I have been a contract/travel nurse on and off for the past 6 years. What have I found? The company you work for is kind of important, BUT your recruiter can make or break your life on the road. I started out with Professional Nursing Services out of Salt Lake City, UT. My first assignment and I drove up to a project housing apartment. Literally the police told me I couldn't stay there because it wasn't safe. Then I went to American Mobile Nurses. After finding a nurse with a considerable amount of years expeirence LESS than I had, in the same department, for the same company was making about $12.00/hr more than I...my recruiter told me..."It's nothing personal, it's just business." OH...I left that company also. Then I found RN Network. Not really the company, but my recruiter Stacy B. and her compadre Dorothy. I have been with them for almost 3 years. If something goes wrong, they fix it and work it out with the company later. If I find a hitch in the middle of my contract...they amend it. Did you know contracts can be negotiated in the middle of one? I didn't until I met Stacy and Dorothy. If I paint myself into a corner, they help me out until I can get out of the corner. I know, we nurses live and learn. WE are a caring bunch who forget to take care of ourselves. Anyhoo....I just wanted you to know how happy I am and that I have learned a lot over the past 6 years. I may not make the highest dollar amount out there but it's pretty darn close. and I wouldn't trade my safety net (Stacy and Dorothy)for any amount of money. They have NEVER let me down. And you know what? It IS personal. My recruiter is my friend.
Experience Talking
Just took my first travel job and it is with RN Network. Off to North Carolina. Worried sick about the PBDS test for this hospital as it is the first one and first job. It has been 15 years since I've done so much studying and yet it is beginning to flow together. They are not even putting me into housing until I pass the PBDS?? Staying in a hotel, but when I looked the hotel up today as I am now enroute, find it has horrible reputation. Any suggestions if I get there on Saturday and it is as bad as they say? Hints on PBDS are appreciated. Seeing the questions, but never have seen the answers.
What is a PBDS test? I am just beginning the travel application process. Thanks
Call your recruiter before you leave and let them know what you found out. I'll bet they will move you if it is that bad or unsafe..
Yep, got here today and didn't even go in. The neighborhood locals were hanging out in the parking lot and there was one car in the parking lot. Dropped by the local police station to see if my perception of the place was skewed - nope, right on. Called the emergency number as recruiter was off on Saturday. Took a little doing and ended up in another hotel - no Mariott and a million cigarette infested hotel, but I feel safe. Now if I can pass the PBDS (performance based assessment in which you have to make a medical diagnosis (not nursing) and write out your
nursing interventions and rationales) Whoa buddy!
nursing interventions and rationales) Whoa buddy!
Beaches wrote:Just took my first travel job and it is with RN Network. Off to North Carolina. Worried sick about the PBDS test for this hospital as it is the first one and first job. It has been 15 years since I've done so much studying and yet it is beginning to flow together. They are not even putting me into housing until I pass the PBDS?? Staying in a hotel, but when I looked the hotel up today as I am now enroute, find it has horrible reputation. Any suggestions if I get there on Saturday and it is as bad as they say? Hints on PBDS are appreciated. Seeing the questions, but never have seen the answers.
If you send me a PM with your e-mail address, I will send you a copy of the study guide. What hospital in NC are you at???
Where in NC are you? glad you got better hotel.
Keep us posted on PBDS. I've taken it 3 times and passed but it is a headache. This was in Florida.
good luck
Keep us posted on PBDS. I've taken it 3 times and passed but it is a headache. This was in Florida.
good luck
WELL... took the test on Monday (knew how poorly I had done) and got the boot today as I did not make the grade. Of the six travel nurses who got there Monday, 3 were sent home. Two of the nurses left had already worked at that hospital in the past, one was an LPN and didn't take the test. Going to put that behind me and hopefully my recruiter can find somewhere else nearby that doesn't require the test. Can't face that test again just yet and there are no second chances at that hospital. anyway. There is also no feedback as to what you should have done. Felt it was way too many situations in too little time to do them justice. Atleast it was exposure, and I will know better what to expect should I take it again. I may just refuse to accept an assignment that requires this in the future as about half-way thru, I almost walked out in frustration.:cry_smile: Chalking it up to just another experience.
