Agency Nursing vs Staff Nursing

Q. · Apr 15, 2002

In this article it highlights the correlation of high agency nurse use to high incidence of needle sticks. Apparently all other factors were equal: patient acuity, etc.

"Reseachers Link Downsizing with Increased Needle Sticks. RN, April 1997. Newswatch/Professional Update, p. 12.

Brownie, your thoughts are interesting, but I think the findings are trying to argue that agency nurses are in unfamiliar and typically chaotic environments, which lend to increased documentation errors and safety issues - which isn't necessarily the fault of the nurse.

Another:

"Temporary Nurses Called a Serious Risk Threat at Hospitals." AHA News. 36(22). 2000.

Mel3K · Apr 15, 2002

Susy,

Re: the infrastructure issue. I was wondering if perhaps the difference is that the hospitals have to supply and maintain a physical plant, equipment, food service, etc, with all the support salaries that go along with that, vs. the agency infrastructure that shouldn't consist of more than a suite of offices and the support staff for recruiting, benefits, etc.

Just a thought,

Melissa

Q. · Apr 19, 2002

Hi all.

Just thought I would update you. Our debate was this evening and not only was it good, but fun and interactive. We definitely learned alot and I thank everyone for their input.

Thank you.:)

Brownms46 · Apr 19, 2002

Congrats Susy K...Sounds like you did a good job! :cool:

fadingyouth · Apr 19, 2002

In reference to the AHA article might I add that all agency nurses are not unfamiliar with their surroundings. Some of us have contracted with the same hospital for many years , only taking an assignment elsewhere to appreciate the home basse more.

In the last 6 months, the needle sticks, splashes, reports of decreased hand washing, carelessness were reports listed with all internal staff names.

One perhaps needs to rethink that article. Most agency nurses take extra precautions because they are viewed more closely as they are the "outsider"

Maybe for a new forum/article AHA will embark upon all the mistakes in orders or procedures done by agency nurses. Better still we could always discuss the totally inane by adding bathroom and coffee breaks.

Someone please see the positive actions. :rolleyes:

Brita01 · Apr 19, 2002

Glad everything went well for you Susy K.

Teshiee · Apr 20, 2002

OOh gosh! I don't care what that article is claiming. I work in many different hospitals and have seen staff nurses with sloppy techniques. I think it is an individual thing besides did that article stipulate there are more nurses who are doing agency more now? I still say agency all the way. Unitl the administrator get off their 4 point of contact and recognize that nurses are an integral part of the health care team agency nursing will continue to flurish.

Maula, RN · Apr 21, 2002

You know when you add up the cost of paying an agency nurse vs. the cost of paying a staff the the latter is more expensive. The agency nurse is only paid money, however the staff nurse is paid money, PTO (vacation, sicktime, etc.), insurance (health, dental, and short term long term disability), not to mention tuition reimbursement, CEUs, and the list goes on and on. So this leads me to believe that hospitals are trying to save money filling open shifts with agency nurses and save money.

Maula, RN · Apr 21, 2002

Originally posted by Teshiee
OOh gosh! I don't care what that article is claiming. I work in many different hospitals and have seen staff nurses with sloppy techniques. I think it is an individual thing besides did that article stipulate there are more nurses who are doing agency more now? I still say agency all the way. Unitl the administrator get off their 4 point of contact and recognize that nurses are an integral part of the health care team agency nursing will continue to flurish.

Teshiee, I feel you girl. I cannot believe that agency nurses are being blamed for so many problems. I have worked agency sine '94. Usually I go into a facility and find that their nurses have overlooked things that I feel are serious. Especially in nursing homes. I can not believe some of the things I see. But agency nurses bring a broad range of experiences and because we are agency nurses, we are able to adapt to new situations easily, find our way around, and tend to be more flexible.

fadingyouth · Apr 21, 2002

Quite an unusual take on an age old question.

Some travel agencies do offer all the above benefits, however once the contract is over so are the benefits. Insurance can be cobraed but who can afford it.

If you add the norm of $6.00 to your base salary,plus add another similar amt. for tution reimbursement, ceu's, does the staf member really make more?

The one big issue is that w/o insurance- I just cannot afford to get sick.

Q. · Apr 21, 2002

Originally posted by Maula, RN

Teshiee, I feel you girl. I cannot believe that agency nurses are being blamed for so many problems.

I've read the article and I didn't get a sense that "they" were blaming agency nurses. The study was looking at needle sticks and infection rates and noticed a correlation between a high incidence of these things and a high use of agency nurses at the time. Please remember that correlation does not equal causation.

My personal opinion on agency nurses, after reviewing BOTH sides of the coin, is that currently agency nursing is being used inappropriately and as a method to "quick fix" a nursing shortage. Filling the holes with agency is not going to solve the problem, and, in my opinion, can make it worse. Among the benefits of being an agency nurse are no commitments to a facility ie no committee work, no involvement in politics. The way I see it, no nurse involvement, no unit or hospital change.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Apr 21, 2002

originally posted by susy k ...i've read the article and i didn't get a sense that "they"were blaming agency nurses. the study was looking at needle sticks and infection rates and noticed a correlation between a high incidence of these things and a high use of agency nurses at the time. please remember that correlation does not equal causation.

...but by you mentioning the article, you've suggested that a correlation was a causation...hence all of the agency nurses rebuttals against the article or against what it suggests. but if your intention wasn't to make the article suggest the correlation as causation, why then even mention the article in the first place??? :confused:

just an observation

...don't take this post or the other rebuttals personally...it's just the subject matter that a lot of the posters object to. :blushkiss