Difference between travel and agency??

Specialties Agency

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Whats the difference between a travel nurse and an agency nurse?? I mean in order to be a travel nurse you have to sign with an agency, so i would assume they mean the same thing, right??

Specializes in Cardiology, Telemetry, Home Health Care.

very good advice here. I am tossing the idea of travel/local agency. I live in Alabama and do not really want to stay away from home 13 weeks. I thought maybe I would keep my fulltime job and work agency on weekends (may everyother weekend) My fulltime has become 2 8s and 2 12s with Friday, Saturday & Sundays off. Would agnecy work be worth it? That way I wouldn't have to work holidays and could call my own schedule? Please advise.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Telemetry, Home Health Care.

Yes, where is this??

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:bow:

Whats the difference between a travel nurse and an agency nurse?? I mean in order to be a travel nurse you have to sign with an agency, so i would assume they mean the same thing, right??

The difference between a travel nurse and a agency nurse is you have a contract when working as a travel nurse, hours guaranteed, agency nurse hours not guranteed, travel nurse has better benefits.

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Specializes in MedSurg.

I've been an RN for 3 1/2 years - 2 1/2 of that as a traveler/agency RN. I'm still working out all the kinks, but all in all, I hope I never have to get a "real job." Yes, agency (local per diem) work can be unreliable - you have to prepare for the down times, and traveling can have drawbacks, but for the most part, my travel assignments have been great and I have learned so much more than I would have if I'd stayed in the first hospital I worked as an RN. My biggest challenge right now is staying with one agency - it's nearly impossible and I worry about my resume showing me working for 3 different agencies already. Also, I'm still learning about what states are good to work in r/t nurse to patient ratio - I've heard horror stories from some travelers about having as many as 8 patients on a day shift. So far, I worked in MN, CA and DE and the ratio has been good - 3-5 patients/RN (usually 4). Yes, sometimes it feels like I've got the "bad" team of patients as I run around like a chicken with my head cut off while other staff sits and does nothing, but that has been rare and, actually, I've approached management with my concerns when that happens and I've always had good feedback. I've received good reviews from all my assignments and even though I'd just as soon forget the one in DE, I still learned from it - if nothing else, what not to do. I graduated from nursing school when I was 50, so travel/agency work helps me control my schedule and allows me to visit my family in CA, and work sometimes when I do, more than if I had a job in a hospital. Plus I can get the holidays off - something that won't happen in my lifetime if I take a hospital job, and have the advantage of taking time off when I need to or want to. Still working out the bugs and financially I'm not ahead yet - but that's more my fault - but I'm looking forward to my next destination and, eventually, will have this down to a science and start enjoying what I call "semi-retirement" through travel nursing. Good luck to all.

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I'm currently working on transferring my license to Atlanta,GA area from OH. Can you suggest agencies from others on this forum or is naming certain agencies taboo? I also need to understand the difference between agency contracts and per diem? One is guaranteed pay-the other isn't? Also, do local agencies pay for your license endorsement fees and certification renewals such as ACLS? I am not presently working as a nurse, but want to work weekends to get my skill set back up to par.

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Specializes in OR, ER, TRAVEL, SURGICARE, WOMENS HOSP.

When I traveled I had guaranteed hours. If the surgery schedule was done, all went home but the traveler. I did keep busy by prparing for next day or just general cleaning. Did go to other areas on my own to help was never made to do so.

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Specializes in critical care, med surg, correctional.

In my experience in the past.....I worked for an "agency" as a traveling nurse....but most recently I worked as an "agency" nurse locally....In order to work as a "traveler" you obviously have to be hired by an agency, they would be considered your employer....regardless of where you are working.....there are some agencies that you can get the benefits of a traveling nurse with only working 60 miles or more away from your home...and still get the benefits of being a traveling nurse (ie- housing and travel allotments)...each agency is different, so if you are thinking about doing this look into all of them, because their benefits can differ tremendously....

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Specializes in ICU, Hospice.
Participating States in the NLC

Nurse Licensure Compact

COMPACT STATES IMPLEMENTATION DATE

Arizona 7/1/2002

Arkansas 7/1/2000

Colorado 10/1/2007

Delaware 7/1/2000

Idaho 7/1/2001

Iowa 7/1/2000

Kentucky 6/1/2007

Maine 7/1/2001

Maryland 7/1/1999

Mississippi 7/1/2001

Nebraska 1/1/2001

New Hampshire 1/1/2006

New Mexico 1/1/2004

North Carolina 7/1/2000

North Dakota 1/1/2004

Rhode Island 7/1/2008

South Carolina 2/1/2006

South Dakota 1/1/2001

Tennessee 7/1/2003

Texas 1/1/2000

Utah 1/1/2000

Virginia 1/1/2005

Wisconsin 1/1/2000

And Also Missouri 6/1/2010

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Specializes in Long Term Care, Dementia, Neuro-Psychiat.

Does all that experience translate to being hireable to a permanent facility? Like you wouldn't be considered a new grad? If you are hired agency first,i mean

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You are a cost not an asset. The Company negotiates the billable rate,( my last assignment...rate 95.00/hr) and then your Money starts going away. It doesn't matter what you Contract says, the facility does what IT wants, schedules, hours to work, Breaks, floating. This is why I'm leaving nursing. I thought Slavery went away.....

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Some agency's work primarily to get nurses to 'travel' to other states or certain distances for an extended period of time. The definition of 'travel' nursing requires a certain number of miles to be distinguished as that. Other agency's focus on placing people at local hospitals. Sometimes they do this by 'contract'---weeks at a time...or daily. They are both agencys.....it's just that different agency's may specialize in different kinds of placement of nurses. You'd have to know what you want and then find out if that agency fits your needs.

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