[ICURN7]

Can someone pls tell me when it gets really slow for Agency nurses? I'm trying to sign up a contract with a hospital and wondering when is the best time to tell me i'll start...i don't really want to be tied down by a contract but would be taking it just to guarantee my hours during those times. Right now, it's not really slow as my agency almost always has somewhere for me to go except i don't want to go far.However, i was told they would get slow sometime and start cancelling a lot but don't have an idea when. Thanx.

[SpiceChick01]

ICURN7, you may want to provide your general location, as that type of thing is probably subjective to region, city, etc. This will probably get you more replies! I noticed it's been a couple of hours since you posted this.....

[ICURN7]

Originally Posted by SpiceChick01

ICURN7, you may want to provide your general location, as that type of thing is probably subjective to region, city, etc. This will probably get you more replies! I noticed it's been a couple of hours since you posted this.....

Yes, i'm in Houston, Tx..

[SAGINAW_MI]

Why not work with more than (1) agency?

Also, the holidays can be a slow time for agencies if the hospital staff needs extra X-mas & New Year cash. Also, depending on your region, summer can be slow since all of the students are in the work force.

Not to say that agencies lose clients, but if things were going to slow down that would be the time of year.

[MIgirly]

It's wise to do a contract during the winter months i would say between november through march. Which agency do you go through?

[nadanow]

have many agencies my dear shop around get a great deal...
What I have found is that all these agencies are really one or two agencies with different names ex: Cross Country Travel, they are also CRU 48 and Nova Pro FASTAFF is also U.S Nursing and On assignment

be careful and don't get fast talked.

[RN1989]

Generally summers and mid Nov to after first of Jan are slow. However things have been changing periodically and there have been slow times occur that were not "normal". You should talk to your agency staffer about any trends that they have seen over the last couple of years.

[ICURN7]

Thanx everyone. I have enrolled with two agencies as advised above.

[JJEDRN]

I wouldn’t think the Houston area would have significant slow down times, especially if you have some flexibility in meeting the staffing needs.

I worked the New Orleans area for about 18 years, both as staff and agency. Initially there would be “summer slumps” in Critical Care. These slumps seem to have disappeared over the past several years. The patients seem to be more acutely ill with multiple health issues upon arrival, and of course they are discharged much sooner than in the past…possibly increasing the recidivism.

Friends I have in the Houston area tell me it’s usually pretty busy around there.

I’m working ED now, in another area of the SE, and cancellation isn’t usually an issue because of the core staffing required.

Best of luck to you.

Regards,

JJ

[KLKRN]

My slowdown was October, November of '07. I barely worked, and it hurt. But contracts can be pretty counterproductive too. A lot of nurses I know work part time at one hospital and go elsewhere with registry. That way they have a "regular job" to fall back on when things get slow.