Just How do You do It?

I am not an agency nurse but have floated to various units and faced the "unknown". You will learn that there are many similarities in nursing different patient populations. There just are not a lot of ways to do the same task and most people are reasonable. You also have to be aware of your own limitations and be able to say "I am not comfortable with that, can you teach me?" As for the weather, get a good set of tires, keep your car tuned up and leave early.

is important! I always consider every new experience an adventure :Melody: . "Only good things happen to me!" Sometimes the 'good thing' is moving on to the next adventure :rotfl: .

I have worked agency or as a traveler for almost 13 years now. I got sick of the politics of being on staff. Now, I don't have to go to "mandatory" staff meetings that may be held in the middle of my night, I don't have to take charge, I don't have to present inservices, move "up" the clinical ladder, etc. I have done all that, and I am finished with it. Nursing has been good to me for the most part. It allowed me as a single parent to have the flexibility to be home when I need to, gave us a good standard of living, etc. But, the sooner you realize that you are simply a number on a schedule and they really wish they didn't have to pay you at all, the sooner you will realize you have to take care of you first, because no one else will do it.

I enjoy the freedom to work at a place for a while and if it works for us, then great, if not, I can move on. I have been a nurse 31 years and have never NOT been able to work where and when I wanted to.

Good for you, Dixielee! That's how you make the system work for YOU, and not vice versa. I think it's wonderful that you had the desire to make what you want out of your career. I've been around the block a few times myself, and what you said about units not really caring about you, only about what you can do for them, is so true. In general, it's all just a business. Now of course, you make friends with people you work with, and they care about you for more than just what you can do for the unit, but still....

Anyway, just wanted to applaud you for your choice. I'm glad that agency nursing has worked out well for you.

Jan

I'll second that Dixielee...and good for you for making it work! it worked well for me too for many years. :)

I agree with Dixielee. That's exactly how I feel about being in agency work. Since I've been in it, I've been quite happy.