confusing travel scenario

[displacedgarn]

Ok, here's my story:

I wanted to try travel nursing and applied to several agencies. Not much response, which is pretty common these days according to other threads. One company had a position in my specialty, but I didn't have a license in the state, they thought it wouldn't be a problem. They submitted my resume to the hospital. The hospital said they already filled the position. 2 days later, travel company called, had another position at the same facility, sent resume again, told me to wait for the manager to call me for interview. Travel company called the next day to say hospital didn't want to wait until I had license for the state. End of part 1 of story.

3 weeks later, the travel co. calls to say hospital has offered me a position. What?? No interview?? I insisted on talking to the unit manager before I accepted the job. I insisted on looking at the contract before accepting the job. Finally accepted the position, ran all over town getting things notarized and mailed for license, getting physicals done, etc. Everything turned in, waited on license. End part 2.

I got temporary license, agency says to report to hospital next morning at 0830. They have no idea what the hospital intends to do for computer class, orientation, etc. The agency rep says she can't call the unit manager, can only talk to the contract staffing coordinator. The staffing coordinator wouldn't answer emails or return phone calls. So, I asked if I could call the unit manager. The agency gave me the staffing coordinator's phone number and the unit manager's number. No answer at unit manager number. Staffing coordinator had no idea who I was, couldn't find contract, didn't know what I was supposed to do on the day of arrival or any other days of the week. Said there was no need for me to come tomorrow unless she could get in touch with the unit manager. Staffing coordinator called the agency rep, I am put off until staffing coordinator can talk to unit manager, then let agency rep know, who will let me know what the heck is going on.

So, is travel nursing always this way? If so, I guess it's a miracle if any actual travelling or nursing gets done?

Any ideas or advice?

[AmandaWIRN]

No, it is usually not this way.... sounds like either your company or the hospital or both are having major organizational &/or communication problems. If this happened to me, I would insist that my recruiter figure out what was going on- it is not your job to be making all these phone calls to figure out when you're supposed to report for orientation. Part of your contract should contain information about when & where to report for orientation.

[amberdouglas]

My agency usually forwards me an email from the hospital with my first day instructions on it even before they get the contract to me (usually a day earlier).