New Job/New Company

I have currently been a traveler for about 1 1/2 yrs. I believe it is about time to change companies. I was satisfied with my company in the beginning but everything has gone downhill, esp. the money. I am having a hard time getting contracts until about 3 days before I am supposed to move in. The housing has gotten worse. And as I said the pay is horrible. I am in need of a good recruiter who can get the job done and not have to play phone tag with the hospitals. I currently make $4/hr less than the staff get paid where I am at. I get no weekend diff, no shift diff and no incentive pay when I am called in for call back time. I am considering maybe somewhere around the Lake Tahoe Region (CA side), possibly Thousand Oaks, CA or somewhere in CO. If anyone knows of a good honest recruiting co and a good recruiter, or if you have worked in any of these areas, I would appreciate any info you can give. Because right now, nursing just doesn't seem where it's at anymore!!! Oh and of course Travelers get last pick on days to work, days to ask off and are so looked down on because you aren't 'CORE" staff Thanks Donna:frustrated:

Wow Donna... what agency are you with and which hospital is treating you so shabbily?

I am currently working in Northern Arizona and my company is out of Florida. What is the proper way to get out of a contract. I have missed about 3 wks of this contract which should have been up March 13th. Because of the hrs I missed, the company and hospital wanted me to sign on for another 2 wks. I reluctantly agreed although there was nothing ever written, a new contract wasn't drawn up; and I have signed nothing. They have basically taken out a weeks pay for rent from each check I have gotten. I just got over the flu, so I was out for 3 days, so I can expect this check to be half of what it normally would. It's hard going to work when you know that half your paycheck is going to be taken out. My recruiter told me to remind her and I would be reimbursed for all the money that had been taken out. I just want this contract to be over. I was called by the supervisor about a missing med (Percocet) that apparently when I counted there was 17, I took out 2 and there were 15 left. When the nurse either that night or the next night counted there were only 14. So I was told "we aren't accusing you of anything but we just have to be sure" I really feel like my license is in jeopary at this hospital by a lot of people who had rather write people up than do patient care. I have never had this much trouble at a hospital being a traveler in the last year and a half. Am I being too paranoid? I don't trust anyone there and it is really hard to get myself to go to work every night and put 100% into patient care. I have been a nurse for almost 14 yrs and this is getting to be a bit much! Any comments? Donna:firedup:

What is the name of the company you are with???

Nightengale Nurses. I have been with them 1 1/2 yrs.

Donna

Thanks for sharing what agency you are with. I ended my contract with Medical Solutions because I felt unsafe at my assignment with 6-7 patients per nurse on a tele unit with insulin drips, caradizem drips, heart caths....every room had a fire every day and I just couldn't make it work for me. Acutally I was terminated by the hospital because I ADVOCATED for patients more then they liked I think. I was terrified the agency was going to put the screws to me but they didnt at all. It was Medical solutions, my recruitter was Jim Martin. He treated me with respect and did not charge me for the expensive and I have to say wonderful housing provided to me. I would work for them again in a minute and will try again next fall if they have anything I am interested in. Good Luck to you

donnarn7994 wrote: I am considering maybe somewhere around the Lake Tahoe Region (CA side), possibly Thousand Oaks, CA or somewhere in CO. Donna:frustrated:

For the Lake Tahoe area, and around San fran/Sacramento, try Bryan Healthcare, Kathryn, she pays well plus car allowance. Also try Hospital Support, ask for Mike, he also pay well and will work with you.

I've not have problems with these two. I would be very wary of Kaiser facilities, I have heard horror stories, and I know personally the 2 in Sacramento are awful. Also Mercy General and Mercy/Methodist in Sacramento are dangerous for your license. High turnover rates and with Kisers traveler float first and may float every 4 hrs, regular staff works 8hr shifts.
Sylvia

Thanks for everyone sharing information with me. I did end my contract with the hospital and the agency. I faxed my resignation Monday to the company and my recruiter and apparently no one got the fax because I got a call from 2 people at the agency for my time sheet for last week. So I guess I need to call my recruiter tomorrow and talk with her and let her know all the details of what went on with this hospital. I still have a recruiter that just became part of another company who I am working with. I also have a job I am checking out in Show Low AZ for a seasonal position, eihter 8 wks or 16wks. The pay is excellent and they give you some housing allotment. The job in CO has a starting pay of $27/hr plus 4 hr shift diff for ICU. So I need to find out how much apts are there. It will be really hard to make it on that plus pay all my bills. Plus I have had other agencies call. So I know things will work out. I just pray and ask God to place me in the best place and position I need to be. Again, thanks everyone.

