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Question:
I’m an agency nurse, have been since my first job. Nearly every hospital I’ve been at with the registry, I hear people discussing how bad things are. Many of the times, it is the hospital employee making a mountain out of a mole-hill, but it makes me wonder why I see it every where. All the nurses tend to be stressed out, get upset with the patients (rarely in front of the patient, but they verbalize it in the nurses station.) I also see other nurses running around, never having time to sit and chart. Some times, when I’m at the same hospital for a few days, I notice that when I have a group of patients, they don’t seem to have problems, but do when other nurses do. I’m not saying I never have a problem and I never get stressed, but it seems so much more rare for me? I would say it is luck, but it occurs too often, and I don’t have the same luck when I go to Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe. I often feel a little guilty when others always have the problems. Many times I worry that I’m overlooking something, but I look over all my patients and what is going on in all of their cases and everything seems to be as it should, considering.
MY QUESTION NOW, Why? Is it because I’m registry I have fewer problems? At most hospitals, I’m given no lighter a load that other nurses, occasionally heavier. Is hospital employment really that hostile? I see many of their complaints as petty, but to them, it is a major deal. WHY? I was wondering if it’s possible for a new RN to get a job through an agency .. Do they expect 2 to 3 yrs. experience, etc.?
Answer:
It may well be because you are a registry nurse. You know that you can get a different gig you know you’re not there for long, you know a change is on the horizon. Benefits don’t count. The personalities of others don’t really count. You’re not part of the picture, you’re alien. Could be at least in part because you’re agency. I’ve worked both in house float pool - and temporary (traveling) Assignments as well as staff nurse. I xperience the same thing as an agency nurse that you describe. I think a large part of it is non patient care issues. As staff nurse I often have responsibilities that are not directly related to patient care - preparing for meetings, writing procedures, doing peer evaluations and the like. I happen to value my time off so try to get those things done at work whenever possible. When I’m working agency, I rarely have those kinds of responsibilities taking time from patient care. Politics seems to come in to play here, too. As an agency nurse I can pretty much avoid hospital politics (while still having to deal with agency politics - but that’s another issue) - and that helps reduce MY stress level. The other thing that I think comes into play here is the simple fact that people just plain seem to prefer to complain about what’s wrong rather then praise what’s right. That goes with most aspects of their lives - and women (who still make up the large majority of the nursing population) seem to do this even more than men. Then again, you might just be more laid back then the nurses you work with. They may see problems where you see none. I’m a female, and I can tell you unequivocally, Ron, that being an agency nurse is usually much more pleasant than being a staff nurse. In my opinion, it’s because agency nurses are less inclined to become involved in the petty politics.I too work exclusively with the agency...in fact signed up with several agencies. The correctness of your observations are not limited to California or hospitals with unions, it is all about control.
I have worked here in Oklahoma, in Washington DC and Georgia, it is the same everywhere I have been. I think the control issue is paramount. I often see staff nurses who are required to obtain multitudes of certifications, with classes scheduled on their off days. The rules dictate that they be given another day off if they attend, but this usually does not happen. If staffing is low, they are expected to come in, regardless the shift. The big brother mentality prevails, refuse the employer too often and there is some invisible demerit board looming in the distance you are then seen as not being a team player. All of this begets a feeling of helplessness on the part of the individual nurses and they respond the best they can, by attacking one another and complaining about management, who could be anyone from the ward coordinator to the administrator. I have found myself falling into this attitude when I have worked long contracts with a facility. I have a great deal of difficulty with the concept of feeling owned. As a single individual, it is much easier for me to work agency. I can muddle through the slow times. However, those with families and children do not often see the potential instability of agency work as a viable alternative, they see the steady job and paycheck as the responsible way to live. I think they often feel that they work at institutions out of necessity, are often not fulfilled by this work and have an enormous amount of stress and responsibility for which the financial rewards are minimal. I would have a great deal of difficulty returning to a staff position, I have a big mouth and am strongly motivated to say no as situations dictate. I thank God that I have been given alternative choices, but I do not for one minute wish to belittle the staff nurse, they are the backbone of the healthcare industry. I think agency nurses are just a different breed. I notice you also are affiliated with an EMS service and FD. I too have that sort of background. Used to work fulltime as a paramedic and part time at other disciplines: MT in the lab and nurse.
My military background craves the constant change. Like I said, I think it takes a certain type of individual to be okay with the lifestyle of the agency nurse. I think others would enjoy the freedom, but could not handle the financial strain of being called off with 2 hours notice for a week at a time.I’ve been an RN for 2 years now; only job I could get is in Long term care; Well, working full time with LPN’s who begrudge RN’s and are jealous of furthering education by going for BSN part time along with the begging for you to work overtime, putting up with filth because they won’t pay any one to do housekeeping, and CNA’s who can not take vital signs. and the general politics crap has been enough for me; Some of the best nurses I have worked with of late have been agency nurses; Sure, they make more $$ but there are no benefits, and as everything else in life, tough! I am free to apply and work for agency and I do believe after all of your thoughts I will do that tomorrow!!
I am not a nurse, but a Registered Respiratory Therapist. In the past 5 years, I have worked in just about every health care setting in which my profession is represented, from a busy 15 bed ICU/CCU to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Even for Respiratory Therapists, the job scene is pretty dismal. Some facilities are even cross training RT’s to perform outside of our profession as Patient Care Techs (CNA’s). I am the first RT to volunteer to assist a nurse to turn a patient, but I draw the line when I am threatened with disciplinary action because I didn’t have time to give a patient a bath because I was busy trying to manage 11 ventilators on 2 floors. Anyway, my point (and the good news) here is that I have finally found a facility and an alternative environment where, not only do I get the respect and acknowledgement for my training, but the staffing levels are decent and managers are given training and incentives to provide work environments that are both conducive to harmony and teamwork.
I work in a US Naval Medical Center. I may not make the kind of money that I would on the outside in the private sector, but I have more job security than I would anywhere else. I also can get up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror and honestly say that I look forward to going to work. In these days and times, I think that’s pretty good. If you are looking for a decent facility to practice in your profession and you don’t mind making a couple of thousand less a year, check out the opportunities with the federal government. Believe me, peace of mind is worth it!! If you are a US veteran, your job security is even further ensured. The benefits are just as good (or better) than in the civilian sector. The US government Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has a good site on the web and it is maintained and updated with all of the current job openings nationwide for all professions, health care and otherwise. Check it out!!
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