Treatment of Agency Staff

lostchild · Jun 19, 2002

I have only been on assignment to one facility that treated me well. The patients and staff were great. The rest of my assignments were terrible. No respect from any of the nurses and the patients were all grumpy( I chose to blame it on the nurses because they were in the middle of a union dispute of some sort).

These people were horrible to all agency staff---even the ones who worked circles around them.

Brownms46 · Jun 19, 2002

I have worked just about every area there is to work in nursing, except for PICU and the OR! I have worked in 5 different states, and more facilities then most people...including most nurses have even walked in the door of...let alone worked in. It would take me awhile to sit down and even think about all the ones I have worked in. If you took this same poll on the Delphi forum...of the experienced travelers, and unfortuantely some new ones too, the scales would indeed tip way in the other direction. I know becaue I have been on that forum longer than I have been here!(but this one is the best), and read all the complaints!

I can remember one of the worst treatments of an agency nurse that I have ever heard before. And that was of a staff nurse 's taking out her anger at the pay agencies nurses were making, and launching an unprovoked, verbal abuse on a unsuspecting agency nurse. This nurse was on the elevator... leaving the hospital!! I have listened to a CN and another staff member laughing about how she (the CN) had an agency nurse ask her why she kept giving her all the admissions! Her response to this nurse was that she would keep giving them to her! And made the statement ."everytime she comes here I'm going to give them to her! Now this unit had only a small handful of their own staff! Wonder why???

What I'm saying is...to all who haven't been subjected to the abusive treatment others have...count yourself lucky indeed. Because the abuse is out there...you just have been very blessed to not have it touch you! I know that many of us will put up with what others won't...but I don't. I go into a facility with a big smile hoping, and wishing for the best. If it's good I go back...if not I don't! I agree with nightngale1998, that making a hospital and or unit a DNU...is best thing possible in many cases! In one city I had more DNU hospital on my list then not. The two I did have on my list...asked my agency to send me back, and the other when they found I was leaving had their manager come in on nites and offer me af job, and tried to talk me out the coming where I am now! I was given her card with a standing offer of a job anytime I returned!! So obviously I wasn't the problem...they thought I was wonderful!! :)

But me.... I prefer travel assginemts because most times I can put up with anything for 8-13weeks, and I can rest between assignments and not worry about money! My apartment, furniture and sometimes all my utilites including cable and phone are taken care of, and I can work on getting the extras! I don't have to worry about getting canceled...or trying to figure out each time I go to a new hospital what is required of me.

There have been some wonderful assignments in my long career, and there have been some real stinkers too! I take the good with the bad, and if something becomes too unbearable I can always walk! Have done it, and will do it again if need be. Life is just too short! :cool:

But that is the beauty of being a nurse...as you have the option to change, and do something else if you find you need to for your own peace of mind.. :cool: Thank you nightngale1998, for allowing me to speak my mind..:)

nightingale, RN · Jun 19, 2002

Your welcome Brown!

We all learn SO much from each other. There is no one right answer.

I do not remember which poster has the expression about you may not remember what people say but you will remember how they make you feel etc... so true....

Thank you to all the posters.... I would love to hear more comments.

live4today, RN · Jun 19, 2002

originally posted by brownms46
[b....................................but me.... i prefer travel assginemts because most times i can put up with anything for 8-13weeks, and i can rest between assignments and not worry about money! my apartment, furniture and sometimes all my utilites including cable and phone are taken care of, and i can work on getting the extras! i don't have to worry about getting canceled...or trying to figure out each time i go to a new hospital what is required of me.
there have been some wonderful assignments in my long career, and there have been some real stinkers too! i take the good with the bad, and if something becomes too unbearable i can always walk! have done it, and will do it again if need be. life is just too short!
but that is the beauty of being a nurse...as you have the option to change, and do something else if you find you need to for your own peace of mind................... [/b]

amen, brownie! i couldn't have worded it better myself! your reasoning for being a traveling nurse are my sentiments exactly which is why i would become a traveling nurse again in a heart beat. and...if not a traveling nurse, i would definitely choose to be either agency or work at a hospital with a good reputation on a per diem basis. it would take a hell of an offer with excellent benefits for me to say, "yes, i'd be happy to work here as a staff nurse!" ha! anyone know of a hospital that fits that description? :rolleyes: :chuckle

