Is it frowned upon???

[lpn-ny]

I work at a SNF but only part time because thats all they have available. I really like there. It's clean and it goes by the book....patients recieve excellent care by all. It's a facility through a hospital so I get all the hospital benefits and the union the nurses get that work at the hospital. It pays great too! My only problem is not enough hours. I do fill in alot and some of the full time nurses will use their PTO so I can pick up because they are burned out. And the staffing coordinator knows I will pick up whenever they need me to. I have been on my license for less than a year. I am wondering would it be frowned upon if I took a job at a staffing agency to pick up hours on my days off? My regular part time hours are

[lvnnars1]

correct me if im wrong.. you want to join an agency and fill in the days in that specific facility (instead of part time) so you can instead receive the "per diem money" from that agency (good chance it will be more).. if so, if i was your don i'd see it as greedy, just my opinion

[clemmm78, RN]

Many nurses work part time in one place and in staffing agencies during their off hours. Nothing greedy about that. The only issue is if the staffing agency sends you to your part-time place of work.

[mentalhealthRN]

I would just be up front with the place you are at now and be sure they know what your plan is and be sure they know that your preference would be to be with their facility FT and that should something open up you would like to be considered for it. That you are only doing the agency work to fill your hours temporarily until something opens up with them FT.

[elkpark]

You have no obligation to your current employer beyond the hours they offer you. Lots of nurses work multiple jobs. If your current employer is only offering you part-time work and you need extra hours, there's nothing at all wrong with signing up with a staffing agency. Whether or not your current employer would want to use you as an "agency person" would be up to them (they probably wouldn't want to use you there on that basis, since it would cost them a lot more money than just scheduling you directly, but you can work anywhere else the agency can place you).

I agree with mentalhealthRN about letting your current employer know, and being clear that your first choice would be a full-time position with them.

[rn/writer, RN]

There is nothing "greedy" about wanting to work enough hours to make a decent living. I know many nurses--myself among them--who work more than one job. One of the perks of nursing is the ability to be flexible and have lots of options.

Just make sure you're open with both employers. And do check your Policy and Procedure manual to be certain you're addressing any potential conflict of interest properly. In your case you would need to investigate the possibility of being called to your primary facility as an agency nurse. In some places that is prohibited by the facility, by the agency or both. But in other locales this is not a problem as long as everyone is in agreement.

If your current employer knows that you are willing to work agency to make ends meet, they may find ways to give you more hours. Even if they can't, it doesn't hurt for them to know that another company finds you valuable.

Hope it all comes together for you.

[caliotter3]

No employer can stop you from earning a living. But an agency employer might not be willing to send you to a facility where you are already on the payroll; they will cite "conflict of interest" as their reason.

[Katie5]

No employer can stop you from earning a living. But an agency employer might not be willing to send you to a facility where you are already on the payroll; they will cite "conflict of interest" as their reason.

That would be weird too. Since she wasn't called in but the facility still needed a fill-in. That would be uncomfortable.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

I agree; there is nothing "greedy" about what you want to do. Just talk with your DON and tell her what you're going to do and ask her opinion (she's not going to tell you no); involve her/him in the decision that will show them how much you value the job and their opinion. Also if there is any conflict of interest (everything rn/writer stated).

Who knows; this may be the bump you need for them to consider hiring you on a more permanent basis.

[AimeepawsRN]

Nothing greedy about it!!! Agency will help you become well rounded in your career. Just let both employers know.

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

correct me if im wrong.. you want to join an agency and fill in the days in that specific facility (instead of part time) so you can instead receive the "per diem money" from that agency (good chance it will be more).. if so, if i was your don i'd see it as greedy, just my opinion

Where did you read that in the OP? I didn't read anywhere in the post where it said she wanted to fill in only at the facility she's already employed with. She stated she wanted to sign up with a staffing agency in order to get extra work on her days off, which is not greedy at all since she's scheduled for less than 20 hours/week.

[bosnanurse]

I work three different jobs and I do not see it as greedy as all , I see it as my personality to try everything. Nobody has a right to look on my working skills out from the unit where I work at that moment. So, it is my and only mine decision to do it . I do not even tell to other employer what are my obligations outside of their facility - it is my personal business. I just saw one of my peers working as a bar tender . I asked her if it was fun .. why not .. if she likes it , yes, she is nurse so what? We are working our job same as cleaners, food assistance and everyone else. If someone enjoys working at the dancing bar should she report her work to the DON??!!! It is your own life - live it to your own potential, who cares what some person in some office thinks about you as long as you are doing your job professionally and how it should be done at that place, ( dance, bar-tending or nursing ) . Go for it.