Agency nursing good idea or bad?

CHUBBY · Mar 6, 2001

sallerella, As long as oyu're an experience RN and can "drop and run", agency may be you're best bet., I don't about Canadian salaries, but the payscale is lower in Baltimore than say, Pennsylvania or New York. Of course, the cost of living is less.

ensense · Mar 8, 2001

I worked for an agency for several years as extra job and loved it. The best advice I could offer is to make sure you are ready to work hard and long. Maybe it isn't like this any more (I worked in agency in 1987,88 and 89) but then everyone knew that I made more money than the staff nurse and they made sure I worked for it by giving me just about all the patient load I could handle. I really don't think I could have handle it it my specialty wasn't ER. I was used to a fast paced work enviroment and to "any and everything" coming my way. Also being able to really junp in and get things done is a beg plus. Sounds like you have the necessary qualifications so GO FOR IT! Wish you the best,,oh yea, agency usually pays anywhere from 30-50% more an hour.

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katia

nurse1975 · Mar 14, 2001

I don't knw alot about how agency nursing works but am currently working (perdiem) at a hosptial that has hired agency nurses in this time of shortage. I honsetly can't tell who are the agency nurses and who are the staff nurses. My only problem is that I made a suggestion of that facitly offering my a position and they have only offered me one that ws undesirable. If they are so short then why wouldn't they hire a regular staff member in place of an agency nurse?

sunbunz · Mar 15, 2001

Originally posted by sallerella:
Sallerella, I just started doing agency nursing myself. I have a diverse 19 yr work history. So far I've been from tele to nursing homes. It can be stressfull walking in
to a strange environment with no orientation and expected to go!! And you need to be ready to do that. I just think to myself. " Patients are all the same wherever you go
and pretty much the patterns of care are the same" Take a deep breath, stay organized and above all have confidence in yourself that you can do a good job.
You will do fine and you'll love the flexibility without the POLITICS of working for someone full time. When the shift is over say. buh bye now!!! good luck to you!!!!
Hi, I am moving to Baltimore and am considering agency nursing. I have a 12 yr icu/ccu back ground. Any one out there with some advice about agency work, salary jobs etc? Thanks