Brownms46 · Jun 19, 2002

I knew of a couple that were great, but as a single parent I couldn't afford to go on staff with them. But I hesitate to reccomend them as I would have, and have reccomend where I just left!!. I'm just hoping that where I'm going resembled your example posted! It just always seems to come down to money...or happines. At the moment I'm starting to think about pushng away my greedy side, and think of my emotional side more. Hard thing for me to do...but leaning there.. :cool:

HazeK · Jun 22, 2002

We love our travelers/agency staff! :kiss

I work in a 450 births/month level 3 Labor & delivery unit.

With FEMLA leaves and maternity leaves, we would be totally sunk without our traveler staff! They jump in with both feet, are hard workers, know their skill levels and mingle quickly with us 'old folks'! We often beg them to come back...and sometimes they do!

Haze :cool:

Brownms46 · Jun 22, 2002

Originally posted by HazeK
We love our travelers/agency staff! :kiss

I work in a 450 births/month level 3 Labor & delivery unit.
With FEMLA leaves and maternity leaves, we would be totally sunk without our traveler staff! They jump in with both feet, are hard workers, know their skill levels and mingle quickly with us 'old folks'! We often beg them to come back...and sometimes they do!

Haze

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FELLOW STAFF MEMBERS!! :kiss:

I 'm sure you they will continue to come back time and time again..AND they will always give good feedback on your UNIT!! !! You're the kind of people any Traveler would be GLAD to work with..:)!

If you don't mind...you could pm if you want...but I would like to know what hospital this is...so I can post what you said on the Travel Forums!! Travelers are constantly asking how traveler friendly a hospital or unit is... :cool:

fadingyouth · Jun 23, 2002

:uhoh21: Amazing how this topic springs eternal. Have seen polls often during nursing shortages. It seems to be a matter of do we or don't we use agency nurses.

I voted.

Presently I am treated as well as regular staff. But then most of us have been there as contracted agency for years.

My last travel assignment was horrible. I seemed to get the worst ICU cases, received little help and with comments that often led me to believe that they waited for me to fail I would not return for twice the salary.

Most agency nurses want the basics: trust, fairness and respect. We work agency for various reasons. Most do so to maintain control over their schedule. I do so to obtain a better salary and the freedom to try new things, meet new people, and learn.

Over the years, I have had better treatment in small, community hospitals than in large metropolitan ones. I seem to have better treatment from other travelers/agency nurses than from local staff ( I guess we bond). The worst treatment I received was from foreign nurses who, in my opinion, seemed insecure.

I guess, I've been lucky, I really am not able to complain much.

KBaldwinLVN · Jun 23, 2002

Originally posted by Brownms46
Or persons...on either side...:)

(hahahaha)...True. Staff personel can be great or grunt too!

KBaldwinLVN · Jun 23, 2002

I have a question to the agency nurses that are represented here:

Do you feel comfortable enough on the majority of your assignments to question, pick and choose your patient assignments working a med-surg, tele or IC unit?

I want to say NO ONE should be dumped on when assignments are made (ie, LVN's and travelers getting total cares and harder assignments), but, I've seen agency personnel get down right indignant when receiving their assignments. That is not to say regular staff stays quiet and harmonious (for the record!), its just a little amusing to see agency personnel "calling shots" (for lack of better words), as I am lead to believe they fill in where best needed.

Some say its because agency personnel know they will be contractually compensated regardless of what they do or say, others say its because they don't necessarily care because they do not have any invested interest in the facility, seeing that they are "extra help". I'm not sure what my take on it is.

Please tell me your version.

Brownms46 · Jun 23, 2002

KBaldwinLVN,

I think that everyone wants to be treated fairly, whether their per diem, FT, PT, or travel. Too many times agency nurses are misused and abuse by some staff members, who see them as having no rights, what so ever! Many...even though they maybe not responding on this forum...do feel that , just because they make more..staff feels they should work more. Many staff nurses also resent the freedom that a agency nurse has, in saying where, when and how long.

