Why the beef with agency?

Juwon · Jun 11, 2011

from what i seen, i think it has something to do with the fact that agency nurses get paid more for the same work. At my ltc facility agency nurses make $6/hr more than what the facility base pay for RNs. Even more, some nurses say they are often bugged by agency nurses about where this and that is.

GM2RN · Jun 11, 2011

My faciligy very rarely uses them, but I've got no problem with agency. As long as you've got skills and don't refuse to take a particular assignment because you aren't familiar with the facility, I'm happy to have the help rather than work short.

himilayaneyes · Jun 11, 2011

I work as a staff and an agency nurse so I experience both sides. As far as the beef with agency nurses, some staff feel that we get paid more so why should they have to help us with anything or are annoyed when we ask where something is. The staff nurses had their turn yesterday mentality. Some facilities act like they don't want you there, but when you state that you'll gladly leave...their whole tune changes. I've done it...it works. :) I personally don't have a problem with agency nurses since I also work as one. Like a pp said, I rather have help than be short.

tachybradyRN · Jun 11, 2011

at my hospital (a small community hospital), i don't believe the problem most staff have with agency nurses is with the general idea of agency nurses. it sounds like the major problem is with *specific* agency nurses who are known to not carry their own loads again and again. i can think of one off the top of my head who i've come to follow a few times, and her district is consistently a nightmare with tons of extra work piled on the next shift. listen, everyone has a bad day from time to time, it's to be expected. but when every single time i follow you i come in to a disaster area, something is up.

and yes, the nrsg. supervisors have been made aware of this issue multiple times, to no avail.

(this is not to say that a staff RN or floater couldn't be just as frustrating to follow; it's not a stab at agency nurses. i work with some agency nurses i adore. it's more about specific people than anything else, IMO.)

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2011

I've worked with them as well but the general beef was if management would hire more staff we wouldn't have to call and have an agency nurse anyway. I never have a problem with them but I don't like to see what the other staff do to them.

freemirini · Jun 11, 2011

I have been grateful that the facility hired someone to help... I don't mind helping an agency nurse. --Of course, I am a new nurse...and more likely to be in a position to learn from the agency nurse in many other ways... It's enlightening to read the posts above.

heron, ASN, RN · Jun 11, 2011

Agency is the most expensive way to staff a unit ... the agency nurse is paid at least market rates, plus the facility is paying more on top of that to the agency for overhead and profit. It should tell you something that it's usually cheaper to pay time and a half to an employee than to hire agency.

BeccaznRN, RN · Jun 11, 2011

Agency is the most expensive way to staff a unit ... the agency nurse is paid at least market rates, plus the facility is paying more on top of that to the agency for overhead and profit. It should tell you something that it's usually cheaper to pay time and a half to an employee than to hire agency.

I have never understood why most facilities won't reward their own staff for picking up extra when needed. I worked at a facility that ran a program called "in-house registry," where it was VERY financially attractive for staff to work extra. This program worked so well that most of the time, staff nurses would be clamoring for those extra shifts and there would be no need for agency to begin with. Hospital saves money, nurses are happy, unit is staffed = everybody wins. The hospital would still use agency nurses as needed, but there was little to no bitterness toward them from regular staff.

Bruin's Mom · Jun 11, 2011

I know in my experience in the facilities I have worked when an agency nurse comes to work a shift fangs are beared and staff gets nasty. I think it is because agency nurses make more money than staff nurses, but you know who cares? The staff should be thankful that someone came to work and didn't leave them short handed. I have made some really good friends with agency nurses. We are all in the boat together and we may well enjoy the ride!

heron, ASN, RN · Jun 11, 2011

The hourly rate is high, but on the other hand, it's totally unpredictable.

Some facilities use agency bookings as a way to get a nurse on call for free.

Most agencies charge a late-cancellation fee for cancellations after a certain deadline. Around here it's 2 hours.

What they do is book nurses for the shifts most bedeviled with call-offs (weekend nights, for instance) and then, if no call-offs happen before the deadline, cancel agency just in time. If a last minute call-off or a no-show happens, they're still likely to be able to get the cancelled agency nurse back. They'll get billed for the late fee, but at least the person doing staffing won't have to put on scrubs and cover him/herself.

I only need three shifts a week to stay afloat - the last five shifts I've booked have been cancelled ... with four of them cancelled right on the deadline. The equivalent is being census-managed with no PTO to cover the financial shortfall. It can be disruptive and stressful ...

I, too, have worked both sides of this. As staff, I try to be as courteous and available as I can. As agency, I try to be as courteous and self-reliant as I can, as well as honest about what I can handle and what I can't so staff knows how best to use me. I hate leaving ugly surprises for the next shift.

MomRN0913 · Jun 11, 2011

As a manager, I make sure my staff treats Agency nurses with respect and help. I remind them that if it wasn't for them, they would be having 2 more patients each:) They are there to help. I believe they should get paid more, they get thrown into a situation where they have to figure out things for themselves, thus I see them as putting their licenses at risk. So, when agency nurses come to our LTACH, they say they can't believe how nice the staff is and some have applied for full-time positions, but unfortunatley we couldn't hire them due to contractual reasons.