Frustrated with my agency- any advice?

Thanks for the tip, Brita...I will keep my ears up. Had no idea agencies would be so unethical.

I agree if lines of communication are kept open we can work most things out...but in Christen's case, sounds like she's got a recruitor with a 'tude...

give it up and go straight staff

Now why in the world would we want to do THAT??

Been there done that no thanks.

And if we did that, who would post in the Agency Nurses Forum?

Potstirrer...

Ditto also to Nightngale's reply... hehe!

Straight staff???

My response to this comment may take several posts.

(sniff, sniff)
I smell an agency hater..... hehe....

Christen
I'm glad you got things worked out. If there is someone at the agency you can work thru other than the guy with the '"tude" , I would recommend going that route. Also, I think it was a good idea on your part to talk to the head of your agency--you shouldn't have to put up with anybody's harrassment.

Brita, thanks for clueing us all in on some of the unethical tactics agencies use (such as scheduling you without your knowledge than cancelling you! ). I had gotten a call from my agency some day last week and my "coordinator" told me that there was no time at "XXX Hospital" and I was like "HUH?! I never expressed interest in going there!" I didn't worry about it b/c I figured she might realize her mistake if the person who really was looking for hours at that particular hospital called her back to ask about available time there. However, if I get another call like that, I plan to call back and set the record straight! For all I know, they were scheduling me and then perhaps cancelling me, tainting my name with that hospital!

Finally, I would advise anybody new to agency, if you have to cancel a shift, call BOTH the agency and the hospital! One time I had to cancel a shift due to illness and my coordinator at the time called me the next day and was like "The hospital wants to know where you are, why aren't you at work?" I told her that I had called the previous night to cancel d/t illness. I'm a bit disenchanted with my agency, not just b/c of that, but also b/c they are generally disorganized. However, I hope to get a full-time NP job soon, so I'm just biding my time for now

Laurie
Newly minted MSN

I don't suggest calling the facility on your own. Most agencies I have run into strictly forbid this, and can terminate an employee for calling the facility just once without permission from the agency.

Of course, if they were doing THEIR job, you wouldn't have to, but don't give them leverage.