Ask a Travel Nurse Question:
I am a new nurse hoping to travel! I’ve recently been recruited by an agency for jobs in California, and I sent all my California license info through their recruiters and company. Now I am worried because after looking at multiple Travel Nursing sites this company has many terrible reviews. Can I get my state license through one Travel Nursing company then switch to another? I want to avoid sending all my information and fees again to the state board.
Ask a Travel Nurse Answer:
While there probably is a way for you to do that, I would not be the person to ask in accomplishing this as it is contrary to my values.
If I was receiving help from a company in getting a state license, I would not feel right in saying “thanks,” by then turning around and traveling with someone else. If you find that you do not like the benefits this company offers or have some other reason for electing to go with another company for your second assignment, no worries. But to just go by the word of others (particularly “online” others), when it comes to choosing a Travel Nursing company, in my opinion, may be a reason to proceed with caution, but not to take advantage of a company’s assistance in this way.
If you yourself paid the fees to the board, then you should not have to repay these fees or resubmit your information to the board simply for electing to travel with a different company (again, I do not know the details of your arrangement with this company). However, I can tell you that after 20 years of being a travel nurse, my last assignment was with this company and I would not hesitate to travel with them again.
This begs the question, “Why would a travel nurse, with 20 years of knowledge about the industry, choose to travel with a company with such a reputation?” The answer: I have a great recruiter at there.
You can find a negative review about ANY company out there. What defines most of the complaints is an issue such as “my recruiter told me this,” or “they promised this.” Examples that are easily combatted by having a great recruiter and getting everything in writing. No one company has a monopoly on bad recruiters. That is why I never recommend or refer nurses to companies, but rather, to great recruiters who work for the companies I trust with my travels.
I have always maintained the importance of the recruiter in the Travel Nursing equation. Quite simply, you MUST have trust in a person who is arranging job for you that may be hundreds or thous and s of miles from home. They should be willing to answer all of your questions and take the time to find assignments for you that are based on your criteria.