Seriously thinking of doing agency work. Pros and cons?

Published

Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

I'm a LPN with an extensive background in LTC and currently employed in a wound healing clinic. I'm at the point in my career and life that I would like to work when I choose as I am tired and in pain (Fibromyalgia, spondylithiasis, radiculopathy and disc degeneration with spinal stenosis) I know a LPN who works three days per week and does very well for herself, and the agency she works with happens to have a need for LPNs at this time. This agency has been in business for many years and has a good reputation, paying more than most agencies in my area.

I would love to know the good and bad from those of you do agency work. I know I would be sent wherever there is a need, but I have enough experience that I am confident in my skills to "just get in there do it."

Thanks! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

Talk with your friend - she would have THE BEST line on pros & cons at that agency. Other respondents' opinions would be very varied and for every one good opinion, you'll probably get one bad opinion. If you trust your friend, seek out her views, do your homework to investiage that agency, and go for an interview to get a direct feel for the place. Go with your gut.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

I've done as much research as I can find on the Agency and all seems to be positive. I'm signed up with one agency, but they never have anything closer than 70 or more miles away and I just don't care to travel that far for one or two shifts. All the good shifts are given to the nurses who have been there longer, as it should be.

Hopefully I can get time to go apply and talk to a recruiter soon, which is hard to do working 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri. My plan is to go part time somewhere by the Summer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

Just FYI - some recruiters can be accomodating when scheduling phone calls & interviews. Sometimes there's somebody a little late in the office, on-call supervisors, tape messages or answering service to field calls. Texting or Email too. I set up an interview with a DON at 6 pm one time after I explained that otherwise I'd have to take the day off. As part of mgt, I didn't want to do that to my curent employer just as I knew she would NOT apppreciate one of her people doing that to her.

All my communication to her was early after-hours via her oncall pager and she always called me at home at my suggested times. She was very understanding about the difficulties conducting job searches during work hours and she was very accomodating. And that subject was even brought up during my interview. And I was hired.

Moral of story - try communicating a need for some innovative, flexible scheduling because of your work. They just might be willing to play ball... Word of advice though - be reasonable on your part to be as flexible as poss to meet their needs. and honor those committments.

Also, this might give you an idea of how employee-friendly or pro-staff they can be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

I signed up with an agency today. All I need to do now is get my TB skin test, background check and fingerprint letter to them and I'm good to go. Went to get all that today but the person I needed to get it from was out, so I'm going to get it to them Monday. I'm a bit nervous because I have never done agency, but I believe I can do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
I'm a LPN with an extensive background in LTC and currently employed in a wound healing clinic. I'm at the point in my career and life that I would like to work when I choose as I am tired and in pain (Fibromyalgia, spondylithiasis, radiculopathy and disc degeneration with spinal stenosis) I know a LPN who works three days per week and does very well for herself, and the agency she works with happens to have a need for LPNs at this time. This agency has been in business for many years and has a good reputation, paying more than most agencies in my area.I would love to know the good and bad from those of you do agency work. I know I would be sent wherever there is a need, but I have enough experience that I am confident in my skills to "just get in there do it." Thanks! :)
I've done in-house agency and independent agency work. I love the flexibility and the pay. I must caution you, though. Make sure you are ready to leave your current job. With your stated medical issues, you could be aggravating those conditions. As an agency nurse, you WILL get the worst of the worst patients on the floor. Be prepared! The beauty is the pay and you get to pick the days that you are subjected to unfair assignments. As a guest in a facility, it would reflect poorly on your agency if you complained about the assignment that you received. On a positive side, I wouldn't work any other way because this is as close as I could come to retirement....working when I want to. I'm with a facility now, only as a float nurse....basically no difference, just floating within instead of facility to facility.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.

I'm also new to contract nursing..I'm in talks for my first assignment. I've known people that have gone through my agency and they were pleased with it. One lady has been with them for years. I'm an OR nurse and have good experience under my belt, hopefully, I will enjoy this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
I'm also new to contract nursing..I'm in talks for my first assignment. I've known people that have gone through my agency and they were pleased with it. One lady has been with them for years. I'm an OR nurse and have good experience under my belt, hopefully, I will enjoy this.

Wishing you the best :)

I started a job as Head Nurse in an Alzheimer's home on March 18th so am not pursuing agency at this time. If this job doesn't work out then I will look back into it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work for Medical Solutions. I like the closeness I feel with them and my recruiter and feel that they have my best interest at heart. Contract nursing can be tough but I enjoy meeting new people, going to new areas of the USA, and my motto is "I can do anything for 3 months even it is not the perfect contract or if offered I can extend and stay longer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you feel like your agency has your best interests at heart, you do not have a good business relationship.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele/PCU/MedSurg/Travel.
If you feel like your agency has your best interests at heart, you do not have a good business relationship.

What do you mean?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What do you mean?

I work for three agencies. I KNOW only one high ranking agency has "my back".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion