Why do nurese sign up with agencies?

Specialties Agency

Published

Hi. I'm not yet a nursing student (RN) so here goes my question. Why does a RN sign up with an agency? Do you just sign up with them and if you're qualified you end up with a job with great pay, benefits, etc? Like, you do not have to do anything but hold onto your license to get a job through the agency? After you get your job, do you still have the need to keep in touch with the agency that you've signed up with? Why do RNs need an agency? So that they can find you your "perfect" job?

Do you still have to interview and compete with other RNs to get the job that you want or does the agency automatically land you a job with no work on your behalf? Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

What you're thinking of is a head hunter - a company that you sign up with and they find you jobs to interview for, so that you don't have to spend the time looking for job openings. While this kind of company is much more popular in other fields (especially anything computer-related), there are some that help nurses find jobs. However, all they do is get you the interview - if you don't have the goods, you won't get the job.

The kind of nursing agency you read about on this message board is a temp agency kind of thing. Hospitals have staff nurses, but sometimes when there are a ton of patients or many nurses are out sick, they need extra nurses to help out. They call nursing agencies for this kind of help. The agency has lots of nurses they can call on depending on what kind of nurse the hospital needs - say, a pediatric nurse or a cardiac ICU nurse. These nurses go to the hospital and work a shift, but they are not hospital employees. They still work for the agency. Like I said, it's temp work.

The pros of agency nursing - basically, you can make twice as much per hour as an agency nurse as opposed to being a staff nurse. You get to pick when you work, so if you don't want to work, say, nights or holidays, you don't have to. You don't get involved with the politics of each hospital - stuff like scheduling, raises, benefits, etc.

The cons of agency nursing - you are not guaranteed a job. If every hospital in your area or every unit that you specialize in is slow...you're not going to be offered any shifts. Many agency nurses don't get any benefits (paid time off, health insurance, etc). You never really have a "home" in nursing, no core group of coworkers that you are used to being around all the time.

Probably way more than you wanted to know, but I had the time so I just typed my heart out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ER.
What you're thinking of is a head hunter - a company that you sign up with and they find you jobs to interview for, so that you don't have to spend the time looking for job openings. While this kind of company is much more popular in other fields (especially anything computer-related), there are some that help nurses find jobs. However, all they do is get you the interview - if you don't have the goods, you won't get the job.

The kind of nursing agency you read about on this message board is a temp agency kind of thing. Hospitals have staff nurses, but sometimes when there are a ton of patients or many nurses are out sick, they need extra nurses to help out. They call nursing agencies for this kind of help. The agency has lots of nurses they can call on depending on what kind of nurse the hospital needs - say, a pediatric nurse or a cardiac ICU nurse. These nurses go to the hospital and work a shift, but they are not hospital employees. They still work for the agency. Like I said, it's temp work.

The pros of agency nursing - basically, you can make twice as much per hour as an agency nurse as opposed to being a staff nurse. You get to pick when you work, so if you don't want to work, say, nights or holidays, you don't have to. You don't get involved with the politics of each hospital - stuff like scheduling, raises, benefits, etc.

The cons of agency nursing - you are not guaranteed a job. If every hospital in your area or every unit that you specialize in is slow...you're not going to be offered any shifts. Many agency nurses don't get any benefits (paid time off, health insurance, etc). You never really have a "home" in nursing, no core group of coworkers that you are used to being around all the time.

Probably way more than you wanted to know, but I had the time so I just typed my heart out.

I think this is a great, well thought out description.

One last drawback about agency nursing is that it disempowers staff nurses from collective bargaining.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think this is a great, well thought out description.

One last drawback about agency nursing is that it disempowers staff nurses from collective bargaining.

How does it disempower staffers? Are agency nurses considered scabs on the picket line? I guess that would be the term if that's what you meant.

This reminds me of a situation wherein the hospital recently "downsized" and eliminated ancillary staffers that would make "runs" through the facility to deliver meds, transport patients, answer phones for unit secretaries on breaks etc and replaced them with VOLUNTEERS!!! Unpaid at that! Wow. What a disaster.

