Agency?

Just wondering what its like to work for/with an agency....?

Is it really as bad as some people say? And are there any GREAT ones in the bay area?

There are good and bad agencies, same as anything else. If you're going to work as a temp or traveler, it is very important (IMHO) to be a seasoned, experienced "pro," because the whole point of the role is that you're going to be repeatedly dropped into unfamiliar settings, with possibly v. negative working conditions/staff morale/etc., and be expected to hit the ground running and be able to do the job with little or no orientation and/or support/supervision. It's also v. important (again, IMHO) that you be experienced and savvy enough to be able to look out for your own best interests and the safety of your license, because the agency certainly isn't going to. If you crash and burn, they have plenty of other nurses, but you only have you ...

Thanks Elk Park, I am not seasoned and experienced, and have turned away asssignment from facilities that did not offer orienation, because I could lose my licence working like that. I am thinking of filing for unemployment but not sure if I can get any for turning away those type of jobs.ie without orientation. Maybe this belongs on another thread

I am certainly not qualified to offer any legal advice regarding unemployment, and am not doing so here, but it does seem unlikely, just in terms of "common sense," that you could qualify for unemployment compensation when you're choosing to turn down jobs that are being offered to you ... (Please note that I'm not saying you're wrong to do so ...) For better or worse, the whole point of having the license is that the state regulatory agency (in our case, the BON) has deemed you competent to practice -- the state and law do not differentiate between a new grad and someone who's been practicing for 20 years; licensed is licensed -- and there is no rule or law (that I'm aware of, anyway) obligating any agency or facility to give you any orientation at all; that is left to their discretion and judgment. That's why I made the comments I did initally -- it's up to the individual nurse to be experienced and savvy enough to be able to practice safely and to look out for her/his own interests. If you're not there yet, maybe another employment option (besides agency/traveling) would be a better choice (again, just MHO, for what it may be worth) ...