[paulap]

I would like to hear from those of you who have used Cross Country.....the good and the bad experiences. I'm looking for a travel company. Also, does anyone know of a list of the top things to discuss with your recruiter??? What are your recommendations for a first assignment?

[linda1968]

I traveled with them 11 years ago and had no problems. I have found their pay is low. I have worked for a smaller travel agency for the last few years that I love. Their pay and housing subsidy is much higher. I will be traveling with Cross Country again in 2 weeks because my agency doesn't have a contract where I need to go!! Hope you like it. Linda

[disholicious]

Topics: other than pay, when does health insurance kick in- often it's not for 30 days and cobra can be expensive and no insurance is risky. Travel expenses and when do you get reimbursed. Mine with Trustaff was 4 weeks after I started the contract, which I don't think is realistic. Completion bonus. Are the hours guaranteed- meaning if they cancel you do they still have to pay you. If this is so, you won't get cancelled. Discuss housing- are all utilities included even cable or internet. That's a biggie for me. I'm less homesick if I can connect with my family with my laptop. I'm sure there is many more topics.

[Kdog]

the problem I had was paying for private housing.. it took me almost 6 assignments before other travelers told me that is crazy. So, I switchd around and was happier with them . Now going with RN Network.
I'm not sure that CCT still charges for private housing, if not give them a try

[linda1968]

They are charging me $700 a month to have 2 bedrooms and I didn't get the second bedroom furnished. Half of the travel pay is in the first paycheck and the other half is in the last check. No cable, phone, or internet is included. The apt is very nice and the view is beautiful. Health insurance kicks in the first day of work. My recruiters seem to be job sharing and they have an associate that is clueless. Look around. I'm going to switch in Dec when this assignment is over.

[peekabooicu]

I must have had the same recruiters that Linda did.
The "clueless" associate called and woke me up, then proceeded to tell me she needed to know certain information about me that was already in my folder, obviously knowing nothing about me at all.
She explained that she was helping out my job-sharing recruiters.
She ended the conversation by telling me that they only wanted nurses that could "hit the ground running".
I told her I would call her back if she could tell me what time she goes to bed. Grin

[TJRN]

I was just told today by a Cross Country Recruiter that I don't even get a TV in the supposed furnished apartment. I asked what was considered furnishing and he said 1 sofa, 1 lamp table, a lamp in the living room and bedroom, a stove, a refrig, a queen size bed, one dresser. Sorry, but you get more than that in a cheap motel.

By the way, this was not in NY; but, in an area of the country where you can get a luxury one bedroom apartment for under $1000.00 per month. The stipend is $1100.00.

[gypsyrn]

I have used Cross Country for 3 assignments. One was back in 2003, it was a nightmare. CC did the interviewing for this hospital in Ca. Told me it was an Endocrine floor with newly dx DM, Thyroid, etc. I drove 3000 miles to get to a dirty apt with ants and an assignment that was more like a nursing home. The avg age was 90+ and most were just waiting to die. I left that assignment but they kept my money. This time a friend of mine said she had good luck with CC and her recruiter so I tried them again. The first assignment was in San Diego @ UCSD. The housing was fine and the assignment was a good one. Housing did not offer to reimburse me for the food I lost when the frig went out, about $100. At that time I said I wouldn't travel with them again but I did and I am sorry I did. The assignment itself wasn't that bad but the housing was horrific. Before I took the assignment I told my recruiter that I would not stay in that complex as it was the same one from the first assignment. She said OK, then when they gave me my address, there it was, the same complex. At that point I did not have a choice but to go there. I got there and it was sooo bad. It smelled like old smoke, the blinds were covered in Nicotine.I could not breathe, I called everyone I could and when someone finally called me back, she said if you go to a hotel we will reimburse you. I had already sat in my hot car because just being in that apt for 15 min made my eyes swell. I told her I did not have the money nor did I want to dig through my car for what I needed for work the next day. So I bought an aircleaner to get me through the night. My recruiter would not call me back. I called housing, the liason, my recruiter on a daily basis but I was told that was my only choice unless I wanted to take the subsidy. I could not afford the fees and rent in the East Bay area. So after getting Bronchitis and missing work for almost 2 weeks and still no help from them, I left the assignment. then I got calls from my recruiter's mgr and the head of housing and the liason wanting to know what they could do to get me to stay. Well, that was a little too late. So needless to say I would not recommend them. My friend that is with them in SF cold not get a TV either at any price, they wanted to charge me $85 month in SD, they said it was the tourist season and the prices go up.... I am with RN Network now and like the benefits they offer and most of them except the Vision are effective day one. The housing is awesome.

[sontas]

hey could you tell me the name of a good recruiter with RNNetwork. Thanks sontas77@hotmail.com

[rihagirl]

I have never worked with them and I doubt I ever will. I have been a traveler for almost 6 years and have met nurses working for them that make at least $10 /hr less than I do with other companies. I have never paid for private housing but it is always available and cable and phone as well as high speed internet has always been available. I have worked for Fastaff, On assignment and The Right Solutions. Pay is my biggest motivator but I have had great assignments for the most part. I don't know about the health insurance because I have never used theirs. Don't go with cheap paying companies though, they use you. The hospitals are paying them big, you deserve the pay too.