Expectations of agency nurses

Specialties Agency

Published

What is the deal out there today? Is it me or do staff nurses place increasingly unreasonable expectations on us?

Seems like every shift is the same...they sit and watch me run with the worst assignments AND admissions. And what is this deal about expecting an agency nurse who comes in once in a blue moon to manage a critical unstable patient? What kind of charge nurse would make an assignment like this? I don't know their docs, their unwritten protocols, their 'ways' of doing things....:(

Had to vent guys...its getting to me....can anyone relate? How do the rest of you manage getting 'dumped' on...sadly, I can no longer find anywhere to go where this does NOT happen to some degree and its more than wearing on me... :o

maybe its time to retire.... :rolleyes:

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
Basically, if I'm treated poorly by staff....it is ME that DNR's that unit in that facility. I will not return if treated badly....and my agency totally backs me up on it.

Exactly - the notion of dumping on fellow nurses is probably part of why a facility needs to use so much agency backup in the first place.

Again, anyone who is there to lend a hand is not going to get dumped on if I can help it. It *will* come around to bite you.

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Okay, don't agree. As an agency nurse, I DON'T get bennies like the full-timers get. When you add up the benifits that they are getting, they are really making more money than I am during the shift. If the full-timers want to make the hourly wage, they can certainly become agency nurses themselves...they DON'T need to dish out "attitude" to those of us that do.

Really poor rationalization here.

Basically, if I'm treated poorly by staff....it is ME that DNR's that unit in that facility. I will not return if treated badly....and my agency totally backs me up on it. They've even opted NOT to send any more of their nurses to certain facilities when there is repeated abuse of scheduling and rudeness to their nurses. It is the facility that needs to straighten up in these cases...not the agency nurse. It's really ironic when they call my agency coordinator and "BEG" for nurses to be returned to their facility because they are so short.:p

I definitely understand how it feels to be treated badly. However, we CHOOSE to be an agency nurse.

(I also do not return to facilities that dish out the attitude.)

We can choose to work as a full time employee and reap the benefits. But, if you were full time, wouldn't you expect to get better assignments than a nurse who was there only one shift? We are, after all, considered "temporary" staffing.

If an employer treated their own loyal employees badly by giving them the tougher assignments than a "temporary", wouldn't that employer lose staff?

Basically, I am asking, how would YOU want your employer to treat you?

I am not talking about attitudes, I am talking about getting the worst assignments.

This is a tough road to travel. 17 years now of agency nursing. Cancelled shifts, playing catch up by working 27 days straight (including 12 and 16 hour shifts), skipping over good steady money assignments because of crazy politics, working every weekend, and every holiday for the guaranteed $$.

(Sigh), you know what I mean. But, for those many times I was able to put family first, it was worth it.

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Okay, don't agree. As an agency nurse, I DON'T get bennies like the full-timers get. When you add up the benifits that they are getting, they are really making more money than I am during the shift. If the full-timers want to make the hourly wage, they can certainly become agency nurses themselves...they DON'T need to dish out "attitude" to those of us that do.

Really poor rationalization here.

Basically, if I'm treated poorly by staff....it is ME that DNR's that unit in that facility. I will not return if treated badly....and my agency totally backs me up on it. They've even opted NOT to send any more of their nurses to certain facilities when there is repeated abuse of scheduling and rudeness to their nurses. It is the facility that needs to straighten up in these cases...not the agency nurse. It's really ironic when they call my agency coordinator and "BEG" for nurses to be returned to their facility because they are so short.:p

I definitely understand how it feels to be treated badly. However, we CHOOSE to be an agency nurse.

(I also do not return to facilities that dish out the attitude.)

We can choose to work as a full time employee and reap the benefits. But, if you were full time, wouldn't you expect to get better assignments than a nurse who was there only one shift? We are, after all, considered "temporary" staffing.

If an employer treated their own loyal employees badly by giving them the tougher assignments than a "temporary", wouldn't that employer lose staff?

Basically, I am asking, how would YOU want your employer to treat you?

I am not talking about attitudes, I am talking about getting the worst assignments.