I know AmandaWIRN will NOT accept assignments that require the PBDS.
Just wondering if hospitals are setting themselves up for a lack of staff with that thing.
Just wondering if hospitals are setting themselves up for a lack of staff with that thing.
Hey Beaches
Sorry about that no good test. It does not mean a thing regarding your clinical skills.It is an unusual test. When I was in Florida this past winter so many nurses did not pass and I hated seeing the way they felt.
I hope you get a job nearby.
Keep us posted.
Sorry about that no good test. It does not mean a thing regarding your clinical skills.It is an unusual test. When I was in Florida this past winter so many nurses did not pass and I hated seeing the way they felt.
I hope you get a job nearby.
Keep us posted.
I traveled with Professional Nurse to US Virgin Islands and the housing was nice and the deal was nice. I had a good Recruiter as well.
To be honest though regardless if you think you have the one best recruiter or company you should research the deatails of every assignment (contract, housing, pay rates etc etc).
My belief and practice is find the best companies and best recruiters and stay in touch with them all constantly.
Never put all your faith in one company and one recruiter.
Not saying that your recruiter or company is bad. Never worked for RN Network but have emailed back and forth a couple of recruiters there. Actually have heard some good things about them.
May kick up some dust here but I believe that a company is only as good as the assignment packages they are offering at the moment. There are exceptions. There are companies and/or recruiters I wouldn't trust not matter what they were offering :)
Especially in The Travel Nurse-Allied Industry with 300 plus USA Companies Travel Nursing Jobs and packages, benefits and such are in constant flux. I try to keep an eye on all of them for myself and my website and because I'm a fanatic :).
I have a pretty good relationship with the different recruiters I deal with. They know if I go with another company I'll be back when the right assignment surfaces.
I think that is why they call it the Temporary Staffing Industry because even though you are technically an employee you are really acting as a contractor or subcontractor so you are a business person and a nurse or allied pro.
Business people constantly negotiate and seek to increase profit. I can see how it is hard for nurses to seperate their nursing philosophy which is giving from business negotiations which is about taking.
CJ www.TravelNurseToolbox.com
To be honest though regardless if you think you have the one best recruiter or company you should research the deatails of every assignment (contract, housing, pay rates etc etc).
My belief and practice is find the best companies and best recruiters and stay in touch with them all constantly.
Never put all your faith in one company and one recruiter.
Not saying that your recruiter or company is bad. Never worked for RN Network but have emailed back and forth a couple of recruiters there. Actually have heard some good things about them.
May kick up some dust here but I believe that a company is only as good as the assignment packages they are offering at the moment. There are exceptions. There are companies and/or recruiters I wouldn't trust not matter what they were offering :)
Especially in The Travel Nurse-Allied Industry with 300 plus USA Companies Travel Nursing Jobs and packages, benefits and such are in constant flux. I try to keep an eye on all of them for myself and my website and because I'm a fanatic :).
I have a pretty good relationship with the different recruiters I deal with. They know if I go with another company I'll be back when the right assignment surfaces.
I think that is why they call it the Temporary Staffing Industry because even though you are technically an employee you are really acting as a contractor or subcontractor so you are a business person and a nurse or allied pro.
Business people constantly negotiate and seek to increase profit. I can see how it is hard for nurses to seperate their nursing philosophy which is giving from business negotiations which is about taking.
CJ www.TravelNurseToolbox.com
Good Points, thanks. I am headed home after hanging out for another position. One thing I have done is backed myself into a corner with a specific specialty. Going back to work and branching out a bit to get more exposure. Then, I'll hit the road again. Feel one company has essentially dumped me (never did return calls with any consistency), while the other company where I actually have a raport with my recruiter tried very hard to land another job, but the circumstances just were not right for me or the hospitals for which I would work. So the journey is over for the moment, but I'll be back.