Agency work

U.S.A. Washington

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Hey all! :p

Not much action on this board lately! :/

I've a new RN who's been working at a large teaching hospital in Seattle for about six months. I like what I do and I've learned SO much. I'm interested in eventually being a travel for a while but before that I want to do some agency per diem work in the area to get experience going to new places and having to hit the floor running so to speak. Can anyone recommend good local agencies that serve the area hospitals and how long you have to be a working nurse before they let you do agency?

Thanks so much!

I think agency would be the way to go if you want to avoid weekend work in hospitals in Tacoma/Olympia. But Seattle, I have no clue. I have never worked up there. Good luck.

Thanks Deb...I'm in a thoughtful 'search mode' now but in no hurry. I am fortunate in that I do not have to work at all if I don't want to, so I can take my time. I have emails in to several local hospital nurse recruitors to pin them down on what their weekend requirement actually is for float/perdiems. I'll let you know what they say. ;)

With all the travelers in use, one would think they would be more flexible with staff to keep them around I never had a weekend requirement in Fort Worth as a perdiem. I always did a few a month to help out but it was never a requirement perse. Wouldn't mind 2 WE shifts a month but 4 seems excessive to me...but if that's the local policy it will be hard for me to demand different I know.

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

did you ask about Madigan Hospital on Ft Lewis? They may not require their perdiem to do anything regarding weekends. Last I heard, they really needed experienced nurses there, esp in Med-Surg areas! Check them out.

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Thanks Deb I will follow up on that suggestion. :)

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

It may be a distance for you to drive, as Madigan is south of Tacoma by about 12 miles. But if all you plan to do is perdiem, and nights, this may not bother you in the least.....

it's another option.

They have both government (GS) nursing and also non-GS, (Spectrum Healthcare) I believe, there. I am not sure what floors have which, or both. Something to ask about.

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Thanks so much Deb...Tacoma is not a bad drive at all for me, in fact it seems much easier than the Bremerton drive. Spectrum I take it is an agency that staffs Madigan? I appreciate that info greatly and will research it. :)

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The hospital I work at in north Seattle has what they call reserve positions. After the schedule is complete, you are able to tell them which of the shifts still left open you want to work. I think the minimum is 16 hours/month, but I'm not sure on all the details. Some units use reserve staff more than others, and although north Seattle may be quite a commute, other hospitals closer to you may have something similar. Also, sometimes our units who are very short staffed are willing to work more to accomidate those who are highly qualified (as it sounds like you are), but desire a specific schedule. Just some thoughts. If you find somewhere you like it never hurts to interview and show them what they would be missing by not being flexible...it might just change their mind!

Good Luck :)

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.
This is an older thread but i am bumping it up. Zac, did you find a decent agency in the area? I am new to the area and am finding a weekend requirement even for perdiem positions...not what my hubby wants me to do anymore (nor me) i am thinking the only way I will lose this weekend requirement is to do agency work or work in a different setting.

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Hey Mattsmom, haven't checked this thread in a while. How are you? Are you living in Bremerton or something?

I'm not doing agency now, I'm working in Yakima WA on a tele/stepdown unit. I like the work (most of the time) but am itching to travel or do go to England or something. I am also taking online courses in preparation for a BSN program.

Hope you're doing well and good luck with finding a "no weekend" workplace :).

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The hospital I work at in north Seattle has what they call reserve positions. After the schedule is complete, you are able to tell them which of the shifts still left open you want to work. I think the minimum is 16 hours/month, but I'm not sure on all the details. Some units use reserve staff more than others, and although north Seattle may be quite a commute, other hospitals closer to you may have something similar. Also, sometimes our units who are very short staffed are willing to work more to accomidate those who are highly qualified (as it sounds like you are), but desire a specific schedule. Just some thoughts. If you find somewhere you like it never hurts to interview and show them what they would be missing by not being flexible...it might just change their mind!

Good Luck :)

Thanks Carissa...

I see by your other posts you will be moving to Houston...we just relocated to the Port Orchard area due to my hubby's job...we came from Texas. Small world eh? You are right it never hurts to interview and see what is offered to me...if they have a need they may surprise me by working with me. :)

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Hey Mattsmom, haven't checked this thread in a while. How are you? Are you living in Bremerton or something?

I'm not doing agency now, I'm working in Yakima WA on a tele/stepdown unit. I like the work (most of the time) but am itching to travel or do go to England or something. I am also taking online courses in preparation for a BSN program.

Hope you're doing well and good luck with finding a "no weekend" workplace :).

Yes, Zac, I'm in Port Orchard now getting settled in and learning my way around a bit. Sure is a pretty area up here. I will NOT miss those awful Texas summers one bit... :)

You will soon be qualified to go on those travel asignments you are wishing for. :)

Sure seems like this area does not have a nursing 'shortage' or else they just don't mind paying travelers. I will look into some 'reserve' positions as Carissa has suggested. I see lots of new terms up here I'm not familiar with; in Texas we have' PRN's'. I'll just have to ask lots of questions when I start interviewing so I understand the new terms! :)

Glad you are enjoying your tele position, good luck with your BSN program. Is Yakima quite a drive for you?

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

Glad you are enjoying your tele position, good luck with your BSN program. Is Yakima quite a drive for you?

Actually I live in Yakima now only three minutes from the hospital. Seattle is about three hours from Yakima.

You know I don't think Seattle really has a nursing shortage either. We have so many nursing schools that put out nurses (it's a machine shop hehe) that it never becomes a huge problem like I know it is in other states.

I've never been to Port Orchard but it sounds nice. As far as jobs, I usually see it called "per diem" instead of "PRN" up here. The rates are pretty good too I think.

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Zach I sure do know what you mean about the 'machine shop' mentality, Dallas Fort Worth was the same way. Lots of nursing schools, lots of new grads. The hospitals are right where they want to be...in control, lots of applicants.

I checked the map and see where Yakima is...nice area I hear. Glad you enjoy it. I'm sure loving Port Orchard ;the scenery and the water...love walking on the piers! I even saw a poor whale that got confused and swam up here from the ocean...hope he finds his way back out of the Sound! :)

I'll probably seek out a per diem position on a tele unit myself somewhere in time. I'm investigating the Bremerton and Tacoma hospitals and will probably interview there in time, once my license transfers.

Any other nurses in this area who have any hints, insights or advice please feel free to jump right in here or PM me anytime...always nice to hear from the good folks at Allnurses! :)

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Hey all! :p

Not much action on this board lately! :/

I've a new RN who's been working at a large teaching hospital in Seattle for about six months. I like what I do and I've learned SO much. I'm interested in eventually being a travel for a while but before that I want to do some agency per diem work in the area to get experience going to new places and having to hit the floor running so to speak. Can anyone recommend good local agencies that serve the area hospitals and how long you have to be a working nurse before they let you do agency?

Thanks so much!

I have done some work for Interim Staffing in Tacoma. They have treated me very well. I would give them a call to check on how their requirements match up with your qualifications... I also worked with another agency in Seattle, but wasn't very impressed with the way they treated me.

Good Luck

Babbette

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