Pay for Hosp. vs. Agency

1. I have heard that agency pay is much higher than if just employed at a hosp. How true is this?

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2. 

   About TAMNRoach

   Joined: Jun '03; Posts: 6
   SAHM..and now college student

   8 Comments

   Topic Closed
3. 
   Jun 21, '03

   I would try contacting some agencies & get a quote.
   
   I heard second hand (friend of a friend) that an agency in Sacramento, CA was paying $50/hr to agency RNs...but not sure if that included noc shift diff. I am curious about this myself.
   
   Sounds pretty good, but keep in mind, base pay is $30+ hr in Bay Area for new grads on day shift (not including shift diff). Median starter home, house prices in the area are in the $400,000 range in the suburbs.
4. 
   Jun 21, '03

   some hospitals have "internal agencies" that pay about the same as outside agencies. Most don't provide benefits that way, but internal agency nurses get scheduled before outside nurses do.
5. 
   Jun 21, '03

   I was staff and when I went agency I doubled my salary. The pros: good money, scheduels of your choice, you don
   't have to work weekends or holidays if you don't want to. Cons: you can get cancelled, some agencies don't offer benefits, others do, if you don't work you don't get paid, no PTO days or paid holidays.
6. 
   Jun 21, '03

   Badbird...you said it so well. As a former agency nurse and traveling nurse, the pros were great when the going was good, but whenever I got cancelled one too many times, it hurt financially. It's good when it's good, and bad when it's bad.
   
   However......I DO hope to return to agency nursing again one day, or hospital staffing pool.
7. 
   Jun 21, '03

   I am a critical care RN and I recently returned to hospital pool as it was paying about the same as agency, give or take a buck or two. Those one or two bucks an hour was not worth the trouble: I'd rather be in a familiar setting and know my coworkers, so I went back on pool staff.
   
   Perhaps agency in other areas may pay a lot better than pool, but in my area it is not a sufficiently larger sum to be worth my while.
8. 
   Jun 21, '03

   I have a friend who is an RN and works for an agency in Louisana. She works 3 12 hour shifts. She worked at the same hospital because they would request her. Now the hospital has created its own internal agency. She no longer receives benefits so the hospital increased the hourly pay to compensate. Anyway, she now earns approx. $74,000 a year.
   
   I am just wondering if this is uncommon or pretty much the norm. I still have quite some time before I finish college and am trying to explore all avenues so that I am informed of my choices once I graduate. Thanks for your responses. They are appreciated.
9. 
   Jun 22, '03

   In this area the agency make much more than staff at a hospital. We try to use as little as possible. Agency nurses aren't guaranteed work and are canceled with a couple of hours noticed.
   
   There are pros and cons. I've worked staff for 11 years, have gotten good raises 15% this past year, and make good money, and just as much as an agency nurse when you add in paid time off, and other benefits.
   
   But yes, they do make a lot of money.
10. 
    Jun 22, '03

    All agencies I know require at least one year experience before hiring a nurse. I would not recommend agency work to an inexperienced nurse, as agency must 'hit the unit running.' Agency staff is expected to be experienced, competent and self sufficient.
    
    It's a nice option for those experienced nurses who like variety, independence and travel, and that like to stay out from under the thumb of politics. Lots of options in nursing! Best wishes to you.

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