travel companies..need help!

I am going to be a first time traveler and have investigated several companies.  Although there are similarities, there are also many differences.  How do you know if a company accurate in what they tell me or if its just a line to get me to sign with them?

Well first off, I suppose any company can tell you anything and then not perform. However, proving what they say and holding them liable is a lot easier when you just have them put everything they say into your contract. This is your LEGAL way of insuring that you have proof of what you were promised. However, any company can promise you anything and then renege. Then you would have to sue them to hold them to the contract. Most companies rely on not many people wanting to do this.

The easiest way around this is to thoroughly research the companies with which you travel. Read reviews or scour the travel nursing forums (ultimatenurse, pantravelers, etc) to see which companies are notorious for cheating travelers. You also get to see the companies that have good reps in the industry on these forums.

If you need any help with choosing good companies, I work with a handful of companies I recommend and can give you names of the recruiters I use to get nurses started in travel nursing (often a lot nicer way than going in to a company blind- placing you with just any recruiter) . Plus, the recruiters I use have years of experience or are even recruitment managers. Send me an email at david@travelnursesbible.com and I'll be happy to get you started with a few companies that have helped me with new travelers.

I'll also take this shameless opportunity to mention my book :-)  I do believe it has helped many people better understand travel and it uses my experience as a traveler ( over 15 yrs) to help walk you through the process of becoming a travel nurse. You can read more about it at http://travelnursesbible.com
and again, feel free to email me if you want some help with finding good companies with which to start your journey.

Hope this helps.

David
http://travelnursesbible.com
david@travelnursesbible.com

Keep in mind that the staffing agency and the recruiter are out for their best interest as well. You’re just about always going to get a different song or dance so the best thing you can do is arm yourself with knowledge. 
 
It’s very important that you know that most staffing agencies are the same.  Some may be bigger than others, some may have better insurance and some can assist you with finding housing and so forth.  As far as reimbursements and really anything to do with your compensation it’s just about always going to be the same.  All staffing agencies have to follow the same rules and we all are at the mercy of our bill rates from our clients.  We all deal with the same companies so those bill rates aren’t going to change much from one company to another.  It’s really going to boil down to the recruiter and how you get along with her/him.  Most traveling therapists are going to tell you the same thing.  They have all become pretty good friends if not life long friends with their recruiter.  Keep that in mind when choosing a company.  You’ll be dealing with that recruiter a lot and if you get into a sticky situation you’re going to want to know you can count on them as you would a close friend. 
 
And one last piece of advice concerning getting the company line.  Never take a bonus!  Unless it comes from the client directly but even then I would ask your recruiter to have them put the equivalent into your hourly rate.  Especially if you’re in an area where you’re getting a high per diem rate (your tax free portion of your check).  When a staffing agency offers a completion bonus all they’re doing is taking money out of your hourly rate and stashing till you finish the assignment then giving it back to you as a bonus.  The worst part is that you’ll be taxed over 40% on that bonus so in the end you’ll actually be loosing money.  So in the end try to avoid money games.  Hope that helps a little.     

I have to agree with both Jeremy and David.  The best thing is to compare apples to apples, read your contract and listen to other travelers. Do your research and come in knowledgeable about aspects of traveling.  You should have a plan in mind of costs to you, costs they should pay, contracts, salary breakdown, housing, etc...don't come in blind, you wouldn't buy a house or a car without doing your research, right? Or better yet, have surgery without researching whose hands you entrust?  Same thing here.  There are plenty of resources out there. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.  Contact me anytime too at ssnook@aureusmedical.com.

Sunny

First of all, you need to know what you are looking for in a company...  Do you want great benefits with a decent paycheck or decent benefits with a great paycheck.  Some companies give a few more bucks per hour if you can be there with little to prepare (fast response).

A list of travel companies and their benefits can be found here:
http://www.highwayhypodermics.com/travel_nursing_companies.htm

@jeremy. I have always taken a sign on bonus, traveling compensation package or a completion bonus but always knew that somehow is came out of my bottom dollar in the end. I appreciate your "spin"! - Great advice. I’m starting a new contract soon and will keep this in mind. Phil