do you like working for a staffing agency?

onetiredmomma · Jan 16, 2012

Advantages: you can pretty much set your hours, gives you a feel for places you might or might not want to seek employment

Disadvantages: unless you want to work weekends, nights or specialty areas the pay is not that great, you don't know until 5AM if you have a shift that day,some places treat you like crap: worse assignment, eye rolling when you ask questions cuz it's your first time there...

I did agency for a year and was blessed to get a job offer from a great place I had been going to. I met nurses that have done agency "my whole 20 year career" but it wouldn't be my first choice.

teeniebert, LPN · Jan 16, 2012

Yes and no. It's nice because I get to choose what shifts to pick up. It's frustrating when I don't get a call for 2-3 weeks and the bills are still there. I'm making at least $5 more per hour than I did at my last job, but again, I'm not working nearly as many hours. I only go to one facility right now so I'm familiar with their paperwork and procedures; depending on the agency you might not have that option.

meandragonbrett · Jan 17, 2012

I think it really depends on the agency you work for. I wouldn't work for a large national company that does per diem staffing. You are more likely to fall through the cracks.

I work for a locally owned and operated staffing agency who is owned and operated by a group of RNs. They do per diem, contracts, and travel. One thing to remember is that an agency is a BUSINESS not a charity. You have to become a businessman when working agency. I tell them what days I want to work or they will e-mail me their needs lists for the facilities I staff at I pick the days I want. I can work any shift any day. My agency has enough work that I could seven days per week if I wanted. Pay is anywhere from $35-$50/hr depending on which facility I am at.

Being agency is just like traveling in that you are expect to jump in and be able to figure it out with minimal help/orientation.

Kashia, ASN, LVN · Jan 28, 2012

I have done both staff and agency work and agree with most everything already posted. And yes a real key is to remember you are working for a "business" and often times they have little to no knowledge of nursing. This also means there is little or no support for workplace issues or nursing environments or demands. You can feel like your license is on the line sometimes and it is - when you first time work a place keep in mind you are apt to walk into any and all situations. Agencies generally support their business contract over the nurse. Yes, you are a "band-aid " and sometimes you are a full on 4x4dressing!

The pluses are: the pay is usually better over staff and paid 1.5 for last 4 hrs of 12 hr shift + any travel time pay. Control over hours you work, can grant yourself a vacation when you want :-)) If you live in a city sometimes working through couple agencies is fun and fills in if one or the other is slow. The "staffers" at the agency are kind of like recruiters and I believe are paid on scheduling shifts - which makes it more competitive. Agency I currently work through sends out mass text and the first caller gets the prize.

Some places you go to will not give you anything except the keys after you count and a good bye. Other places act like you are a brand new nurse- and will micro manage you ....what I am trying to point out is expect the unexpected, then you will be prepared and not be surprised . And watch...CYA at all times.