How's this for an new grad with an agency?

Chloe'sinNYNow · Oct 23, 2008

Hiya G,

not sure if you're upstate or in the city area, RN or LPN, but for comparison's sake, I recently quit a direct stint (non-agency) gig as a RN-BSN in a NH where I made all of a whopping $17.86 per hour, and didn't stick it out long enough to get any benes. I was treated like floor gunk by the CNA's and used and abused by the management all for my title and licensure which every day they put in jeopardy.

I bailed on that to return to acute care evening shift medsurg and w/ diffs kicked in, I am now making what you're looking at.

From what I understand, NH's bring a lot more control to LPN's, but not a safe environment or a welcoming one for a RN.

Hope this helps a little?

Chloe

:nurse:

RN-BSN, BA

Jolie, BSN · Oct 23, 2008

I can't comment on the salary and benefits, as I don't know the norm in your area.

But I would caution you to be very careful about taking an agency or a float position as a new grad. I belive that new grads need a year or two on a "home" unit to gain experience, develop time management skills, learn to prioritize, become familiar with other members of the health care team, and become savvy about "politics". I'm not a proponent of the 1-2 years of med-surg that some instructors suggest, but I do believe that 1-2 years on a consistent unit is vital.

As an agency nurse, you will be expected to walk into a facility and hit the ground running with virtually no orientation. You are there because their own staffing is low, so there will not likely be many experienced staff nurses available to help you in an emergency or with a situation you have not experienced before.

Just my opinion. Good luck to you!

girls1 · Oct 23, 2008

Hiya G,
not sure if you're upstate or in the city area, RN or LPN, but for comparison's sake, I recently quit a direct stint (non-agency) gig as a RN-BSN in a NH where I made all of a whopping $17.86 per hour, and didn't stick it out long enough to get any benes. I was treated like floor gunk by the CNA's and used and abused by the management all for my title and licensure which every day they put in jeopardy.
I bailed on that to return to acute care evening shift medsurg and w/ diffs kicked in, I am now making what you're looking at.
From what I understand, NH's bring a lot more control to LPN's, but not a safe environment or a welcoming one for a RN.
Hope this helps a little?
It helps a lot Chloe. I am in NYC. I know what the norm is for hospitals, but not for nursing homes and agencies.
It sounds like you had an awful nh experience. I actually don't plan to remain there. I was hired at another facility but since it's taking hr eons to start me, I need to do something on a temporary basis (the agency doesn't know).
I just wanted to know if I was getting a good deal.

girls1 · Oct 23, 2008

I can't comment on the salary and benefits, as I don't know the norm in your area.
But I would caution you to be very careful about taking an agency or a float position as a new grad. I belive that new grads need a year or two on a "home" unit to gain experience, develop time management skills, learn to prioritize, become familiar with other members of the health care team, and become savvy about "politics". I'm not a proponent of the 1-2 years of med-surg that some instructors suggest, but I do believe that 1-2 years on a consistent unit is vital.
As an agency nurse, you will be expected to walk into a facility and hit the ground running with virtually no orientation. You are there because their own staffing is low, so there will not likely be many experienced staff nurses available to help you in an emergency or with a situation you have not experienced before.
Just my opinion. Good luck to you!

Thanks a mil Jolie. I feel exactly as you do. I was actually hired at a hospital and need some cash before orientation starts (don't know when that will be). The positon with the agency is full time with orientation and all. I agree fully with you that new grads should not take per diem agency assignments, that would be too hectic. Most will not accept new grads for such positions as a result.

I was just wondering if this package was standard in NYC.

SueNYC · Oct 23, 2008

Girls1-

Not sure if this could help you as Im not aware of RN salary at my old facility. I just graduated with my RN too but prior to that I was working at a nursing home in Brooklyn as an LPN. Now, as an LPN staff I was making 22 as an LPN per diem with no benefits I was making 27.

If this is what you want to do in the mean time then just make sure the orientation is something detailed. I know at my old facility, agency nurses received a VERY BRIEF orientation in comparison to staff new grads rn or lpn. You just received your license you need to safeguard it, not to say be paranoid lol but be smart. Your benefits package, I assume is with the agency, sounds good, however if you already have a spot elsewhere then depending on the wait those things may not even come into play. Are you already hired at a hospital in ny, if so which one?

girls1 · Oct 23, 2008

Thanks for your input Sue. Forums are great huh?

I see your point about them treating staff and agency nurses differently.

I never thought I could be jeopardizing my license. Thanks a lot for bringing that up.

I will see how it goes if I take the position. I do have another interview scheduled for tomorrow so we'll see what happens.

I was hired at Harlem Hospital.

SueNYC · Oct 24, 2008

I did a clinical rotation at Harlem. Though experiences differ between different units, I was on L&D/Peds/Mother Baby and loved it. The elevators are the worse, depending on time youre working, sometimes the wait was 15 minutes.

Good Luck in whatever path you choose as well as your interview.

girls1 · Oct 24, 2008

I did a clinical rotation at Harlem. Though experiences differ between different units, I was on L&D/Peds/Mother Baby and loved it. The elevators are the worse, depending on time youre working, sometimes the wait was 15 minutes.
Good Luck in whatever path you choose as well as your interview.

Thanks Sue. I did an externship there this past summer and I liked ped/MOBA as well. I was unable to rotater through L+D but this is where I will be working. I hope it is as great as peds and moba; although peds was a bit too slow for my taste.

SueNYC · Oct 24, 2008

L&D was great and from what I was hearing from the nurses I was with, it usually isnt slow. What I did notice is that on occasion a nurse would float from L&D to mother/baby when it was necessary depending on census. So you should get a great overall experience and the nurses are wonderful. Actually Harlem would have been one of my choices if it wasnt so far from me. Good Luck