wow, i didnt think that it was a big deal!

[raindrop]

I phone interviewed with a travel agency. I worked for them a couple years ago and left on 'ehhh' terms. I did complete 3 travel assignments with them, and then I went per diem. When I went per diem, the per diem recruiter sent me out on 2 assignments that were over 2 hrs away from me. I was supposed to work (2) 16 hour shifts, back-to-back at this hospital. She promised me over and over and over, that the hospital will not cancel me, she said she spoke with the Director of Nursing at this hospital, and that she guaranteed that I won't get cancelled. So I got there, after driving 2.5 hours, and I was not on schedule. They had a nurse with the same first name as me on schedule, but not me. I drove home, called my agency the next day and told the recruiter what happened. Long story short, she wouldn't pay me for gas, at the least....because it wasn't the agencies fault, it was the hospitals. I asked why I am not at least eligible for 4 hours of pay, and again, it wasn't their fault. I decided I was done at that point, and nicely said "I don't think I want to continue working for your company anymore", said goodbye and hung up.

Here I am years later, and that company merged with another company that I appied with. That recruiter called me, and she is now the travel recruiter for the entire place. I recognized her voice from the start. Uggh. And she remembered me.

When she began asking me where I've worked over the years, I began telling her. But for some reason, I had a major brain fart with my last assignment that I just completed. For a good 45 seconds, I couldn't think of the name of the hospital. She acted sooooo ****** off as I tried to remember. That has never happened to me and I blame it on recent stress of moving, etc. That 45 seconds seemed like an eternity b/c she kept sighing and being really rude. After I told her, she quickly let me go and said that she would call me the next afternoon, she said that she knows she has assignments that will meet my specialty but she needed to do some checking. Four days later, she hasn't called me. I have called her twice and she isn't returning my calls.

Was my brain fart SUCH a big deal? C'mon! I am an excellent, sharp, articulate young lady with so much experience. The travel assignments I did for that company years ago, I had excellent evals from that hospital. And surely she can't be holding a grudge from the per diem assignment that went wrong. I had every right to be upset and she knew it.

What gives?

Excuse any typing errors. I am using my blackberry and the keypad is very small.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

The travel nursing market has tightened up so maybe she decided that she'd rather work with people who don't have any negative history with her.

I feel the same about the agency I was working for. I did a contract for them that went great and I ended up getting hired by that hospital per diem and love my job. I figured I would do per diem for the agency on the side. The agency 1) kept losing paperwork such as TB test, vaccination records, etc. 2) Hired a new recruiter who was a) rude b) screwed up an assignment and was very rude about it to both me and to the hospital in question.

I decided not to do agency for this agency and I'm pretty busy with my per diem job anyways. I don't want to work with that particular recruiter. I've also spoken to other nurses from that agency who feel the same way.

[LPNHTNCM]

I agree with Firestarter . . . .I LOVE LOVE LOVE my agency! The communication is the best. There have been several times that I have showed up at a particular place that is horrible at scheduling with out being on the schedule or needed. They pay every time with out question. Everytime something hinky happens (alot at this place) I let them know and they are right on top of it. I dont think that I could every work for an agency that didnt respect my wishes, needs and time!

[District46]

There does seem to be an inconsistency between agencies and how professionally they are run. I joined my agency 13 years ago as a newly qualified RN. I have occasionally worked full time with them, or when permanently employed, stayed on the books until I needed agency work again. However, when I first joined them they have plush city centre offices, great management and were really on the ball. Now, after several management changes they have lost the plush offices and have moved to a grotty place in an outskirt high street. The management lose paperwork, cannot spell anything medical, I am always arriving for work to find that I am not on their schedule, the manager is rude (other nurses have said this too), if you have a problem she is never available to contact! even though you know she is there, I have walked into the offices once for a meeting with her and she was sat at her desk with her shoes off and made me wait while she finished eating her sandwich!! - the problem is it takes so long to register with another agency or job and we have to pay for Criminal Record Clearance with each application, which I cannot afford. I am waiting to start my new permanent position in July though and this time, I will be waving goodbye to my old agency permanently too!! At times I have felt like writing to the Directors to say that I could run the place with much more professionalism and ask for the job!!

Your agency staff member sounds petty and rude OP. I would run now while you can, and join a more professional company to avoid tears in the future. If a complaint came in about you that was unfounded you can bet she won't have your back!! You don't need it, you are a professional person and should be treated like one.

[LPNHTNCM]

You have it right on the ball. You HAVE to work for an agency that will have your back and has faith in YOU! There are so many agencies out there that you don't have to work for one that doesn't treat you how you want to be treated.