[tessie]

I have been traveling for years, have been an ICU nurse for 25 years and was on my third assignment with Intelistaf. The first two had there problems but, eventually worked out. This assignment at St Thomas in Nashville was a nightmare. Dangerous assignments which I informed both hospital management and Intelistaf. I just became the ***** that complained. When you have three critical ill patients that all need me at the same time you better believe I complain. Most of us have been there with the traveler getting the worse assignments because we supposedly "make the big money" My assignment was ended by the hospital 3 weeks early. This has never happened to me before, I notify Intelistaf and am told I have 48 hours to get out of my apartment, with no place to go I still got out in the required time. When I get my pay for 36 hours I find $660.00 has been taken out for housing costs. When I called and finally spoke with the director in Dallas, Jennifier Stamp, I told her I really did not want to go thru the expense of an attorney. She said it was her decision to take the money and she was sticking to it. I told her I would let other travelers know of how a long term employee of Intelistaf (one year is a long time for travelers)is treated on the chat sites. She told me "I am not worried about the chat rooms we are a large company" So fellow travelers please, please be careful when a company thinks they are so big that they do not have to be concerned about nurses talking to nurses, that is a company to stay away from. I would be happy to go into all the details if anyone would like. I would also really love to hear from anyone that has had this happen before. I am not traveling anymore due to this experience. Do not let these huge companies that are making millions on our backs, get away with thinking we are of no concern and to be ignored. I am a professional critical care registered nurse.

[Aaron C.]

please post reviews of the travel companies and hospitals you've worked for in our reviews section! Thanks!

[cin3]

HEY TESSIE,
I HAVE ALSO HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH INTELISTAF..I WAS SUPPOSE TO DO A 6 MONTH ASSISNGMENT DOING A TELE TRAINING POSION IN FLORIDA, OF COURSE WHEN I ARRIVED IN FLORIDA THE HOSPITAL KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT..NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T GET THE ASSINGMENT AND HAD TO TAKE ANOTHER ONE SOMEWHERE ELSE..I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY PAYROLL, THEY NEVER SENT ME MY PAYSTUBS AND WHEN I DID GET THEM I FOUND MANY MISTAKES..I AM LLOKING AT OTHER COMPANIES NOW..I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN GIVE YOU A CONTRACT FOR 6 MONTHS AND THEN HAVE IT BROKE WITH AN OH WELL ATTITUDE BUT IF YOU ARE THE ONE BREAKING IT ITS A DIFFERENT STORIE..THATS MY THOUGHTS ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SAY ANTHING?

[QTRn22]

No intelistaff for me

[VWRN]

I worked a lot of OT with Intelistaff when i was preggo just to make sure I had enough hours in just incase I went into labor early. Well 2 days before my contract ended I had my baby. Instead of taking my last 2 shifts as "call ins" the company ended my contract that day. Which means= my insurance was up! I had a sick baby and Intelistaff would do NOTHING to help me at all. I got voice mails and recordings regarding Cobra. It was the BIGGEST pain in the neck. I would not suggest going with them and I would never consider going back to them!

[EMTBillRN]