This is a tough road to travel. 17 years now of agency nursing. Cancelled shifts, playing catch up by working 27 days straight (including 12 and 16 hour shifts), skipping over good steady money assignments because of crazy politics, working every weekend, and every holiday for the guaranteed $$.

(Sigh), you know what I mean. But, for those many times I was able to put family first, it was worth it.

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We can choose to work as a full time employee and reap the benefits. But, if you were full time, wouldn't you expect to get better assignments than a nurse who was there only one shift?
I DO work in a full-time position (3 12's; Fri, Sat, & Sun nights) IN ADDITION to picking up 1-4 agency shifts a month. I would expect myself and my fellow staff to NOT dump on someone that was there to help us out...PERIOD. If you dump on your help you can't expect them to come back, can you?

Don't get me wrong..I'm no lazy nurse. I do good work. But I don't expect to receive the short end of the stick simply because others don't feel they want to do much that night and the assumption, "she's only here one night anyway..". Dude, it's MY overtime. I'm just as tired as everyone else out there!! The assignments need to be divided up as equally as possible IMO.

If an employer treated their own loyal employees badly by giving them the tougher assignments than a "temporary", wouldn't that employer lose staff?

It's my guess that they've already ticked off enough RN's that they've LOST their staff. That's why WE go in, right?

I dunno. Maybe I'm not treated the same because I make it known that I work full-time in another hospital. Agency is part-time for me and that won't change because I don't want to/can't afford to lose my bennies. Maybe I haven't completely experienced this phenomenon because I don't rely on agency shifts for my bread 'n butter.:)

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We can choose to work as a full time employee and reap the benefits. But, if you were full time, wouldn't you expect to get better assignments than a nurse who was there only one shift?
I DO work in a full-time position (3 12's; Fri, Sat, & Sun nights) IN ADDITION to picking up 1-4 agency shifts a month. I would expect myself and my fellow staff to NOT dump on someone that was there to help us out...PERIOD. If you dump on your help you can't expect them to come back, can you?

Don't get me wrong..I'm no lazy nurse. I do good work. But I don't expect to receive the short end of the stick simply because others don't feel they want to do much that night and the assumption, "she's only here one night anyway..". Dude, it's MY overtime. I'm just as tired as everyone else out there!! The assignments need to be divided up as equally as possible IMO.

If an employer treated their own loyal employees badly by giving them the tougher assignments than a "temporary", wouldn't that employer lose staff?

It's my guess that they've already ticked off enough RN's that they've LOST their staff. That's why WE go in, right?

I dunno. Maybe I'm not treated the same because I make it known that I work full-time in another hospital. Agency is part-time for me and that won't change because I don't want to/can't afford to lose my bennies. Maybe I haven't completely experienced this phenomenon because I don't rely on agency shifts for my bread 'n butter.:)

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Good for you mattsmon...if it was that bad, you made the right decision. I don't feel any job is worth losing your health over. Its sad when you see someone run themselves into a ground to make a hopeless situation work..enjoy your break! :)

Well I guess the staff's attitude is the agency nurse should do whatever they don't want to do that shift. I don't mind taking my share of admissions in ICU after I've gotten comfortable with the place and their computer, etc.......but my first shift there?? and every shift? Sometimes 2? I'm good but not that good....it feels like dumping to me. We all know how time consuming the admissions processes are today and someone who doesn't know the place has it even tougher. Add an unstable new patient and...well those of you who are ICU nurses can relate I'm sure. :(

I have tried to say 'I'm uncomfortable with that' (unstable new admit my first time at this facility) and then I am DNR'd. As I shared before I find this same type thing every ICU I go to these days. Guess its time to do something else for a living as I'm no longer adaptable to this type work environment. I hate the politics of onstaff so that's out too.

I always asked an agency nurse (just like I asked my own staff when I did charge) their comfort level. I never expect a nurse to be comfortable with EVERY situation and tried to make assignments based on skills, experience, and comfort. I never enjoyed my coworkers's discomfort and seems like staff plays games with agency today...I've watched them do this to other agency nurses as well so I don't feel singled out.

I tried to be a nice person to everyone I worked with but I'm not the norm out there anymore. More and more I work with hateful, vicious, bitter people. I'm hating going to work and am fearful the entire time I am there. The hostility is overwhelming.

