[ehan31]

Has anyone worked for a medical staffing agency in UT? (Any capacity-CNA/PCT, LPN, RN, tech...)

They often have better rates of pay, but I don't know if this is something I should look into or not; I have never worked for an agency before.

Thanks!

[krazy_coconuts]

What is your position?

If you're a nurse, you'll need a year experience before most agencies will hire you.
If you're a CNA, you can most likely get a job with no experience.

The nice thing about staffing agencies is the flexibility, you can make your own schedule, and they do pay more.

I worked for a staffing agency a month before I landed a job at a hospital (as a CNA), and I kind of felt like I was being thrown to the wolves. One day I would be working on the med/surg floor at Salt Lake Regional, the next I was sitting for a neuro patient at the U, and it was a little intimidating and frustrating because every unit is different so I always felt lost.
Also, not everyone was so helpful and friendly to the agency CNA...so it was a little hard.

That was just my experience though.

[ehan31]

Originally Posted by krazy_coconuts

What is your position?

If you're a nurse, you'll need a year experience before most agencies will hire you.
If you're a CNA, you can most likely get a job with no experience.

The nice thing about staffing agencies is the flexibility, you can make your own schedule, and they do pay more.

I worked for a staffing agency a month before I landed a job at a hospital (as a CNA), and I kind of felt like I was being thrown to the wolves. One day I would be working on the med/surg floor at Salt Lake Regional, the next I was sitting for a neuro patient at the U, and it was a little intimidating and frustrating because every unit is different so I always felt lost.
Also, not everyone was so helpful and friendly to the agency CNA...so it was a little hard.

That was just my experience though.

Thanks Krazy Coconuts. I'm a CNA w/exp, I'll have my LPN here in the next couple of months. I'm a bit afraid of exactly what you said--being thrown to the wolves, or just being treated like dirt in general. On one hand, I think it would be good to get exp in different places, but I don't know...

I'm in school for my RN right now so of course I'm trying to make more money than I spend (impossible, really...but a nice thought). Since the agencies usually pay more I thought I'd see if anyone had any exp here. IHC doesn't pay PCTs well, but they do have tuition reimbursement, and I'm not sure about Timp. Sigh.......I don't know what to do....

[ehan31]

Thanks Krazy Coconuts!

I'm a CNA w/exp, and I'll be taking my LPN boards really soon. I'm just trying to dig myself out of the financial hole I've dug for school (I'm getting my RN), and agencies tend to pay better...but I'm afraid of exactly what you said--getting thrown to the wolves! I don't know what I'll do yet, but I need to get a job...and fast! Any recommendations? I do all my clinicals at UVRMC so I'd rather not work there, but I am open to it. I know they do tuition reimb for 24+ hr/wk. (they also pay less...)
Sigh. I wish school were free--then I could sit back and relax being unemployed

[krazy_coconuts]

I worked for IHC for 3 years as a PCT and the pay definitely sucked! BUT if you are close to getting your LPN I would look for a CNA job on a unit that will let you work as a LPN once you have your license. (if possible)

Unfortunately, hospital LPN jobs are far and few between...if you want to work at a hospital, a foot in the door will help.