Agency nurses how do you do it?

Specialties Agency

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Specializes in MedSurg/Tele.

Hello, I had a question about agency nurses because I was interested in doing agency as soon as my two years are up, but I just had a question on how you learn all the procedures about the hospital. Do you get training with the actual hospital before you start? Do you get a preceptor for even a day or two? You know how every hospital has different ways of doing things like if your hanging blood you need to fill a specific form out etc or if a patient is going for surgery there are certain things that need to be done before surgery and every hospital is different. Do staff nurses hate when you ask question and think that you should already know everything? How do you know how each hospital works if your going to different hospitals? LIke charting, forms, protocols, procedures?

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Generally you will receive an orientation packet that contains answers to any questions you could have.

My agency gives a 4 hour orientation on the unit with a preceptor but it's not the same type of orientation you get as a staff nurse. It's a quick run down of "here's our flowsheet. Here are the charting standards. Here's what the MAR looks like. Here is where the meds, needles, syringes, and tubing is located" You are then expected to hit the floor running!

Some units are extremely friendly towards agency nurses because they are appreciative of the help and other units give agency the hardest or largest assignment loads because you are making more money than they are. You'll be the first to be floated, the first to be called off, and the first to be sent home.

I'm currently working agency on a unit who has an AWESOME director who treats me no differently than if I were a staff nurse. Assignments are always fair, the staff nurses socialize with me, take an interest, and include me as a member of their team. This is not the case at all facilities.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Everything except Women's Services.

meandragonbrett,

What agency do you work for? I'm researching for my first travel assignment. I have talked with Professional Nursing Services and World Wide Travel as I am looking to go to St Thomas. Thanks for any info!

larleo

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Specializes in Med-surg, ER, agency, rehab, oc health..

You will find that in most places a few things are slightly different but for the most part nursing is nursing. I don't get the 4 hour orientation... I get a 30 min one...same deal quick run down and what type of charting they want at this facility yada yada. But once you work a shift at that hospital things at that hospital get MUCH easier the next time around... so try the hospital out for at least 2 shifts. But you can expect to get the toughest FAIR team. You will get the hang of it no worries!

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I think it is easiest as an agency nurse to stay focused on a specialized area especially the critical care ones, like telemetry, icu, or, er. I go to a lot of different places but i work for an agency that considers my background before sending me to a facility. my experience regarding orientation has been varied but generally u get very little orientation. often one hour, sometimes 4hours but that is usually about it. you are more marketable if u have a speciality.

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Specializes in Oncology, Dermatology, Cardiology.

I recently just started as an agency nurse (per diem). I work 1x a week. I have witnessed resistance but also appreciation. The first day I was wtih a preceptor but then the second day I was completely on my own. Thankfully there was a very nice RN to hep me but the surrounding workers were NOT happy that I was there.

In the end it is about patient safety, not who makes more money. The reason we are making more $$ is becuase we do not have benefits taken out and we are THROWN into a pack of wolves essentially and taken completely out of our comfort zone!

If someone gives you an attitude all you have to do is smile and say.. I am only here to help YOU.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Orientation? What's that?

I have only ever had a 15 minute quick orientation round the ward I was on at each hospital, then it was full on patient care.

But you get used to it. just find out where the important things are and if unsure, I nag senior staff to help me - after all, that is part of their job & yes, they do get paid extra for it. You will eventually develop a good memory for where everything is.

I went to one hospital, got a 5 min orientation, got a pager, got lumped with 6 patients and the night was full on. Managed to do all my patient care, FBCs, drugs, bladder scans, etc, and then the nurse manager had the gall to complain that I didn't complete all the nursing care plans! I felt like screaming!

Money can be great on the weekend, but I get taxed 2/3's of my pay just working on a Saturday.

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Orientation?! Ha! Some facilities offer an orientation but most are trusting that you know you're sh*t and can hit the floor running! And a preceptor? I have worked registry/agency for many years from Florida over to California and have never had a preceptor. When I've worked per diem on staff with a hospital, I had an orientation and someone to shadow for a shift or two, but never with an outside agency. As far as questions, when you get to the unit you are working on, introduce yourself and make yourself known to your co-workers. You have to have a positive "get in there and get it done" attitude when working registry so ask the charge nurse/team leader who will be your "go to" person for your shift.

Finally, there are really only 5 things you need to know (besides your own skills!) when you get to your unit: where are the IV start kits, where do I get meds, what do I chart on, where is the bathroom and most importantly...where is the crash cart!! Everything else just kinda falls into place.

I have done registry and travel nursing for 5 years now and I love it! You can just go in, do your job, take care of your patients and clock out. No politics, no unit drama and daily pay! Excellent!

95% of it is your attitude and outlook. If you go in there with a "bring it on" mindset, you will do fine!

Hope this helped...

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I have done travel in WNY and I have had 2 day (2-12 hr shifts) with a staff nurse on the unit. I also get training (computer training for documentation, etc) of about 1 or 2 days.

I have never had a problem with staff...most are so appreciative of me being there (well, bc they mostly give me the 'difficult' patients).

But I have made many friends in the two facilities I have worked with.

What's makes a good travel nurse:

1. Flexibility

2. A 'It's all good' attitude (see #1)

3. A strong sense of skills

4. A knowledge of what you can do, and what you can't. Don't EVER do something (procedure, etc) that you are not comfortable with. Make someone else on the floor do it...no matter what! It's your license.

If you come across willing to help the staff and are a semi-'happy' person at work...you'll do just fine :-)

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Specializes in LTAC, Telemetry, Thoracic Surgery, ED.

I agree with the above....I started my first per diem as agency....the only slack I got was from other per diems because they were afraid I was going to "steal the better per diem shifts" I always make a point of introducing myself to whomever is the charge and let them know I may have some questions about (policy/procedure). A sick patient is a sick patient anywhere you won't go wrong with the standard interventions....if they know you know your stuff and are willing to pull your load (and maybe help with theirs) they should be happy....but I'm in the ED so maybe it's different on the floor. I know when I was on the floor I was happy to have help and since I wasn't paying them out of my own pocket...didn't really care about salary

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