Does it matter what your Specialty is as an RN to work agency?

caliotter3 · Jan 7, 2008

I suggest that you have a talk with your manager at your agency. She/he would be able to tell you how much work they have in the various specialties and how you could fit in; also, whether they would be able to support your efforts at going into a new specialty. Good luck.

bigredrn57 · Jan 7, 2008

I am a nurse who is currently working in ICU for the past 4 months. I am planning on working here for atleast 1 year. I am still unsure if ICU is for me. I worked as an Agency nurse as an LPN and loved it.I know this is where I want to be(AGENCY) but I pretty much had to start from scratch and could not work agency as new RN.
So now here I am wanting to do agency for the future and am looking at other specialties to work in. OR, Oncology,etc. If I pick another specialty would it be easy to find agency work??Im afraid if I change specialties to something I feel suits me better that I would not get staffed at an agency. I am so confused. Im a pretty laid back person and I like my days to be as such. ICU has never been that . I am frazzled when I go home at night and stressed before i go in..I want to pay my dues and have a specialty to call my own......
Please help
From someone who wants the freedom back in her life someday to spend with her family and would love to travel nurse someday....please , please help
I am in Cincinnati, OH if that helps any.

Stressed before you go in and frazzled when you leave. It sounds like you are a prime candidate for burn-out. I believe every new RN should work in Med-Surg to get their skills down pat and to build-up their confidence before moving on to specialized areas. Actually the more diversified your skills are the more marketable you are as agency. That way when you get pulled you won't panic. In the mean time I would talk to your manager about transferring to another dept you're comfortable in.:innerconf

misschelei · Jan 7, 2008

Be very specific with everyone in the office if you go back to agency. Only work in areas you are comfortable in or you will get in over your head fast. You should know exactly what you are doing when you show up on a floor as an agency nurse. Your major concerns should be generally limited to hospital specific policies and procedures and unit specific supply locations you may not be familiar with. Stressed when you get there is going to make everyone frazzled by the time you leave and believe me they won't forget it!

Since you have done agency before you know that becoming a regular at a few places will put you in that comfort zone where you know them and they know you. This makes things much easier but you still need to stay on your toes. When you screw up all it takes is a phone call for the hospital to be done with you. They don't need to pull you into the office 20 times or follow any type of protocol like they would with Suzy staff nurse (for example).