New to Agency Nursing...is this a red flag?

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I am considering signing on with a nationally known staffing agency mostly because I want to control my own schedule, prn work and job diversity as I am new to the area and want to explore what is out there. But, the recruiter kept saying LTAC like over and over and over, really pushing LTAC. I have the experience for it but I am worried I will sign on and just get sent to LTAC. So, my question for other agency nurses, are you finding yourself going to LTAC a lot lately and if so, how is it?

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

The LTACH near you can just be severely short at this time and recruiters paid top if they find a new body to send on floor there.

You cannot always control your "job diversity" while working for agency. Although situation can change drastically within months, there are places where shortage is perpetual, LTC and LTACH are being often on the top of the list. It doesn't mean that all these places are necessarily bad and unsafe. In my experience, the opposite may be the truth.

If you only want to work in, say, ICU, you may try to find an agency specializing on critical care assignments. They exist but their placements are either entirely short term travel assignments or semi/permanent in hospitals which have "difficulties" to recruit and keep qualified nurses, which in our times usually means that the said nurses are not staying there for reasons more significant than being paid $1 less than hospital across the highway, so be careful. Otherwise, being an agency RN you go where your skill list was accepted, and it may be not a place of your preference.

I was given three possible places my agency was working with and which accepted my skills and experience: an ICU unit, acute rehab and LTACH. I worked in all three for a while, then settled down in LTACH and like it.

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Recruiter for me first talked about ICU placement only in Metro areea only, then wondered toward less populated area (1hr drive I live 15 min walk from 4 major hospitals) then mentioned LTAC on vent. Guess what happened? I went to less than popullated, sorrounding area hospital ICU (definately not trauma 1 center) then later on found myself booked to teeth at LTAC on Vent PT. Money was good at LTAC b/c I made $7000 / month. But Recruiter who actually have working relationship with area hospital is easy to spot because they don't dance around, they don't take RN who does not satisfy criteria to teeth, and they send you to Trauma 1 straight up and expect you to perform 110%

T:LDR So if you feel like your recruiterr is dodgy, get a different one.

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Does this agency start with an "M"?

They are pushing LTAC , because that is where their highest needs are. You are doing the work, making money FOR the agency. You work where you want to work.

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Honestly, you might want to keep looking around at other Agencies. I work registry and I am very specific about what I will and won't take. If the staffers aren't sure, they call me before confirming me for the shift to see if I want to take it. I'll admit, sometimes I think there's plenty not to like about the agency I work with, but thankfully, this is not one. Be up front about what hospitals and units you want to work, and see if they offer enough shifts to keep you happy. If not, there's always another recruiter for another agency that'll be waiting to sign you up. Good luck

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