Staff nurses who feel that agency nurses should take the more dfficult pts, because they make more is also some of the problem. No one wants to be dumped on, and when you have feelings like this....some agency nurses maybe already have their antennas up...and are suspicious of heavy assignments. Especially when they'e running all shift and staff is sitting down....watching them!!! Believe me I have seen it more times than I want to count. I have actually seen staff members laugning about how they treated an agency nurse....as they forgot I was agency also...because I'm usually there for 13 weeks. Funny how quick people forget where they are..

And yes...the agency nurse is there to fill in on whatever units need her/him...not for whatever pt the staff doesn't want to deal with!!! Units that make those kinds of assignments...usually have trouble getting help in the future...as I for one, would never return! Most agency nurses are good nurses, who want to make more money, and have control over their lives. But everyone has their own objectives for doing whatever they do.

I for one...give my best, as I want the staff to feel I was benefical in helping them, and their pts. I want to be able to come in, and function as close to what another staff member would have done.

But NO..I don't want to know about your politics or become involved in them. Do I feel a responsiblity to the hospital, the staff and the pts...YES! But that responsiblity is to give the best care possible, document well, follow whatever policies are in place in that facility, and be helpful to not only the staff, but to anyone in that hospital!

But... I also don't want to be dragged into staff petty discussions. I'm there to do a job...and be as pleasant as I can...in talking with staff...as needed to do that job.

You know I have seen staff say stuff to agency nurses, and then watch their faces to see how they will take it. I just smile...because if it's not right...I only have to do it for that day, and that day only...:) I will then tell my agency, that floor or that hospital is on my DNU list...and in 20yrs...only one hospital has ever come off that list. Also agency nurses talk to each other too. So if you have screwed a couple of us...and some one asks how is it working in your hospital...you have just shot yourself in the foot..with more than just one or two nurses. As one nurses tell another, and another.

As for the statment, that agency nurses are compensated regardless of what they do or say?? I won't even justify that one with an answer!!

Some places it is possible for me to make a difference...and some places not at all! I take the sour with the sweet...but I don't let others run over me for long. And since I have been asked back many times, many hospitals ..as I know management asks staff for feedback on us...I think I have done a pretty good job. :cool:

nightingale, RN · Jun 23, 2002

quote - Do you feel comfortable enough on the majority of your assignments to question, pick and choose your patient assignments working a med-surg, tele or IC unit?

I would have to say I do feel comfortable on the majority of my assignments. I have refused assignments; it is more like suggesting for reassigning certain patients in a poor mix of a group. I rarely get dumped on but when I have felt I was, I went through the chain of command. I have never had to go past the first step but would do so if needed.

I have worked, pretty much, strictly agency for almost two years. I work per diem and do get called off from time to time; this is the price I pay to work my own schedule.

I do not work in ICU. I am a med/surg nurse with backrounds in Oncology, Home Health, Tele. (have ACLS), Ortho, Corrections, and a few other varied specialties. I do feel comfortable in most environments of nursing other then Peds, ICU, OR, and ER. I am giving a shot at Camp Nursing this summer.

Interesting take on what you hear about why agency nurses or whomever refuse assignments. I have never heard that one; not since the days of working strictly for a facility that boasted nurses who were there "forever". When in reality, they were the only ones I saw refuse assignments, get uppity about who was doing what etc. on assignments, and they went running (actually whining to the poor DON) about what so and so was doing; good riddens' to "the good ol' days".

IMHO, the only time I would or any nurse SHOULD, and they SHOULD, refuse an assignment is when it compromises patient safety. We, the nursing staff, are the last line of defense for a patient. Yes, I want to protect my license too; there is no shame in proclaiming that.

There is nothing wrong with questioning an assignment. Good Lord, we all are trained professionals who are expected to be thinking of patients' safety etc. Hopefully, we do this in a professional and positive manner.

B.

Treatment of Agency Staff

How are you treated as an Agency Nurses?