Montreal Nurses: Does anyone work for an agency?

I'm wondering about working for an agency in Montreal. I was in the hospital last month and when they discovered that I'm a nurse they kept trying to recruit me. :roll One of the nurses recommended I look at working for an agency and that I could earn "Up to $40 an hour". I found one or two agencies...but I can't help but feel that this is a "too good to be true" kind of scenario.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks

Laura

**NotReady4PrimeTime, RN** · Jan 16, 2008

RUNNNNNNNNNN!!! My experience with agency nursing was SO bad! No guarantee of hours, no choice of shifts or placements, no benefits, lousy pay (including a shift that I was paid the LPN rate for without being told ahead of time that would happen so that I could turn it down), no respect, threats of termination when I wanted to call a physician myself about a private duty patient I knew was tanking... nasty treatment at the hands of the nurses at the hospitals where I was sent for staff relief, no consistency, no support... I hated it and left as soon as I could.

Meraendaeh · Jan 18, 2008

Hello, I do not work in Montreal. I have done agency work for over 25 years. They need the nurses, you can pick and choose. Your in the drivers seat, set your terms.

The money is fair, benefits dependent on contracts, then your capped hours. That is

the new rule in Ontario. However these days it is nice to have one on one. The money is not like the hospital. You decide your worth. It is your ball park... Meraendaeh

mimi2016, ADN, BSN · Jan 18, 2008

hello!

Would anybody to know any agency that operates in the western canada because i'm interested .

montrealRN · Jan 20, 2008

hi there

I have worked for an agency for the last 7 years...after 15 years in the hospital.

Agencies are great....they give you flexibilty to live life ....you tell them when you want to work...and they scheule you. My agencies do not pay $40/hr but I have heard of some that do..especially for emergency/ICU etc..high stress stuff. But most agencies that i have dealt with send you to nursing homes ..and they pay is $25-30/hr...

You must speak french...and be a quick learner...don't forget no benefits or gauranteed shifts...so if you are they main bread winner that won't cut it....think before you leap.

My suggestion is work regular part time at a hospital and fill in spare time with some shifts....

good luck

BethulieRN · Feb 1, 2008

hi there
I have worked for an agency for the last 7 years...after 15 years in the hospital.
Agencies are great....they give you flexibilty to live life ....you tell them when you want to work...and they scheule you. My agencies do not pay $40/hr but I have heard of some that do..especially for emergency/ICU etc..high stress stuff. But most agencies that i have dealt with send you to nursing homes ..and they pay is $25-30/hr...
You must speak french...and be a quick learner...don't forget no benefits or gauranteed shifts...so if you are they main bread winner that won't cut it....think before you leap.
My suggestion is work regular part time at a hospital and fill in spare time with some shifts....
good luck

I am a new grad here in illinois, French is my first language. I would like to work in Montreal thru an agency first. Could you mention information about your agency or other agency that would help me.

montrealRN · Feb 2, 2008

i am not sure we can post names of agencies on this forum.

If you google nursing agencies ..i am sure you will find them...

**NotReady4PrimeTime, RN** · Feb 2, 2008

Another option is to use the private message feature. You can say whatever you want in a PM... no moderation there. If you've never sent a PM, here's how. Click on the name of the person you wish to send a PM. There will be a drop-down menu there. The second option is "send a private message to insert user name here" Click on that and you'll get a new screen similar ot this one, but the post you type there will only go to the person whose name you clicked on. You can send to multiple recipients if you know their user name by typing it into the recipient space. It's easy and it's confidential.