What is "Agency Nursing?"

Probably various definitions and meanings. These things change over time.

What I think of is an agency that nurses list their skills with. The nurses are assessed, tested, proof of license, etc. Hospitals contact these agencies when they need extra nurses. Hospitals pay higher salaries for these agency nurses.

I am dating myself, this was actually common years ago when there was a nursing shortage. We still occasionally use agency nurses, especially nurses with OR skill.

We call it (fondly) 'rent-a-nurse'.

I've been an agency nurse, I have NICU skills. When a NICU has staffing needs above and beyond what they can accomodate, they call the staffing agency, the agency calls me and if I'm available, I go.

More $$, no politics and total freedom over your schedule are the benefits. The down-side? They can cancel you at the last minute and you get paid nothing. There's no guarantee of work available. It's a nice second job, but I would never depend on it for my primary income.