Top Reasons for Agency Nursing

I work as a traveler, I can't get OT with my current facility so my company hooked me up with a sister company that does per diem work. So, I get my full time hours and pick up as much or as little extra without getting hit in the pocketbook with taxes. My payrate is very good and really no hassles. I get called off alittle, but since it's extra, no big deal. The one good thing is that if I get called off, alot times they call me with something else.
It works for me. I can also use the agency if I take time off between assignments and go home. They will hook me up with something local if I want to work a day or two.

Is your question about agency/per diem or travel agency nursing?

I'm an agency/per diem nurse and a travel nurse. I love agency/per diem nursing because:

1) I make my own schedule. (You can work or take time off whenever YOU want. I'm currently out of town on a 13 week travel nursing assignment and before I left, I just told the agency I was going away for a few months and I'd called them to get booked for work when I got back in town. They just said okay. No hassle.


2) If something comes up, you can cancel your shift as long as you call early. You're not penalized for calling off as you would be with a regular job.

3) No staff meetings

4) I get paid EVERY week via direct deposit

5) Flexibility, Flexibility, Flexibility

6) If you work a shift at a hospital and you don't like the hospital, just tell the agency to take it off your list and you never have to go back.

7) It pays better than a regular hospital job.

The downside is getting your shift canceled. With the economy being so bad it doesn't seem as though hospitals are using agency nurses as much because they're trying to save money.

As far as travel nursing goes. I like:

1) Weekly pay

2) Temporary assignments. (I can't work at ANY hospital for too long because you just get tired of the people and the politics. By the time you're sick of the people, your 13 week assignment is over)

3) No staff meetings

4) You get to meet new people all the time.

5) You can experience a new place/state every few months.

The downside of travel nursing is if you don't like the hospital you're at, sometimes you may have to pay to cancel the contract. I was on an assignment once and my contract stated I had to pay $750 if I canceled the contract. You can also usually get better (and more) benefits working at a permanent hospital.