The volunteers eventually caught onto what administration was up to and they basically went on strick and refused to perform in thoses capacities, finally forcing administration to rehire the staff they had let go. HA!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So I'm guessing that I won't be able to work for an agency after graduation due to my lack of working experience? :p

I thought there were programs where they land jobs for nurses and I thought to myself "Nursing is GOOD!" :rotfl: But I guess that is just too good to be true. I just don't understand why nurses would pay organization or company or whatever they're called to find them jobs. Is it just bcuz they don't want to waste time searching for a job or is there more to it than that? Does it cost a lot to hire a job searcher? I've researched to find out more about agencies and whatnot, but they all required me to sign up with them to find out anything more :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

You are right - nursing agencies don't hire anyone without at least a year of nursing experience. Honestly, you probably need 2 years or more before you'll be comfortable enough to do agency work. The thing is, as an agency nurse you are expected to go to the unit and just start working - no orientation, no babying, nothing. It's enough stress working a shift at a hospital you've never been to before (not knowing anyone, where anything is, or what the typical protocols are in each unit), but if you add inexperience with patient care to that...not a good thing.

Relax about the job hunting stuff. In most areas, you don't need any help finding a job. You just decide what hospitals you are interested, and you fill out an application there. You also let them know what units you are interested in at that time. The nursing recruiter from the hospital will call you and schedule an interview if they have any openings.

There is a nursing shortage going on. Don't waste your money on a head hunter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yea, I am definitely capable of finding my own jobs and there are plenty

Maybe I will also work for an agency after I get couple of years of experience under my belt. Thanks for all the info.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

Why work agency. At least why do I work agency. I make more than my former overtime rate at my last job. I ,not they, I schedule my availabilty to work. No longer does anyone tell me I have to work on my kids birthdays, when they have school events, holidays or weekends unless I want to.

Granted my flexibility varies with how broke I am or how badly I NEED to work.

There are no Politics or popularity contests. I get to just go to work and be a nurse.

If I go to your facility and you do not like me then you do not invite me back. If I go to your facility and you treat me badly then I won't come back.

Yes agencies only hire experienced staff. At least reputable ones. So while you are out there getting that experience you will find out what I am talking about.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Picu, ICU, Burn.
I think this is a great, well thought out description.

One last drawback about agency nursing is that it disempowers staff nurses from collective bargaining.

Collective bargaining with the welfare of humans makes no sense to me. I got into this profession to take care of people not stack them up at other hospitals and create more unsafe loads for other nurses because hospital A nurses are striking. Please don't get me wrong. I understand the plight of nurses, I live it but I can't get past what it's really all about, the patients.

Side note: A well organized union environment cuts down on disatisfaction among nurses making them less likely to strike. At one hospital I work at there are nurses whom I consider friends. We've known each other a long time but right after they we say hi to each other and discuss what's been going on in our lives, they head right to the house super and make sure every staff nurse and float etc was offered my shift before the agency was called. If not they file a grievance. That's the way it is supposed to work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehab, Step-down,Tele,Hospice.

Boy I wish I was union. Guess I got to leave the "good ole south" to get that.

Nurses who have unions are very fortunate. Sorry off topic..... but its been a sore spot for me for a while.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

Another reason to work for an agency. When I need extra money, I can work extra shifts--there are usually plenty available. But I find I get burned out if I work too many shifts at my full time job. So, I do a couple of shifts a month with an agency and get to make more per hour with different stresses than at my full time job. Don't have to worry about interpersonal or political junk, but I do have to deal with finding the bedpans and figuring out different doctors.

Works for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursenora that sounds great. I should also do that when I have enough experience. And it would be grea to just go, work and leave and not get involved in the whole hospital thing. If I become an agency nurse later on will I always be able to work when I need to work? As in will they always have a job for me when I ask for one? And how do a nurse get hired into an angency? Screenings?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment