Agency Nurses with little knowledge.

World International

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I work on a medical ward and also do agency myself.

However, I am appauled at the amount of agency nurses we get who haven't worked in a tertiary hospital for years and so come back via the agency. Most have worked in non ward settings such as OHN, Anaesthetics, home nursing ect.

The problem is, they are really dangerous. I have a student with me at the moment at work, and we had an agency nurse who hadn't worked on the wards for years. She worked in a clinic, that is how her registration is still valid. She was asking my student things, and I had told her not to as I was assessing the student and she was not a resource person.

This particular nurse asked if you give the patients a bed pan in bed during the day amongst other questions that are basic knowledge.

Our ward seems to get inundated with these nurses because when they sign with the agency and say they haven't worked in hospital for quite a while, the agency suggests a medical ward.

Some of the agency nurses have complained our ward isn't supportive. I told then to bugger off and go somewhere else then. I reminded them they have the choice if they wanted to be on our ward or not. I get sick of people like these expecting us to reintroduce them into hospital nursing and when we won't, they say we are not supportive.

A number of complaints have been filld in by numerous personal staff with regards to agency, but it keeps happening!!! Aggggghhhhh, there has to be some solution.

My expectation of a agency registered nurse is that they will require orientation to the ward and that is it. If they need help with patient movement ect, then they will get it. If they don't know how to use certain equipment, then they get shown as all hospitals have different equipment. But, I shouldn't have to explain paper work, what the patient is like ect though. They should be making their own assessment of the patient. One even asked me what medication times we have. I said they were on the drug chart. She gave me a nasty look.

Specializes in ICU.

Barb take it from me it can be difficult working outside yoru specialty and so much has changed in a short time - I know what you are saying but sometimes what these people are looking for is a little validation. They probably thought they would be fine until they walked back into a unit and found out that we are no longer keeping MI pts in bed for a week and that there are no set medication rounds.

But you are also right a busy medical ward is not the place to re-enter nursing as an agency. The acuities we care for these days do not allow it.

We need more refresher/re-entry programs and ones available to everyone not just those few who can afford to go back to uni. See your educator about working out a policy with the agency where some of these nurses can came in for a "clinical refresher" week and work with you same as the students do.

Does your nurse manager ask for experienced nurses when requesting agency staff? Perhaps the agency are sending inappropriate nurses? Can this be bumped back to the agency ie are they screening/vetting their nurses appropriately, are they willing to offer or help these nurses find ways to upskill?

We need our agency nurses, I wouldn't like to try to do without them. I think most of us have been pooled or sent somewhere out of our comfort zone - it's not a nice feeling.

Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

Sounds like an unsafe workplace to me.

Unsafe for the AGENCY nurse, that is!!!!

Part of the 'creed' of OH&S is; "NOT to have to work in a HOSTILE environment"!!!

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I got the part about the bedpan during the day. Some places have policies forbidding that and I am guessing that is why she asked.

I would need to be pretty sure of myself to do agency myself after being away from acute care since 92 BUT LOL I can make a provide patient care without hardly any supplies and can make a dressing out of anything-learned to get by in home health.

I hear what your saying and it makes sense to me.

renerian

As a new RN1, I now thank the staff on my very busy surgical ward for all the support they have offered me. They have never thought any question too stupid nor not had the time to answer me in a professional and norturing manner, that is due to our fellow colleagues whether entering the workforce or re-entering the workforce. Our AUM and NUM never get off on time, I often do not get off on time, but they are always there plus all the other nurses when I ask my dumb questions. Through caring of our colleagues the overall health of our patients or clients grows and so does the integrity and respect of our chosen profession. I know it is difficult but surely a smile and a 5 second answer is not difficult, even a quick help takes what, 2 minutes. I bet nurses who get annoyed with others spend at least 20 minutes complaining about that nurse, instead of helping, which may have taken 5 minutes and have resulted in better patient care and a personal result of feeling pretting good about yourself afterwards.

The feeling around the ward would be great for staff as well as patients if this could happen everwhere. My 2c worth. From a former Div 2 that has worked agency as well. C

Grace, it's not a hostile environment, far from it. But it's also not a training ground for nurses who haven't worked in hospitals for many years . I think that these nurses are risking their qualifications. We would use at least 50% agency staff in any day, sometimes up to 90%. It's just not possible to "retrain" people.

I have worked shifts on our ward where out of the four nurses in our section, three were agency and me. I have a patient load, I can't be helping three other people all the time as well because they are unsure of basics.

I also work agency and so know what it is like being a fish out of water at times. But, even when you are working in your normal ward, you never do something you aren't sure of. If you feel you are not competent to look after a certain case load, then you would be silly not to say.

I also think the agency should run a half day orientation programme or not take on nurses who have not worked in a tertiary setting. I think they should allocate the staff to their usual area of expertise. If they normally work in clinics, then place them in clinics, if they normally work nursing homes or lower level of care community hospitals, then send them there.

We recently had a nurse who took on a patient special as she stated she was CPAP competent as she looked after one 2 years ago. (that is not competent in my opinion) However, the co-ordinator ended up having to contact the CNS as it was obvious the nurse was not coping. It was a sunday morning, excellent agency rates, but are they worth it if you do something really wrong and loose your registration??????

After some great incident last evening where two agency nurses were working together and at 9pm it was noticed that 4pm eye drops weren't done, 5pm insulin x 2 not given, 6pm heaprins not given, the nurse manager was on the war path today. Most frustrating of all was that she said she couldn't do anything about it unless reports were filled in regarding the practice. We told her we had done some over the last few months, but she hasn't got them. However, one of the regular nurses knew who they were sent to so hopefully, it will be sorted soon.

At the moment in Western Australia, the government is offering FREE refresher courses for nurses, both RN's and EN's. Some of these nurses should jump at the chance before the offer goes...only thing is they will only get paid normal rates and not agency rates.

I really believe a nurse should have to demonstrate/provide evidence they have worked in tertiary hospitals recently before the agency signs them on.

Barb, I love to come to Perth to Work. I like WA , like Melbourne but was there before as for Sydney I was told 100x its expensive. So hey Barb, I will be making noises when am ready.

Ciao......

Specializes in ICU.

Not Brissy Jayna???:scrying:

No not Brissy, Its too damn hot in summer. I worked at PA for 6 months in summer back in the eighties.

I was exhausted before I even got to work on a 7am. Needed another shower or two. Dosen't cool down at night at all. I loved the place though. Heard it has changed a bit since then though. Especially the old PA hospital. C

Specializes in ICU.

PA hospital has changed almost beyond recognition. You could land a Boeing in the lobby and you better take 3 boy scouts and a a roll of string and some breadcrumbs to drop to find your way out of there:eek:

RBH has changed too. The old building came down the other week and the womens is no longer there replaced by bigger and better ( well bigger anyway)

:cool: Hi Gwenith, PA needed something done.

Its hard to imagine PA then from the old days. I remember having to hold on to IV poles one night up on the 5th floor of the acute building, because the louvre windows were stuck open and a massive wind had got up.

It was a talking point of mine as part of my adventures of nursing for some time.

I did enjoy my time in Queensland, if only the temp could be 24-28 down to 15-18 at night year round, would be there in a flash.

Don't know where I will finally end up. Victoria is ok, may stay here. I enjoy the bit of everything here, and of course the fabulous footy.

Can take the girl out of the state, can't take the state out of the girl!!!:chuckle

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