[NurseyTee]

I'm not sure why anyone would treat you poorly. At our facility we don't get to use any agency nurses. And if we ever had the privelege to get one to help us out... I do know this... NOT one of us would be rude to him/her. We would be SO SO thankful for the additional pair of hands we would bring him/her coffee and be nice and welcoming so he/she would want to come back to help again sometime.

If ONLY we could get some agency relief once in awhile!!! But Noooo!! Those tight fisted CEO's wouldn't let loose of a buck to even hire another nurse for the facility much less an agency one. JERKS! It's the elderly that suffer. Just think of it... $90 grand x 300 residents That's 27 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A think they could get another nurse or two in there?????????? GEESH!!!!!!!!!

[onarie]

I love it when we are able to have an agency nurse work with us. They are able to bring fresh air to our floor. I guess I work with a really good group of people, we all reach out and try to help the agency person know where our supplies are, how to reach pharmacy, check with them to see if they need help. There have been several times where we would have been up a creek if it wasn't for our agency nurses. There are several who work with our hospital, so at times it's like catching up with old friends that you haven't seen for a while.

We currently have a traveling nurse on our floor who is there on a 13 week assignment. We have accepted her and gotten to know her, and it's going to be sad when she does leave. Maybe we can talk her into another contract....

All that being said, I guess not only each hospital, but each unit of the hospital will have a different outlook on agency nurses.

[nurse 2001]

I have worked as a agency nurse and the majority of nurses are glad to see you. But, there are some nurses for personel reasons doe not like agency nurses. Some have sterotyped all agency nurses. and the simple fact that they are making more money don't like agency nurses.

[TravelRN1]

As a travel or agency nurse myself, I can only tell you of my experience. I am lucky enough to have a travel assignment 70 miles from home. I have been at this particular facility for 4 years!!! I have been treated very well by my coworkers, but the management is another story. Not that they have treated me horribly either, they want to treat me as staff when it suits them, and as "agency" when it doesn't. But all in all I have enjoyed my time with them. I am getting ready to move on now though and will miss most of my coworkers.

[icucharge]

1. The staff resent the high wages agency RNs get
2. Tha agency/contract nurse is gaurenteed their hours
3. The agency nurses generally do not go the extra mile in helping staff or the patients.

This the complaints that I see and hear from my staff

[nightingale]

What I have seen is Agency Nurses wages have raised the bar for regular staff. Many of the Staff I have worked with, know this and are grateful.

Not going the extra mile for the pt. and the facility is a problem that I see of both Staff and Agency Nurses; these are the problem area's for the facility. How anyone could be a Nurse and not do their very best is beyond me but you are right, it does exist. The poorly presented Agency Nurse simply does not get invited back is what I have seen.

In any good facility, these issues have been worked out. When I did work in a larger community and I had issues with being dumped on and treated poorly I would not go back to that facility; I am sure they were able to fill that slot with someone... not me. Often, when I did have issues, I would talk to the House Supervisor or the Scheduler and I would ask to be taken off the list. There are plenty of places to work; unless it is a win / win then thanks but no thanks.

It is about choices.

[Alexsys]

I work for a very good company (Mayo Clinic) as my regular job and when I have time off from school,(Working on my BSN) I pick up agency work. I have had some good exeprience with staff, but unfortunatly most of my experiences were not so good only because there are some places that judge us all by the actions of one bad apple. I think that it sad that it happens , but it does happen. I do not think all places do that. My facility treats travel nurses with respect

[MTBanRN]

No one really should know that you are an agency nurse unless you tell them. The company should not even reveal this information. Maybe you need to get with another agency. The best agencies work through confidentiality. No one needs to know this information.

[JohnBearPA]

Originally Posted by MTBanRN

No one really should know that you are an agency nurse unless you tell them. The company should not even reveal this information. Maybe you need to get with another agency. The best agencies work through confidentiality. No one needs to know this information.

I work agency, and am basically a replacement for a nurse that may call out sick, or be on leave. The staff in the facilities that I've visited know all of the other nurses, and know I'm agency by my name badge. It's not a secret, nor could it be kept secret that I'm agency, as my agency requires me to wear their badge. Sometimes this isn't the best idea, but It's agency policy.

I've also been fortunate as I'm treated very well at most facilities I've been to. I'm the guy that came in on an hours notice because a regular staffer called in sick, and otherwise they'd be short. They realize this, and usually appreciate it.

Also, when you average out my salary to the salary staffers are getting, it usually pretty much evens out. I don't have benefits, they do. I love the fact that I can pick and choose where I go, and when I work, and can't see doing staff nursing at this time.

On a side note, anyone know of a good agency in the Orlando FL region where I'll be moving to in Sept? Please let me know! I love my current agency, but unfortunately, they're local, and not nation-wide. I'll miss them when I go.

[ern91]

this is a late reply as i have just joined this forum but i am compelled to reply. in my opinion, hospital administration fosters rudness towards agency nurses as a general attitude by having them in the first place. why are they paying upwards of $40.00/HR TO AN AGENCY NURSE WHEN THEY DON'TOFFER THE SAME PAY TO A STAFF NURSE$$$ iknow,iknow, they dont have the added expense of paying for benefits. well, idon't buy that because the hospitals in the city i am in pay staff nurses such a wide range of salaries(with comparable experience) . anyway, that's a different subject. so... the staff only knows they aren't getting the same pay for the same 12 hr shift(or whatever shift) then there is the question of the agency itself. not all agencies are diligent about screening their nurses. some agencies have a reputation for sending really baaaad nurses and management allows this because they pay a lower fee to the agency. then there is the department management to consider. a charge nurse can make or break a good working environment,so.....here's my advice.. make sure your practice is up to par, stay under the radar but be friendly and helpful. try to guage each environment you're in and adapt. remember, you wanted the flexibility of an agency instead of the politics and lower salary of a staff position.