Donna

I have been talking to Nightingale nurse and have been thinking about traveling with them. It sounds as if you do not recomend them. What does every body else think about them?
By the way i live in Cincinnati and havw grown up here and worked in the area since early 90s. If anybody has any questions about the area or hospitals I would be most willing to tell you what I know.

Who was your recruiter?

:39: I worked for Nightingale for 1 1/2 yrs. My recruiter was very good and we became good friends over time. Even though I am no longer with them, I will always consider my recruiter my friend. Nightingale is OK. Sometimes they are VERY slow to find you positions, even up until the last 4 days of your contract. They also do not "push" for contracts, which this has nothing to do with your recruiter, because you have a recruiter and then there is a whole "other department" who contacts the hospital. They are also know for not getting the highest salaries for you. I usually made $2 an hour less than other travelers who were usually making $4/hr. They just changed insurance companies, which is better, but costs a lot more. And, if you miss work for any reason, low census, sick, surgery, etc, they WILL take it out of your next paycheck. In the beginning they did not do that. And the housing is definitely not as good as what other travelers I have talked to live in. They have me in an underground apartment (my bedroom window is level with the street) furnished with a love seat, end table, lamp, bed, end table, lamp and very small dresser, sparsely furnished kitchen, 3 washcloths and 3 towels, they pay for cable and electricity. The apt is approx 600 sf and the charge is $1250 month. I have friends here living in 3 bedroom houses paying less than that. Just be careful! Make very sure of where you want to go and exactly what you want to do and make sure it says what YOU want in your contract, I would also ask to see a copy of the contract that THE COMPANY signed with the hospital. Again, Sarah Denyson is a very good recruiter and go to bat for you but you have to remember she is just one person in a group of MANY who are managing your travel assignment.

Donna:luck:

Many agencies pull the crap of leaving finding a contract until the last minute. So this company is not the only one. Reason they do this is to push travelers into accepting their contract as most times travelers have no other options at that point open to them.

Best option for travelers to do is register with 2 agencies in about 3 -4 weeks notify your recruiter you are looking for another assignment in 3 - 4 weeks notify the other agency you are in the market for a travel assignement in 3 - 4 weeks.

Drop the hint that there is another recruiter with another company searching for you also. It is amazing how well this works, many recruiters will pull out the stops for you. If they don't then that recruiter is useless and will not look after your interests.

OK if you are good at poker and can bluff you can just try dropping the hint to your recruiter that you have another recruiter checking out the market for you 3-4 weeks prior to your contract end and first come first served.

If your recruiter is not willing to do some work to retain you then it is time to leave.

[Hello everyone, I tried to post a new thread but it would not let me. I now have a dilema. I am at the travel nurse vs permanent nurse status. I am not sure what I really want to do. Has anyone ever been at that stage? I know when summer comes I am going to want to travel to the coast, but right now recruiters aren't coming thru for me as far as a job that I need ASAP, as in start Monday. I hate to sign on with a hospital permanent and then break it 6 mths later? Right now I am in between assignments and need to give an answer by Friday. HELP I AM CONFUSED.

Donna

Hello everyone. Well I finally found a new job and a new company, now I am just waiting for my housing to come through. I will be going to Palm Springs. Has anyone ever worked at the Desert Hospital there? It is a big hospital, 400+ beds and I will be working in step-downn and float to ICU some. So I am looking forward to being in a new place and a new hospital and I found a wonderful recruiter. I got submitted to 5 hospitals and they are the only one who called me back within an hour of getting my profile, so I figure it was meant to be. Now I just have to adjust from coming from 8,000 feet with snow all over the ground to 50 in the desert with the heat already 95. Definitely a change.

Donna

I don't know about Desert Hospital but I would love to hear how you feel about it as I am looking to relocate to either southern CA or Nevada area.

I have vacationed in Palm Springs and love it!

Best of luck!:luck:

Judi