Best Travel Companies

Posts: 32 · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Seattle, WA

Can anyone shed some light on the best travel companies to work for? I've only been with one, but I'm not very happy with them. I'm looking for top pay and consistent communication. Thanks for any help!! Also, how do you guys negotiate for better pay? I need some help from a seasoned traveler! Smile

Posts: 7 · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Pocatello, Idaho

There are many great companies out there... the trick is to write down the top 5 to 10 things that you want out of a company and go on the search for those things. My personal favorite is Trinity Healthcare, Cirrus Medical Staffing, Medical Solutions, Talemed, Premier Healthcare & Freedom Healthcare. All smaller companies who pay attention to what YOU want!

Posts: 1 · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Dewey, AZ

I work for a smaller travel nurse placement company and have always had to compete with the bigger guys. It is so refreshing to hear someone say that they appreciate the customer service they receive from a company like ours. Thank YOU!!! Kudos
Donna Very Happy

Posts: 7 · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Arkansas

peachy13rn wrote:

Can anyone shed some light on the best travel companies to work for? I've only been with one, but I'm not very happy with them. I'm looking for top pay and consistent communication. Thanks for any help!! Also, how do you guys negotiate for better pay? I need some help from a seasoned traveler! Smile

Hi i have been traveling w/ the same agency for about 7 years now......Nationwide Nurses....i am extremely satistified with them . check out their website.

Posts: 69 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 69

Wow, I'm disappointed with the lack of response. For those of us that are just starting, couldn't the more experienced travelers offer some names of consistently good companies and a brief reason why? I have scanned the topics, and the bad company experiences seem to outway the good. It all seems like traveling is a system you basically have to learn to "work" with some bad experiences to guide your way. Not too pleasant of an idea for me anyway. Nevertheless, blogs like these are helpful. The problem is knowing when the entries are real or just from specific companies using it as a free marketing tool.

Posts: 32 · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 32 Location: Seattle, WA

THanks for the replies finally to my question!! I had the very best recruiter at Innovative last year when I traveled. He was THE BOMB!! but of course he left and now I have had less than stellar service. My last 2 recruiters have seemed lazy and uninterested in pursuing what kind of job I am looking for. One recruiter never even called to tell me she was leaving the company.....I just get a call later from a new girl who said she was my new recruiter. Lousy communication skills !!

Posts: 34 · Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Northeastern US

I have liked Sagent and Millenia the best. Both are on the smaller to mid size. Sagent gets good assignments, especially in New England & finds top notch housing. Millenia will get you the best pay you can find & no one has beat them yet for honesty and customer service (at least in dealing with Kent).

I have heard decent things about On Assignment, especially since Crystal Lovato has gone there; paid airfare, rental car, some short term and rapid response available...

Now, if you just are looking for the money, know your way around negotiating and do not need any hand holding, look at Fastaff. They specialize in the rapid response and short term assignments; although, they do offer the traditional 13 week ones.

Posts: 7 · Joined: 14 Nov 2008 Posts: 7

I notice a pattern with all these comments and they are to get a good recreuiter. Can someone tell me how do I know if I have come across a good recreuiter or someone who is willing to tell me what I want to hear. All suggestions are appreciated.

Posts: 121 · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:41 pm

best company i have worked for is myself. i know i get the highest pay, i know my recruiter wont screw me over, i know my house will be exactly what i like. best thing about working for yourself is that you get paid alot more and you can get away with paying even less taxes (until the marxist president gets sworn in)

Posts: 1 · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Spokane

The difference between a good recruiter and someone who is just trying to make money for their company is honesty. A good recruiter has ethics, integrity, and a sense of humor. A good recruiter listens to what it is you want out of an assignment, where you want to go, pay, housing, and auto issues, and then does their best to make those things happen for you. On top of all of that, that recruiter is there for you no matter what any time of the day. That is how you find the best travel company and the best recruiter.

Posts: 20 · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 20 Location: Cinci-, OH.

I've been traveling for 14 years now, worked for a BUNCH of them, and in my opinion the BEST travel companies are the smaller/midsize companies.

I have been with HALO staffing out of Cinci-, OH. for 6 years now, and THEY ARE THE BOMB.

Halo is a smaller company, and their family oriented attitude and channels of communication are amazing.

They have the best pay I have EVER received in the industry, and work very hard to ensure that I am a "happy traveler".

As a smaller company, with CONSISTENT staff members, they know who I am...not just a warm body with RN behind my name, making money for them.

If issues arise at the hospital you're in THEY GO TO BAT FOR YOU (imagine THAT). They have an on call Clinical Liason that is a bedside RN to mediate between RN, Hospital, Agency to resolve problems/issues in your contract.

I used to be with 3-4 Agencies @ a time, and always advised new travelers to do that, that way you can wheel/deal for best location/pay. For the past 4 years I have only used Halo Staffing, they're that good.

Their pay has ALWAYS been higher then any other agencies, I guess as a smaller co. their overhead is less, and they can afford to pay the RN's that are the "Bread and Butter" of the company.

HOWEVER, even in the face of a depressed economy, beginning January 1st, they started the EASY MONEY program. It is KICK-ASS and makes me money while I am NOT at work.

If any of ya'll are interested in a first rate, personalized company with top pay, great benefits, and GREAT communications, you ought to check out their site at Halostaffing.com, especially the EASY MONEY calculator which shows you how to make a pile of $$$$$$$$ while on VACA-

Posts: 20 · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 20 Location: Cinci-, OH.

...and NO I am not a recruiter, bedside CVICU RN with 15 years under my belt, just happy where I am and trying to help ya'll out,...but please use me as a referrel for my bonus.

Thank You,

Christopher Mulloney, RN

Posts: 5 · Joined: 10 May 2009 Posts: 5 Location: United States

stellar wrote:

Wow, I'm disappointed with the lack of response. For those of us that are just starting, couldn't the more experienced travelers offer some names of consistently good companies and a brief reason why? I have scanned the topics, and the bad company experiences seem to outway the good. It all seems like traveling is a system you basically have to learn to "work" with some bad experiences to guide your way. Not too pleasant of an idea for me anyway. Nevertheless, blogs like these are helpful. The problem is knowing when the entries are real or just from specific companies using it as a free marketing tool.

I have had the same concern...what is to stop a company from pushing their own agenda on this blog? How would we ever know?