[aerlinnel]

I'm just curious about how it works if you get placed permanently at a facility through a staffing/travel nursing agency, as opposed to finding and applying to a job independently. Do you owe the agency anything? Is your job more/less secure by going through them? Do you technically work for the agency or the hospital?

Thanks!

[Jbeachgrl]

I've been wondering the same. Some of the websites seem too good to be true. Have any of y'all had any experience with this?

[Chloe'sinNYNow]

My only experience with any agency as a new grad, was advice from them. They wouldn't have anything to do with me until I got a year-two experience under my belt. They all told me to call them then. Even though I went to a great school, got great grades, etc...They can't risk placing you if you can't perform the job. They know that nursing school doesn't give you the skills. Had me in tears when the market froze in my area forcing me to relocate.

Is this what you meant?

Chloe

RN-BSN, BA

[anyccms]

I'm just curious about how it works if you get placed permanently at a facility through a staffing/travel nursing agency, as opposed to finding and applying to a job independently. Do you owe the agency anything? Is your job more/less secure by going through them? Do you technically work for the agency or the hospital?

You have to check out the staffing firm/agency to make sure it is legit. I'm a national recruiter for Nurse Case Management and my firm does permanent placements directly for the employer. You should not pay any agency anything, the employer hires them to find good talent. If it is true permanent placement then you technically work for facility that you are working in. I would use agency's in addition to your own research because the good ones should have a direct line to the person making a decision.

[caffinelvr]

Originally Posted by aerlinnel

I'm just curious about how it works if you get placed permanently at a facility through a staffing/travel nursing agency, as opposed to finding and applying to a job independently. Do you owe the agency anything? Is your job more/less secure by going through them? Do you technically work for the agency or the hospital?

Thanks!

Agencies/Registries are paid by the facilities. You'll pay nothing for their services. You should check out several of them and go thru the application process with the 2 or 3 best. Don't limit yourself to one agency; they don't all have contracts with the same facilities so by using several agencies you will cast a broader net. If you are only looking to be placed in a facility, as opposed to working per diem too, make sure the agency does permanent placement.

To be candid, most hospitals don't engage registries to recruit for permanent positions, they have in-house recruiters for that, and most registries don't want to give up their nurses, its closes a registry slot in the market and takes a nurse off their roster.

My suggestion, I'm a recruiter for a national registry, is to work per diem at a couple of facilities that you are interested in working at, get the feel for the facility, staff, patient load, etc. Make it clear to your recruiter and the facility that you would like to go on staff. They will make it happen if you want it too happen.