I am a new grad and hired with 2 nursing agencies

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

It's my first time posting a topic here and looking forward for some opinions. So I'm sort of in a tough situation I guess. I had been hired in two agencies, one agency is for different long term care facilities and the other one is different hospitals. However, I am recently a new grad and no doubt I am very excited to finally start my career but a couple things do worry me. Agencies don't really offer in-depth training that I need to transition and be confident enough in my skills. I'm not exactly sure if I had made the right decision in accepting agency job offers as I have not been offered a parttime or fulltime at one hospital yet. I am receiving shifts that the hospital agency emails to me (which of course are mostly specialized) but I've been too hesitant to take a shift even in a General medicine unit. My recent and last clinical placement was in LTC so I thought I could maybe take on an LTC agency. Now after reading a couple of posts of agency nursing I don't know if I should let go of one of the agencies that hired me, or keep it and see how it goes on my first shift?

I feel it may be too risky, but I get mixed opinions. On one side, I should keep it because as a new grad I do need the experience and it is a tough job market for new nursing graduates if you don't have experience. On the other hand, I am putting my licence at risk because of lack of experience..

Sorry for the super long post.. I need to really get this off my chest.

Wait a minute. Ive been a nurse for a lot of years worked agency, long term care etc. How about get on the phone call the agency and tell them you want an orientation before you work some place? Most places I know would be happy to help. I've even called direct to speak with staff at places the agency wants to send me. When you are at the hosp (where ever) go talk to the in service ppl and explain the situation Where ever you go ask for help before you do something that you are not comfortable with. An orientation is a great way to get the feel for a place and a situation you may not want to put yourself back into.

I had asked my agency if I could have a day or two to shadow a nurse (without pay) so that I could get used to or at least have an idea of how my routine should be in a floor and getting used to the hospital. They had told me that their clients may not allow job shadowing and if I want an orientation I would have to arrive an hour or 2 hours before my shift. Most likely thats just telling me where everything is. As a new grad I don't know if I should even risk taking a shift for the sake of having an experience and rely solely on just asking questions if there is something I don't know how to do.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I think going right into agency nursing right out of school without at least some acute care or LTC nursing experience is a big mistake. You need that experience to be solid out there on your own.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I had asked my agency if I could have a day or two to shadow a nurse (without pay) so that I could get used to or at least have an idea of how my routine should be in a floor and getting used to the hospital. They had told me that their clients may not allow job shadowing and if I want an orientation I would have to arrive an hour or 2 hours before my shift. Most likely thats just telling me where everything is. As a new grad I don't know if I should even risk taking a shift for the sake of having an experience and rely solely on just asking questions if there is something I don't know how to do.

There you go: that is all you can expect from them. Now whether you want to gamble on your license with that is up to you.

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Hi there ,

Just wanted to know what did you end up doing, did agency get better?

I am a grad and have just applied for agency and I've been stressing!

Thanks

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Hi there ,

Just wanted to know what did you end up doing, did agency get better?

I am a grad and have just applied for agency and I've been stressing!

Thanks

I'm thinking about agencies and I am a new grad. How did you do after you've applied? Did you take the job? Did you get an orientation?

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