I cannot do this anymore. Quit the agency today, gonna read a novel, watch some warm fuzzy Christmas specials, bake some cookies for the kids and be good to myself awhile. Then I will look for other options. It will not be in a hospital and maybe not even in nursing.

Whatever has happened to the majority of the nurses out there in my local ICU's I don't know. I can understand their frustration but not when it is directed at coworkers so blatantly.

God Bless all of you who are still hanging in there...I cannot do it anymore. Thanks for letting me vent and come to a decision. It is not worth doing something that makes you feel this bad.

Hope everyone's holiday season is joyful and relaxing. Hugs to all here. :)

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Good for you mattsmon...if it was that bad, you made the right decision. I don't feel any job is worth losing your health over. Its sad when you see someone run themselves into a ground to make a hopeless situation work..enjoy your break! :)

Well I guess the staff's attitude is the agency nurse should do whatever they don't want to do that shift. I don't mind taking my share of admissions in ICU after I've gotten comfortable with the place and their computer, etc.......but my first shift there?? and every shift? Sometimes 2? I'm good but not that good....it feels like dumping to me. We all know how time consuming the admissions processes are today and someone who doesn't know the place has it even tougher. Add an unstable new patient and...well those of you who are ICU nurses can relate I'm sure. :(

I have tried to say 'I'm uncomfortable with that' (unstable new admit my first time at this facility) and then I am DNR'd. As I shared before I find this same type thing every ICU I go to these days. Guess its time to do something else for a living as I'm no longer adaptable to this type work environment. I hate the politics of onstaff so that's out too.

I always asked an agency nurse (just like I asked my own staff when I did charge) their comfort level. I never expect a nurse to be comfortable with EVERY situation and tried to make assignments based on skills, experience, and comfort. I never enjoyed my coworkers's discomfort and seems like staff plays games with agency today...I've watched them do this to other agency nurses as well so I don't feel singled out.

I tried to be a nice person to everyone I worked with but I'm not the norm out there anymore. More and more I work with hateful, vicious, bitter people. I'm hating going to work and am fearful the entire time I am there. The hostility is overwhelming.

I cannot do this anymore. Quit the agency today, gonna read a novel, watch some warm fuzzy Christmas specials, bake some cookies for the kids and be good to myself awhile. Then I will look for other options. It will not be in a hospital and maybe not even in nursing.

Whatever has happened to the majority of the nurses out there in my local ICU's I don't know. I can understand their frustration but not when it is directed at coworkers so blatantly.

God Bless all of you who are still hanging in there...I cannot do it anymore. Thanks for letting me vent and come to a decision. It is not worth doing something that makes you feel this bad.

Hope everyone's holiday season is joyful and relaxing. Hugs to all here. :)

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Well, I can relate. I was severely injured and subsequently dropped by an employer. I am now a chronic pain patient. I finally left the hospital game to become a 'hired gun' as it were, in the agency field because I still need to have an income, and comp and unemployment ran out.

I have been working a local mission , full days, for no pay in order to practice and interact with patients. I like nursing, and I'm good at it. Money is secondary to happiness, but it is a necessary evil. I don't serve Mammon. And though the good ol' boy mentality in this ****hole town has worked against me, (I had the guts to fight for my rights) I am proving I can do a good day's work in spite of injury.

My message is, don't be afraid of painkillers, there is no reason to hurt, no reward for being a stoic. You do your patients and yourself a disservice by being distracted by your injuries. And under the care of a competent pain management specialist, you won't lose the ability to think clearly. In fact, look it up, people with pain perform superior using opioids than those who don't use them. It's funny, but if you need a painkiller, it takes care of the problem, once you get your regimen, and doesn't affect the chronic pain user like it does some one simply mis-using it. None of these better than thou authorities seem to want to mention it. Just never let yourself abuse, and you'll be ok.

Yeah, I still have periods of regret that I have to use painkillers, sometimes feel wierd having a script filled, but that's just the propaganda that the DEA and these other hokey agencies have drummed into us. And you don't have to say that you are using your medication at work if some goodie two shoes gets all sactimoious on you. What are they gonna do, pee test you? (that really gets under their skin)

In short, as a nurse, you are to alleviate human suffering. You are a human. Do not exclude yourself from the human race. Your critics usually need a taste of what you're going through before they see the light, and that's still no guarantee they'll see you any differently.