I didn't even travel with Intelistaf and I could tell that they don't have it all together. I was interested in a job that they had in WA. I talked to a great recruiter but I could tell that the benefits were sub-par.
You have to pay: $50 per month for the first three months for your health insurance, then its free, buy-up for your dental and vision (you pay), $1,500 deductible on health insurance, $300 security deposit on your apartment... refundable only when you're done with the company. Also your 401k kicks in after 1,000 hours worked, then they only match 30 cents per dollar up to 10 percent. And your bonuses are subject to much higher tax than your regular pay. They offer a $500 completion bonus on every assignment. But they nickel and dime you on the benefits. Here's other frustrations. There's no clinical nurse liaison that my recruiter knew of, or testing for nurses to make sure that they are competent. I told my recruiter that it seems like this company is for the money, and not for the nurses... AND THE RECRUITER AGREED. I wonder how much money Ralph Freidmann III makes per year as CEO of Intelistaf. Last year (2003) Intelistaf made $450 million!
I even talked to the hospital I was interested in to consider making a contract with a travel company I've worked for before. But they would have to sub contract with Intelistaf... and RN Network wasn't about to do that. So it got back to the powers that be.. and they thought that I was trying to negotiate behind their backs. So they rescinded their offer to me and my recruiter said that she couldn't work with me anymore... and that was it. I did my research. I stood up for myself. I do not feel guilty about it at all. Nurses don't get paid enough for the work we do. And I'm not about to get walked over so early in my nursing career. Intelistaf did up my hourly pay rate, waived the $50 per month for insurance, and waived the $300 deposit for the apartment. But that was after I told them that they had to match or beat what I was used to for benefits. And they obviously couldn't come through. For being the third largest staffing company in the US... they're not very good... AND I DIDN'T EVEN TRAVEL WITH THEM. I feel that every one needs to know this. And I made it know about this website. They know. They need actual nurses on staff so the CEO's can know exactly what's going on and nurses can be fairly compensated with good benefits. Their website says "excellent wages and benefits," they're lying. Stand up for what you deserve and don't settle for less. We work too hard, put our health at risk for the sake of others, and put in too many hours to be treated like Intelistaf does.
But I give credit to the recruiter, Kimberly. I put her through alot, and she handled it very well. But I wonder how many untruths she told me to suade me.
Please be careful and stand up for what you deserve.

[j3nny]

Thanks for the warning

[dag]

I traveled with starmed before they merged with intelistaff and have never felt as unwelcomed or useless as intelistaff has made me feel. for nurse week we recieved a pen. with starmed we felt like a family, if there was a complaint we could express our feelings to the president of the company. this company never returns calls,and if a bad comment is made they just ignore it. there is no incentive to stay with them,is appears as if they don't care about their travel nurses!!!! If they say their going to do something you never hear about it again!!!! I am currently looking for a company that treats me like the professional that I am. With respect and appreciation. I got out of hospital nursing because of this, and was treated better as a hospital employee than I am an Intelistaff employee!!!!!!

[nurseonthego]

I had some problems w/ Intelistaf. My paycheck was incorrect. The nursing manager made the necessary changes to my time card to ensure I would get paid what was due. I was an accountant prior to becoming a nurse. I submited payroll schedules indicating what was owed. The hospital wanted me to renew. I told the manager that unless Intelistaf got the payroll issues corrected I would not renew. This agency had 2 months to get it right and still dragged their feet. Finally out of desperation I faxed them a message: I will not consider an extension until these descrapancies are remedied. I did hear from Intelistaf advising they were working on the problem just go ahead and sign the extension. I declined. My contract stated I had 48 hours to be out of housing. I packed up, cleaned the apt and notified the apt I needed an inspection.
I passed the inspection, notified the hospital I would not be back and called and left a message for my recruiter.

My recruiter contacted me on Monday and said "I have some bad news for you, you last check will have a deduction for the housing on it because you agreed to extend. My recruiter was new to the company and this is what I told him. "Bart you take the information and correspondence I sent you to your buddy in administration. There is no way you can even consider deducting housing when we have no contract in place. Now I intend to be paid for the hours I worked! If you even attempt I will sue your company as well as make complaints to the proper agencies. I have covered myself very well. (meaning w/ correspondence)
I expect to be hearing from you within the next 15 minutes I did hear back from him within the deadline and he said there will be no deductions made.

The only other thing I can say do not ever sign with Mobile Medical....they are worse than Intelistaf. One of the owners Richard is a JERK! He is a liar, has selective memory and the rudest most unprofessional I have ever met.

There are too many travel companies looking for good travelers, we are in demand. Thank God for sites such as this where we can get the word out. Remember Intelistaf is the loser!

Good LUCK TO YOU!

[BobbleHead]

When experience speaks, you better believe I listen!