[emnite]

Whats the protocol with signing up with more than one agency?? I'm currently signed up with 2, one is offering a lot more money for the same hospital, what happens if my profile gets sent by both of them?? Are smaller companys better to work for, this is my first time travelling so I have a lot of questions.

[Aaron C.]

they shouldn't be sending your profile until you tell them that they can send your profile. If they send it without asking you, or at least without an agreement beforehand where you let them know to just take care of it for you and let you know, then you should find someone else.

Sign up with as many as you want. All it does is increase your opions. The ones who are listed on this site are all very reputable companies. I would definately check them out.

[MelissaRN]

Sometimes if you profile gets sent to the same hospital from different companies they wont even consider you for the position....that happened to a friend of mine. Also, some will have you go with the first company to submit you to their hospital. But everywhere is different....all up to the manager that gets all the profiles.

[Chris]

I am an RN that will be traveling with my wife around July of 2004 when my son graduated high school. I believe we've done our homework regarding picking the right agency, but I thought agencies offered longivity rewards. Is this not the type of thing that you can pick one agency and stick with them during your entire traveling experience? Is it frowned upon by agencies if they find out you have applied to other agencies? If we wanted to take advantage of say a 401K benefit, would I lose that option if I skipped an assignment or two with the company offering that benefit? I apologize for all the questions, but we'd like to get it right the first time.

Thanks so much!!
Chris

[TravelRegNrs]

One agency at a time! Never call the agencies you know and have your profiles submitted. Just ask where the work is, salary and all the particulars. After that, you make your mind up where you want to go.

Very important not to allow yourself to have many submissions to many hospitals by the same agency. That could backfire as well.

[gothrn]

Yes, you can be up with multiple companies. You cannot be submitted to a hospital by two different companies. But realize that by switching companies from contract to contract really ends up hurting you in the end.

[gothrn]

Yes, companies do offer incentives for staying with them, but you don't have to. If you didn't like the hospital you were working at you would not stay there. Through my years of travelling I have only changed companies onces but I still keep in contact with three other companies. Before signing on with a company you want to make sure that they fill your needs. Now there are a ton of companies but some have the staff of three and don't really have the base of contracts to go with. Also you want to know about benefits and 401K prior to ever being submitted and make sure it is what you want. Companies don't necessarily frown on you having your stuff with more than one company, they usually expect that you do. If you do one contract with company A then do your next contract with company B, then go back to company A you will usually have to do the wait period again to start feeding your 401K. Most companies now have first day insurance so that you have all your insurance on the start of your contract and then you have a month inbetween contracts before the benefits lapse.
Hope this was some help.

[HeyFraydo]

I'm a Travel Psych RN. I can attest that switching agencies does not hurt you at all. In fact it increases your chances of getting the best package offer. Also for Psych RN's in my opinion it is a must because Psych floats around and among several agencies. I'm registered with a number of agencies and stay in email contact with almost all of them that will do so. You really have to think of yourself as a business even though technically you are an employee. 401K's can be rolled over from agency to agency. I carry my own Health Insurance BCBS with an Health Savings Account that gives you real tax advantages among other advantages. Now if you have a company and recruiter that takes care of you Yes stick with them but always keep your ear tuned to other opportunities. If you don't you'll really never know if you are getting the best deal or not. Yes some recruiters take it as an offense you you go with another company but this is bad business. Good recruiters realize they may not have what you need all the time but you will stay in touch and they will stay in touch with you. Never work for an agency that treats you as an "employee" as in having you jump through hoop after hoop after hoop. I call this the Human Resources Mentality.
Your recruiter and company should treat you as a partner that works with you. They basically take their cut of the bill rate for finding you the assignment and housing and administrative duties all with good customer service just as you perform your end of the deal.

CJ

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