Considering Agency work after almost one year off the floor...advice?

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Hi, I am looking for some advice from anyone experienced in agency work. I had been a staff RN on a Medical Telemetry unit for about 2.5 years, but then left that job about 9 months ago after experiencing some pretty severe burnout. After taking most of this year away from nursing, I am feeling somewhat ready to go back to it, but have reservations. I now live in a new state (CA), and after waiting months and months for my license to finally be endorsed, I now have it and am ready to move forward. I have applied to many hospital positions in the last few weeks, but have not heard back. I am considering agency work to bridge the time period until I find a perm position. The agency I spoke with sounds like they are ready to put me on the floor in just a few days (a little too eager??). I just have a lot of anxiety about 1. going back to the floor in general, 2. going back with minimal training/orientation. My husband is encouraging me to give it a try because we are starting to struggle financially, but even the thought of doing one shift flat out terrifies me - not knowing the unit, the staff, what type of floor I'd be on, being out of practice, etc...

So, any agency nurses out there have some thoughts or advice on the situation?? I would really appreciate some feedback!

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New hospitals are always different and it is difficult to really know if you like a unit until you try it. It would be easier to work staff at one hospital part time than figure out lots of hospitals for you it sounds like. Getting a staff job in California can be difficult but try hard.

It sounds like you may be unaware of a huge benefit to working in California, the staffing ratio law. Not only will you likely have a lower workload than before (which may have contributed to your burnout) but California labor law also mandates a fully relieved break every four hours and a fully relieved meal break.

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Although I don't live in the US, nursing basics never change in our world. I have in my short career 2 yrs all up worked in 17 hospitals.. I could have written your post word for word. I basically go anywhere I am asked nuero, surg, med, cardiac, mental health (seem to fit right in there) but hate going there. It can be frightening not understanding what is next, however you can turn an assignment down. I specialized in ortho and downright hated it. I ended up with a permanent injury to my arm for life. So now I am in some sort of head space to contemplate putting my resume into an agency and take it from there. The brilliant part is you can choose your shifts. I started on PM then went to nights. I had far more time to spend with the many patients who do stay awake. Yes there aren't as many staff for back up but the teams are very tight. I hate days that's when agency is busy. If you have about 5+ yrs of experience go for it. PM shifts are busy but comfortable. As long as you have routine you CAN cope. And they don't tend to depend on you to actually know anything!! The lack of responsibility as such reduces the anxiety and not knowing where things are. You turn up big smile and look positive (false way of approaching it) and hang on for the ride. I found the greatest part of agency nursing was being THANKED for coming in by all the night staff and the manager. It was worth it, I was part of the team, depended on and appreciated. You can get away with doing 1 shift a week to get that confidence that has been kicked inside out. My scrubs are ready, I have newish shoes that smell clean. I just need to take that first step then start straight away. I know somewhere in me I definitely have the skills for a nightshift. You can do it, they run you through the ward on arrival show you everything, give you your schedule. Unlike floor nursing, there is no involvement in the day to day **********. Good luck.

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Thanks for the advice!! I agree, a full time position would be most ideal, but after letting the thoughts stew for a week or so, I am becoming a bit more optimistic about the idea of agency work -though I've done mostly dayshift in the past, I think I'm gonna start back on nights until I get my feet back under me a bit more. Meanwhile, I'll continue to push for a full time position somewhere - I just can't wait months and months for that to come along sadly..

NedRN - that's a good point about the nurse:pt ratios for CA, I know a bit about it, and am very curious to see how that plays out on the floors. I have heard that its 1:5 med/surg, and 1:4 tele? I wonder if those ratios are the same for nights?

Bronte0 - I really appreciate your encouragment, I like the bit about having a big smile and faking a positive attitude - that can go a long way towards convincing yourself and others! I just have to keep reminding myself that I am a great nurse, I know what I am doing, and I will not be afraid to ask abut how things are done on all new, unfamiliar units!

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NedRN - that's a good point about the nurse:pt ratios for CA, I know a bit about it, and am very curious to see how that plays out on the floors. I have heard that its 1:5 med/surg, and 1:4 tele? I wonder if those ratios are the same for nights?

They are!

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Specializes in Cardiac step-down, PICC/Midline insertion.

I work for an agency. I had 4 years of experience before i started agency. I really don't recommend it if the idea of floating to various units you're unfamiliar with frightens you. I find it stressful and haven't had the best experiences. Staff nurses can be very hateful and ugly to agency nurses, dumping the most time-consuming and difficult patients on the agency nurse to give the regular staff a break and they won't help you. This isn't always the case, some units that actually have nurses that are decent human beings that are understanding and will give you a fair assignment and make sure you have access to what you need and know what the unit's expectations are for patient care during that particular shift. I've walked into assignments on units I had absolutely never worked on before and got the crazy patient in 4 pt restraints in DT's requiring IV ativan q2h, or all the confused, incontinent, turn q2h, can't take pills, tube feed, trach, you name it. I don't like it at all, but I have do it because I need the extra money right now....thankfully it's not my full time job.

On the upside....agency pays well, usually has great benefits and you will learn a lot and get a wide range of experience. Plus in CA, you should have a 1:4 ratio with breaks....I don't get that where I live. I get 4-7 patients and am lucky if I get a break most nights.

My advice is find a unit you like and preassign your shifts or sign a contract with that particular unit so you have some control over your fate. lol

Good luck and I hope you have a better experience as a nurse this go 'round.

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