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Question:
I have been an RN for almost 5 years and have changed jobs several times. I am not exactly loving the job I am in now and am thinking about starting to work for a staffing agency. I will be paid a great rate and have the opportunity to try out different nursing jobs, in hopes of finding where I really want to be. I would really like to hear from anyone who has experience with agency nursing for their opinion because I’m sure the agency rep will not tell me the negative aspects of this type of nursing.
Answer:
As far as I’m concerned, registry work is the only way to go. I’m trying to think of the negatives, and I can only come up with a couple: You’ll occasionally work with hostile nurses; they’re pissed about how much you make. I only come across this once in a while, though. Most nurses only care about whether or not you can get the job done. Depending on the registry, you may get called off at the last minute, just as you’re ready to head out. It pays to sign up with 2 or 3 companies. I don’t think any registries make you sign any kind of exclusive contract. If you’re picky about what floor you’re willing to work, it’ll be harder to get assignments. I’m sure your recruiter has already gone over the plusses: Better pay(much better), flexible hours, and in many cases choice of floor. If the hospital is REALLY hurting, they’ll float a full-timer to a different floor to accommodate you. Being able to avoid silly office politics is one of the main reasons I started registry work. I’m currently considering cutting out the middle-man and working as an independent contractor. The registry’s profit margin is pretty high, and I’d like to get that piece of the pie. From what I understand, though, the paperwork involved is a killer. Agency nursing is for checking out local labor conditions for full-time work with great benefits and pay! Nice try. If full time work offered such great benefits and pay, there wouldn’t be nurses deserting in droves to go work agency. More importantly, once you go into a building as an agency nurse, you can almost guarantee you won’t be getting offered a job at that facility. Most agencies will charge the hospital/SNF a hefty finder’s fee for any of their nurses who get hired onto staff where they’ve temped, and the facilities aren’t usually willing to pay. So be very leery of using agency as a way of testing out a particular health care facility. I’ve worked as an agency nurse both exclusively and in addition to my regular jobs for about 7 years now. I highly recommend it. As I see it, benefits are flexible schedule, higher rate of pay, variety of work, and being able to avoid the politics of the workplace. The down side is that you can get cancelled on short notice. If you’re flexible and willing to go to another facility, you can be reassigned at the last minute, too. Just be sure that the agency isn’t manipulating your assignments for their own convenience. Sometimes there are slow periods where assignments are harder to get. For example, around the holidays many nurses work extra hours to earn extra money, and agency nurses aren’t needed as much. Health insurance isn’t as good through agencies, and you may have to pay for your own employment physical and annual TB test, and CEU’s. I’ve had bad experiences at a few facilities and I simply chose not to go back. On the other hand, at most places I work the staff remember me, seem be glad to see me, and are very helpful. Go for it!I’ve been doing it for a few years and in my market, in my setting, it’s been a good decision. Things to expect:
1) Expect to be first cancelled, or in the first wave of cancellations, when census is low. Some places like to pre-book based on maximum census, then cancel 2 hours before shift, when the census has been down all week. In any event, you are probably the most expensive labor they have, so you will be the first let go when no longer needed. You will discover REALLY quickly which facilities do this, and if you are smart, not pre-book there again.
2) Expect to get the patients nobody wants, especially if you are new, or haven’t proven yourself. I have been places on occasion where NONE of the core staff knew the patient(s) I had, since they were always given to agency/ float pool.
3) If you find someplace you like, expect to either take 90-180 days away from there before you can hire on, or expect your agency to demand a finder’s fee for placing you there. If you DO decide to circumvent this, do NOT tell your agency where you are going. Your employer may have an obligation to, but that’s their business. You have no such obligation, unless you agree to it in writing. 4) Having your name with several agencies is not a bad idea, especially if your two agencies tend to complement rather than compete with each other (one may be preferred at one place/chain, the other with another). This pays off when cancelled, needing to work BAD, and scrambling.
5) If you prove yourself, and get well known in a few select places, you will have more work than you can shake a stick at (in the right markets). Good Luck. At this point, I work part time for one chain, and do agency with ONE outfit as a regular in two particular places... ICU at one, ER at the other, and get requested by name regularly by both, and can take any patient at both. It’s all a matter of going to a place you like, proving yourself, and being flexible. If you have bennies and insurance from a sig other, or can afford it out of pocket (meaning you are healthy) then financially, it will be really rewarding once you get established.
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