Agency Work

What do current LPN's think of regular agency personnel; Kelly Services, Arbor Med etc. I see that they pay $23-$25 (no benefits) vs. hospital, LTC $14-20.

I've heard that agency people are not very well liked by the permanent staff. (maybe because the agency employee is getting paid more money but they're both doing the same work?) I think I would like agency flexibility but I certainly wouldn't want the added stress of not being liked by my co-workers.

Any thoughts?

It may be true in many cases that agency nurses are looked on as the enemy in the beginning, but there are some that have become so regular and dependable that eventually, they may get their fair shake in everything. Disadvantages are that in most cases, they get very little to almost no orientation, so, you have to be ready to dive in there immediately. Also, because many times, people's attitudes suck, your assignments may be heavier, so, there has to be a balance between sucking it up a bit, or asserting yourself.

My clinic is quite friendly with agency nurses, but the med-surg floors are very nasty to their people in the beginning. Make sure you are up to par with your skills so that you are not too dependent on the regular nurses, but also, do not do anything you think is unsafe.