific city, it's better than you have multiple recruiters working on your behalf. Plus, you can compare packages. With only one agency, you're stuck with what they have and offer. Good luck!

Being fully signed up with several agencies does give you more opportunities. It also ensures that you have competitive wages, and each will know that they are competing for you (and should know). You will be able to compare offers and negotiate accordingly.

You can COBRA your insurance if you have a good plan. Remember that it is coming out of your pay anyway, so even with sticker shock of paying the full amount, it is exactly the same amount. If you decline insurance, an agency will be able to pay you exactly the the difference. With proof of insurance, you can also negotiate for a tax free stipend to cover your COBRA - this is fully allowed by the IRS (however your recruiter may have to have this explained to them - and they don't have to).

You should start managing your own retirement account in the form of an IRA. I would recommend Vanguard or Fidelity for a self-directed retirement account. You can roll over any 401 without charge or taxes to your own IRA and either company will happily tell you how. Most agency 401 plans are a bit of a rip off. They are usually contained in a wll hidden annuity shell that costs 1 percent a year. In addition, if you look up the fund codes, they are not the same ones as the similar plans you can buy openly. They are effectively load funds and will always trail their big brother fund. I always put agency 401 contributions into a money market account to preserve my equity. As soon as I left the agency, I rolled it over into my own account and got to choose my own no-load funds.

Don't worry about some vesting period. It doesn't apply to your own contributions, and the amount agencies "match" is very minimal and you would have to work for them forever to get it. Negotiate instead for any match to be added to your hourly. It is your money!

For as long as they are not resonsible for ensuring that you have a full time job, it's your choice to sign up with as many agencies as you choose. In fact no employer can tell you what to do with you extra time when you are not on the clock. So, yeah, I am active with about 5-7 agencies. It gives me a lot of optioins in terms of what shifts I want to work and what location. As far as be benefits, some nurses like to take charge of the own health insurance, retirement plans, etc. Remember, the agencies cannot guarantee a steady, full-time job.

Oh and one more thing: Some agencies require that you take at least one assignment in a six-month period in order to maintain active status with them.

In my two years as a travel nurse I've worked with two different agencies, am signed up for three, and contemplating signing up for a fourth. I use my one agency as a "backup" agency when I can't get the assignments I want with another agency (one that I still haven't worked for yet.) And I use an other agency for local prn work. That way, a travel nurse can have the best of many worlds! A contracts when that is wanted, or prn when you just want to stay "home" for a bit. Play the field!