Mercy for me, justice for everyone else....We are all Tonya Harding....et.c

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Well, I can relate. I was severely injured and subsequently dropped by an employer. I am now a chronic pain patient. I finally left the hospital game to become a 'hired gun' as it were, in the agency field because I still need to have an income, and comp and unemployment ran out.

I have been working a local mission , full days, for no pay in order to practice and interact with patients. I like nursing, and I'm good at it. Money is secondary to happiness, but it is a necessary evil. I don't serve Mammon. And though the good ol' boy mentality in this ****hole town has worked against me, (I had the guts to fight for my rights) I am proving I can do a good day's work in spite of injury.

My message is, don't be afraid of painkillers, there is no reason to hurt, no reward for being a stoic. You do your patients and yourself a disservice by being distracted by your injuries. And under the care of a competent pain management specialist, you won't lose the ability to think clearly. In fact, look it up, people with pain perform superior using opioids than those who don't use them. It's funny, but if you need a painkiller, it takes care of the problem, once you get your regimen, and doesn't affect the chronic pain user like it does some one simply mis-using it. None of these better than thou authorities seem to want to mention it. Just never let yourself abuse, and you'll be ok.

Yeah, I still have periods of regret that I have to use painkillers, sometimes feel wierd having a script filled, but that's just the propaganda that the DEA and these other hokey agencies have drummed into us. And you don't have to say that you are using your medication at work if some goodie two shoes gets all sactimoious on you. What are they gonna do, pee test you? (that really gets under their skin)

In short, as a nurse, you are to alleviate human suffering. You are a human. Do not exclude yourself from the human race. Your critics usually need a taste of what you're going through before they see the light, and that's still no guarantee they'll see you any differently.

Mercy for me, justice for everyone else....We are all Tonya Harding....et.c

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Thanks for sharing Crumbwannabe (wondering what the meaning is behind your handle LOL! ) :)

You are right. I feel great failure because I cannot 'fix' myself. I am just a member of the human race...the fact I'm a nurse will not save me from the human condition.

I realize I am suffering from a major depressive episode thanks to several kind posters here who have let me bounce things off 'em.

Thank you Thunderwolf, Jnette, SherriRN, Zoeboboey....and all others who've taken a moment to PM me....you guys are all great and have 'lightened my load' with your concern.

So...this old nurse has to walk away from nursing and deal with my own issues right now. The chronic pain plays a big role in this depression as well..I am afraid however to get back into medical tx as they always try to talk me into more surgery, more PT, which increases my pain etc.

Appreciate everyone's input and good thoughts...sadly I could not cope with staff nursing NOR agency nursing. The problem is not with nursing, it is with me. Hard to admit this.Altho nursing is hard, it is ME who is not coping well with all the changes, etc in the field. I cannot expect the field to change for me. maybe some day I will feel well enough to work as a nurse again in some capacity...but not now.

Hugs to all here.

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Thanks for sharing Crumbwannabe (wondering what the meaning is behind your handle LOL! ) :)

Robert Crumb, the artist, cartoonist. He created 'Zap Comix'. My Avitar is the Snoid, the Id that lives in all of us.

He's kind of salty in his illustrations and humor, so if you're easily offended, don't say I didn't tell you. He did the album cover for the first "Big Brother and the Holding Co." album. You'd recognise his art if you saw it. In fact, there is a documentary on him called "Crumb" by Terry Zwiggoff, really good film.....

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Robert Crumb, the artist, cartoonist. He created 'Zap Comix'. My Avitar is the Snoid, the Id that lives in all of us.

He's kind of salty in his illustrations and humor, so if you're easily offended, don't say I didn't tell you. He did the album cover for the first "Big Brother and the Holding Co." album. You'd recognise his art if you saw it. In fact, there is a documentary on him called "Crumb" by Terry Zwiggoff, really good film.....

OK...I didn't know who he was but I asked my son and he enlightened me. :)

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