Agency nursing

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2007

You know your own personality and assertion better than we do.

Agency nurses need to be highly skilled, practice independently, assertive, and able to jump right in there without an orientation. Since agency work is not paid clinical practicum time, you will not have the opportunity to ask questions if you do not know something.

Keep in mind that some of the facility's regular employees are sometimes unwilling to assist agency nurses, because the permanent nurses earn less money than the agency nurse. If you are confident in your skills, then do agency. If you have a lot to learn, you might want to wait one year before jumping into agency.

caliotter3 · Mar 29, 2007

One of my buddies went agency as her first job right out of nursing school with no experience at all. She got the job by fibbing about her experience: she was advised to say that she had two yrs experience. She was doing staffing at LTC facilities and having a terrible time of it. I lost touch with her so I don't know how it turned out. You have CNA experience. It is true that agency nurses are not well treated. I have seen this in one facility. If you do not want to do staffing and thought you were going for home care instead, then, by all means, go back to the agency, and assert yourself. But you might want to try a shift or three to see if you can adapt. Good luck to you.

KellNY, RN · Mar 29, 2007

I passed my LPN exams after completing some RN classes (I "tested out"). I went right into Agency nursing. Let me tell you, the 1st 5 shifts or so, I thought I was going to kill myself or a resident (mistakenly, of course!). It was *very* stressful and I usually adapt very well to stress. I had yrs of Medical assisting experience, but there was no comparison. Phew--I get palpitations just remembering it.

It may not be what you want to hear, but I'd seriously recomend getting some experience 1st. Even 3mos would have helped me out. 6-9mos would have been better, but no experience was very hard.

best of luck

gategrl · Mar 30, 2007

Thank you for your replies. I have decided NOT to do agency nursing at this time. After speaking with a seasoned nurse today and after reading your replies, I see that I am not ready for it. Thanks again.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2007

i am a agency nurse and have been for many years... in order to work as a agency nurse you need to be able to walk into any situation pick up the assignment and not miss a beat with care. there is no orientation (other than paper work) and you are expected to function at a max level. you should be proficient with all your skills in the area you are working and also know your limitations. the facilities are paying high dollar for you to be there and they expect you to know what you are doing. my recommendation is go back get a solid year then venture out.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 30, 2007

Well, I do agency, and I am a new nurse. I have been a nurse since June, 2006. I do have a fulltime regular job working at a clinic, and I started off as a flu nurse on the side, and then, when flu season was over, I went into home care. I visited the client and the mother before I accepted the case to see if I can handle it, I told both, the agency as well as the parent that I am a new grad, and they have both worked with me really well. I did a great deal of reading about the case I took and read up on the medications. I am glad I did it, but can certainly say that IF you decide, homecare may be better, and make sure that you visit the case with the other nurse there so that she can orient you for a day or so.

It is true, that the agency nurses make much more than staff nurses if you work at a facility. I make more in three days at the home care agency than I do for the two weeks at my regular job and have less aggrevation. And, they are not always treated that nicely. I have seen it myself. I would not work at a facility until I get more experience, but I would most certainly take a home case if I can handle the situation. It worked for me.

MsLady06 · Mar 30, 2007

Give yourself atleast a year. Its not good to do pool or agency when you are a newbie. agency puts you in different locations so that can be scary for a newbie.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Apr 4, 2007

I went into the agency after 6 months, I was lucky, at my first job I had a mentor for 3 months orientation who continued to advise me after orientation was complete. Many places I go to are tough to work, staff refuse to give information, get ticked when I ask where to find things, most patients don't have id's. I have learnt to remind these nurses that what time I spend looking for things is time not spent on "thier" patients. After all I'm just there for the night. In every case the attitudes changes and I was able to care for my patients the way they deserve. Agency is not easy, but when you get a really ruff shift, remind them that your there to help them, otherwise they'd have to pick up your assignment along with thier own. Once that attitudes are taken care of, help them if you have spare time, win over the CNA's, try to get to work 15 minutes early. I found that these little things change thier opinion of me, they look forward to seeing my name on the schedule now. One time I was running late and the nurses actually got worried and called my boss to report that something must have happened to me because I'm always there early, and it was still 5 minutes before shift start! They were very happy to see me walk in the door and that I was OK!

jbtampa · Apr 5, 2007

I went to agency before my license was dry. Midshift I picked up my first assignment.....three fresh hearts.......I freaked, called my boss, and split. I am glad I did after 15 years experience. (this as a RT, soon LPN)

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 6, 2007

I went to agency before my license was dry. Midshift I picked up my first assignment.....three fresh hearts.......I freaked, called my boss, and split. I am glad I did after 15 years experience. (this as a RT, soon LPN)

What license did you have...does the RT mean respiratory therapist? And what is "three fresh hearts"? Not trying to be funny, I just didn't understand the lingo. I know sometimes different departments have their own terms for certain conditions. Thanks!

ex1140 · Apr 10, 2007

An agency nurse needs to be able to hold her own with little or no supervision. Most agencies will not hire nurses with less than a year of LTC or Med/Surg experience. I felt the same way right after school I was bent on working agency because I wanted the flexibility and higher wage. However, time and experience has taught me that waiting can be a good thing. At this time I have the confidence to actually walk into a facility and know what I'm doing with little or no supervision.