An Aussie that's Curious

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Hi everyone,

Just got home from my evening shift from the Nursing Home. A Agency PCA (Personal Care Assistant - does duties such as toileting, showering, changing resident's clothes etc...) will be on tonight instead of one of the PCA's from the Nursing Home. I am finding that more and more agency nurses are filling in for the RN's and PCA's here at the Nursing Home. Agency PCA's and RN's get way more than employees from the Nursing Home. Do you guys have more and more agency nurses over the years in your facilities? Big difference in Pay?

Appreciate the feedback.

Love to see America one day with my husband but have to wait till the youngest get's a driver's licence so he can be independent and look after himself which is another 7 years!......Summer here. I watch Good Morning religiously. Been enjoying Hannah Montana tv shows with my daughter,we are at the Dolly Parton talks to Hannah show. Off track here.

Thanks for reading, (12.03pm going to sleep...night, night)

:onbch::mchmrdnc:Sorry I saw hammer, luv his moves..

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

A lot of the City Nursing Homes rely almost entirely on agency nurses and carers. Carers up here are paid very poorly.Some companies only pay them minimum wage,about £5.50 per hour and they can get double that working for an agency,also they get different rate of pay such as night rates,weekend rates etc while the companies just pay a flat rate across the week.

The same goes for the trained nurses, they get way more money working for an agency and probably avoid a lot of the hassle as well!

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Hi Poodle

An Aussie here saying hello from North Carolina.

I do hope you can visit one day at it is truly an amazing place to live and see how diverse this great country is. :)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

We see a lot of agency nurses. Although at first glance it may appear that an agency nurse makes way more money there are many variables to look at.

An agency nurse does not have a promised income. At one time I was cancelled 30 times out of 35 shifts.

Do not accrue any sick time or vacation pay or seniority.

Some agencies offer health insurance and savings plans but in my experience these are not usually as good as a staff nurse is offered.

Although I feel comfortable at the hospitals I work agency at you are always the odd man out. No mailbox in the break room. Decreased chance to participate in inservices and harder to find and go to continuing education opportunities.

What works best for me is to be on staff at a local hospital and pick up an extra day per week agency.

Also a nice gig if your spouse can provide good insurance and savings plans through their work.

Always good to remember that "All that glitters is not Gold"

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Nightmare, Sabby Nc and Gonzon1 I thank you for your response. It was a enlightening read. I am now thinking about having an interview with the biggest Agency here and doing at least 1 day a week.

Thanks a bunch. :balloons:

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