How many agencies do you belong to? How does working for diffident agencies work?

[50kn]

i have been working for one agency as a per-diem for the past several months after i quit my previous full time job. this agency pays per visit. so far they have given me cases between 4 visits per month (earn less than $200 a month) and 15 visits per month. i have more time to work for different agencies and started looking for them.

but, may question is how many agencies nurses usually belong to to manage a schedule? for example if you have a visit on a certain day for a agency and after that b agency called you to offer a case, can you just refuse the case for b agency by saying that you have a case scheduled at that day for a agency?

one agency is not enough. but, how many agencies do you belong to? and what is an ideal combination? two or three per-diem agencies to belong to? or one per-diem agencies plus one more full or part time agency? or one intermittent home health agency plus one private duty agency?

if you work for more than one agency, do you tell each agency that you are belonging to deferent agencies and depending on the schedule you might need to refuse a case that are offered because you have already booked? can agencies usually accommodate your situation?

[caliotter3]

Know someone who was doing visits for three agencies and now is working for five, if I've got the number down right. She uses one of those calendar agenda books and, I guess, just schedules herself according to the area of town she is in. She gives each client a two hour window when she calls them the night before to let them know she will be visiting the next day. You don't have to let any employer know about another employer, you just tell them when you are "available". However, it is kind of obvious that they will find out about other employers, particularly when you list them on a job application or when a new employer calls for references. You never have to accept a case or client or give a reason. It is up to you to maintain your own priorities. You will establish a primary employer, usually the one you were with first, or the one that pays the best. Whether you choose to disclose this information to employers is up to you. Usually they can figure things out on their own.

[50kn]

3~5 agencies! wow, i am encouraged to work for more agencies!

[KateRN1]

I work full time for a Medicare agency, but since I'm in a management position, I can't work per diem for another Medicare agency, so I do Geriatric Care Management for one agency and home health aide supervisory visits for another company. I have no trouble keeping up with my stuff. :shrug:

[Merlyn]

You can join as many as you want but they agencies that I worked for didn't want you to work the same job for another agency. For example. If I worked for agency A at the Whoopee LTC. And agency B paid me more money to work at whoopee, I couldn't take the job and remain employed at agency A.

[CLUVRN, MSN, RN]

For about a year and half after graduating nursing school I worked per diem private duty and intermittent visits for 8 agencies. I have to say it was very empowering having control of your own schedule and deciding what days I wanted off. The only con was keeping track of all the paperwork for each agency, which over time was easier to manage, as I am extremely organized. However, in January, one of my agencies offered me a full-time job, and as a condition of full-time employment, the agency insisted that I work for them only and I had to resign from my other agencies. I do miss working per-diem for multiple agencies sometimes, but much rather have the benefitted full-time job with gas/cell phone reimbursement:)

[LaRN]

Every home health i've ever worked for didn't want us working at another home health. They are afraid that patients will follow a nurse to another home health or that the nurses will encourage them to go to the other home health. This is especially true for small towns where the business is competitive.