agency nurses

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Apr 3, 2009

This may be due to a common denominator that they have. Everyone there is getting paid, and it's a nice momentary salve for the way agency nurses frequently get slammed with the worst patient load for 8 to 12 hours. (Not that everyone has that happen to them....but it happens more often than not)

Plus, it's awkward to bring up potential hot-button topics that involve personal responses, which makes it hard to start up a lively discussion regarding the kids, the spouse, etc. It's very easy to have someone take a dislike to you over something that was taken the wrong way.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2009

I was a travel nurse, and most of my conversations with other travelers centered on wages and housing. Not because I am fixated with it, but because we were watching out for each others best interests. If someone was getting cheated, paid less than the going rate for the unit, they'd find out and probably get a new recruiter. Also, if the housing they were put in is unsafe or not to their liking, talking to others can let you know where to go to.

I noticed in my dealings with other travelers, there were those that did it for the better pay and those that did if for the travel and seeing new places. I did it for the travel. I'd discuss wages and such with other travelers, and they'd tell me what places are good to go to and which are not. The ones who are in it for the money are still good nurses, they just want to travel for a short period of time to get a down payment for a house or something before going staff. They are just making sure they are not wasteing their time, getting compensated fairly. Otherwise, may as well be staff and have the benefits of being a staff nurse (more stable home life, paid vacations, better healthcare, familiar with the work environment).

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2009

Planeflyer and Eriksoln have both hit the nail on the head. I do both agency and travel. We also like to discuss were we have been and if it was a good or bad experience.

If another person tells me someplace was bad I won't go there. Some places get a reputation for treating agency/travelers bad and putting the info out there is the only way for us to protect ourselves.

I worked one place once that had a charge nurse that used to brag she could make agency/travelers cry in 30 minutes or less.

One place I went the nurses all came up to me and laughed and said "here's another dummy, agency nurses never come back twice" I actually didn't think they were that bad, but they did give me 7 rooms and all they had was 4. And they were right, I never went back.

So when we see each other we automatically know we have an instant friend who understands and will help us.

People tend to think that agency nurses are in it only for the money, but there are a lot of other reasons.

I did it to learn how things are done at other places, see new places and learn different things. I have learned to be very independent and flexible. When you figure that I don't get sick days, paid vacation or any benefits then you see that monetarily it isn't that rosy. But it does give you more freedom when things are good and there are lots of jobs.

Right now things are bad and I am virtually unemployed. Not sure what I will do but I believe that God always provides.