MSN nursing agency

Question:
I just had a very interesting experience. And this is no troll.

I am an out of work psych RN/MSN (my choice- I quit a s--t job for my own sanity). There are no nursing jobs here except in home care and agency work. I went to an agency, who gleefully reassured me that if there were no psych opportunities, I could always work as a LPN or (get this) health care aide, for THOSE salaries!! (And they said they have lots of very happy RNs doing this- who wouldn't do anything else!)

They immediately offered me (without even seeing my application or checking references-this was recruitment day) a night position (LPN level, so they say) with a very sick newborn. No piece of cake, it seemed. Not to mention the fact that I haven't done any peds since 1979 and told them this 20 times. They said I'd do fine. IMHO, I wouldn't be safe at any level. Scary, no? They were so anxious to fill the job; they would have put me in there. I walked out without even leaving my application.

Answer:

You did the right thing if you ran not simply walked from that so-called agency. Have you considered turning them in for Medicare Medicaid fraud? I would certainly report them STAT to the appropriate authorities. No reputable nursing agency would conduct business in that manner.

I've been an agency nurse since 1990. I've run across some rotten agencies in my time, but none as bad as you've indicated. Its agencies like the one you mentioned that give reputable agencies a bad name by providing wonderful fodder for 20/20 or Dateline features.

It sounds like they lied to you first of all, they didn't want to pay you what you are worth (that line about we have no positions for RNs is probably bogus). Second, in nearly seven years of agency nursing, I have never heard of an RN who accepts an aide or LPN position or pay when working with an agency, although I guess it could be done. I think licensure would be an issue here, though if you are an RN, and are working as an aide, would you not be held to the standard of practice of an RN? If you hold an active license? I don't know the answer to that one; you may want to check with your state's board of nursing. Third, most nurses who work for or through agencies do so because the pay far surpasses staff nurse pay. (I work *through* an agency as an independent contractor; agencies differ. If I wanted to contract individually with a hospital, I could. but I don't need the hassle.) In my area (the Deep South), staff nurses with my experience (nearly 20 years of critical care), start at around $14.00 per hour, if they're lucky. Through an agency, I make anywhere from $22.00 to $27.00 per hour, depending on shift and unit worked, etc. I usually average around $24.00 per hour, because I work very few hours, work only 8 hour shifts, and don't work nights or week-ends.

I don't know what other agencies are in your city, but I'd check them all out. The agency I'm with provides staff relief for psych. units; there may very well be one in your city that does the same. Or, if you’re in the mood and have the energy, start your own agency, or contract with individual hospitals on your own to provide psych. Coverage. It's not that hard to do the agency I'm with was started by a friend of mine, an RN. We're still small, but the owner of the agency is selective. Basically, we're a group of well-qualified critical care nurses who have banded together to provide relief staffing as opposed to working for (and being under the control of) hospitals.

So, don't let some of those fly-by-night scammers that call themselves agencies turn you away from the thought of agency nursing! Agencies are *not* all alike.

I'm doing a slow burn here .think of what's happening to the unsuspecting people who hire this agency to provide home care! I hope you turn those suckers in! You could get rich quick if they *are* involved in Medicare fraud, you know.