New Nurse, Agency Nursing Questions

[techraider77, ADN, BSN]

Hello, I am starting nursing school soon and want to make the most that I can in the specialty I choose, probably OR. What are the pros and cons of doing agency work compared with being employed at a hospital. I dont know much about the agency system, any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Cali]

I've been doing Agency nursing off and on for about 2 1/2 years and I LOVE it.

Pros:

1.) Flexible hours. (Work whenever and how much you want. I just call and give them the days that "I" want to work)

2.) Higher pay rate than permanent staff positions. (When I first started doing Agency nursing I went from making $28/hr as a staff nurse to $41/hr as an Agency nurse. I just turned down a staff position because they were paying $31.50/hr and my Agency pays me $48/hr and $52/hr on weekends for night shift Telemetry.

3.) No staff meetings

4.) If you don't like the hospital, you don't have to go back...EVER.

Cons:

1.) Staff isn't always welcoming and helpful.

2.) You don't know where anything is at the hospital.

3.) Hours aren't guaranteed. (When I make myself available 5 days a week, I typically only get about 3)