Agency work

zacarias, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

bump

C'mon all you WA nurses?

suzanne4, RN · Apr 7, 2004

Minimum of one year..........................remember with agency work you do not get the "normal" orientation, usually they just show you where the bathroom is and where supplies are kept. You need to be able to figure out most things on your own. I love agency and have only worked that way for years but am so used to it being that way....

Good luck, just learn as much as you can right now............ :balloons:

zacarias, ASN, RN · Apr 8, 2004

Minimum of one year..........................remember with agency work you do not get the "normal" orientation, QUOTE]
Thanks Suzanne. I'm an antsy guy though. I'm gonna be at this job for another year due to my sticking around to complete the UW BSN program. But I yearn to see the world.
I love to travel, speak fluent Spanish and wish wish to improve myself in a handful of other languages. I've seen your posts and know you're in Thailand with your English school; I think that's great. I hope to set myself up in a foreign land eventually.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 8, 2004

You can always do volunteer work over your holiday time from school if you are not working. My Spanish used to be quite fluent, but it is no longer gettin used, only on special occasions..................please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing..................

Good luck with school............ :balloons:

Shed13911 · Apr 8, 2004

I live in Texas but usually they require you to have a year of experience before they allow you to do agency. I think time management is a great concern and after working for a year, you learn how to prioritize. Agency work always pays more and you can get a lot of experience in many different areas in a short amount of time. It also lets you try an area that you may want to move to without the commitment of having to stay if you find you don't like it afterall.

Good luck to you wherever you may roam! :)

kids · Apr 8, 2004

Can anyone recommend good local agencies that serve the area hospitals and how long you have to be a working nurse before they let you do agency?

I would recommend looking in Seattle Yellow Pages under "Nursing Agencies".

Call them up, ask what that particular agencys requirements are, tell them what you are looking for and ask them if the can meet your needs. You will also want to ask what percentage of their business is acute care staffing (-vs- LTC or home care).

Another resource is the agency nurses working at your hospital: look at the name badges, who are they working for? are they familiar faces? (are they sticking with their agency & do they keep coming back to your hospital). Talk to them about their experiences with agencies in your area.

Something to keep in mind if you plan to stay on at your current hospital and pick up perdiem with an agency: your agreement with your regular employer may bar you from working any agency shifts at that hospital (or possibly any of their local hospitals).

For every person you find who says "ABC Agency" is the best, don't work for "XYZ Agency" you will find an equal number who say the exact opposite.

zacarias, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2004

I would recommend looking in Seattle Yellow Pages under "Nursing Agencies".
For every person you find who says "ABC Agency" is the best, don't work for "XYZ Agency" you will find an equal number who say the exact opposite.

Thanks Kids R Fun,

Your advice is sound and appropriate. I think when I do agency I will continue at my current hospital and pick up a few agency shifts. This way, I can get used to walking into a brand new hospital and working to prepare myself for travel nursing in the future.

Thanks again!

yves · May 5, 2004

ive worked agency in seattle with several different companies and i have been a traveler for for several years.

the other thing to remember with agency is some are just local and some are big and throughout many states. Also remember a lot of times the best paying will mean that you will probably get called off first. I would rather go with reputable than best paying.

also some agency also do travel so you already have to paperwork done and you developed relationships with that company

good luck sounds like you have many aspirations

yvonne

igvcare · Nov 11, 2004

When I first obtained my LPN, I wasn't able to find any openings, so I took an Agency Job. I had never had any experience or orientation anywhere besides clinicals. I gotta tell you...bath of fire and all...It was a valuable year I spent. I learned to organize, gather information quickly and develop my style. I actually went to work at the first shift I ever had worked, after I finished my stint as agency. We got paid about three more dollars an hour than LTC nurses at that time, and I've been told it is much better now, since I am an RN. With the experience you have in acute care, I think you would enjoy the changes a bit.

I worked hospital, LTC, Home health and at a children's home...a wide variety. Its certainly worth a looksee!

mattsmom81 · Jan 31, 2005

This is an older thread but i am bumping it up. Zac, did you find a decent agency in the area? I am new to the area and am finding a weekend requirement even for perdiem positions...not what my hubby wants me to do anymore (nor me) i am thinking the only way I will lose this weekend requirement is to do agency work or work in a different setting. OR I may have to take the ferry to the big hospitals in Seattle possibly to find a job without a weekend committment.

Any hints appreciated from those in the know. Also hospitals/units to stay away from, cliquey ones that don't like new people, vicious management, etc...I'm up for all the gossip! LOL!

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 31, 2005

I think agency would be the way to go if you want to avoid weekend work in hospitals in Tacoma/Olympia. But Seattle, I have no clue. I have never worked up there. Good luck.