Reputable Pittsburgh Agency/-ies

june2009 · Dec 6, 2008

I briefly worked for UPMCs Vital Staffing. They are who any of UPMCs will call if they need to use agency. Since you are working for UPMC they do not cancel as quickly. When I worked for them, since I can read a cardiac monitor, I was offered several contract positions (36 hours per week, three 12s) If I didn't want them, I simply said no. Sometimes you can even bargin with them. If you don't want 36 hours per week, they might accept you for 24 hours per week. These are usually three month contracts. The benifits of contract nursing is that you are garanteed your 36 hours per week, so if they have to cancel someone it's usually one of the unit's regular staff. You also get to stay on the assigned unit you contracted for so you don't have to worry about getting pulled. Although, with the economy the way it is, I don't know how much work agency nurses are getting. Good luck!

AWanderingMinstral · Dec 6, 2008

I briefly worked for UPMCs Vital Staffing. They are who any of UPMCs will call if they need to use agency. Since you are working for UPMC they do not cancel as quickly. When I worked for them, since I can read a cardiac monitor, I was offered several contract positions (36 hours per week, three 12s) If I didn't want them, I simply said no. Sometimes you can even bargin with them. If you don't want 36 hours per week, they might accept you for 24 hours per week. These are usually three month contracts. The benifits of contract nursing is that you are garanteed your 36 hours per week, so if they have to cancel someone it's usually one of the unit's regular staff. You also get to stay on the assigned unit you contracted for so you don't have to worry about getting pulled. Although, with the economy the way it is, I don't know how much work agency nurses are getting. Good luck!

Since I already work for UPMC as a full-time employee, I'm not sure that I would qualify to work for Vital Staffing. Nonetheless, I'll give them a call this week. They have REALLY tightened their belts (i.e. NO overtime on my unit for the month of December). I recently interviewed for West Penn's Registry and I may contact AGH as well. My family resides in the South Hills. So, I may see what some of the community hospitals in that direction have in terms of per diem, casual, or part-time.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2008

If you're willing to consider home health agencies, I know a number of the RN's I work with do home health per diem for Interim. They seem to be quite pleased with their jobs, and say they make $26-$33/hr typically working only 8 hrs a week (although I'm sure they could work more if they wanted too).