switching from district to contract?

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2016

What do you mean as a contract nurse? If my school is desperate for a sub, we use an agency and it very expensive. My school would never hire a nurse through them full-time.

You can work for an agency that does provide nurses on a temp basis to places like schools. I can't comment on the pay scale, though.

jesserpie · Nov 17, 2016

I believe it would be through an agency. The nurse at the high school was a contract nurse and said she got paid a lot more-that she would never be a district employee. The school is desperate for nurses now, and there won't be any in the small town after I leave in December. I'm wondering if I could keep my job, but make more money not working for the district.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Nov 17, 2016

Working agency is a dual edged sword. You are never really safe, should the position be able to be filled, it will. Benefits are normally waived, including sick time and vacation time. You are seen as more dispensable by the school system and tenuous employment status. Many people have ridden agency since they have been a baby nurse and always had work, but it takes a certain mindset. More pay = less benefits and security in almost every aspect of nursing.

kidzcare · Nov 17, 2016

Working agency is a dual edged sword. You are never really safe, should the position be able to be filled, it will. Benefits are normally waived, including sick time and vacation time. You are seen as more dispensable by the school system and tenuous employment status. Many people have ridden agency since they have been a baby nurse and always had work, but it takes a certain mindset. More pay = less benefits and security in almost every aspect of nursing.

Mr hit every nail on the head. You would have to weigh the pros and cons of job security and benefits to a higher paycheck.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Nov 17, 2016

I would imagine if you left your job to work for an agency - first there is the question of whether or not the district would even hire from an agency. It's incredibly expensive. Second, you'd lose your benefits and if you're a union member, you'd lose your protection by the union as well as any pension that you'd be working towards - unless you have enough time to be vested. If this is a gamble you are willing to take and the benefits are something that you don't need / don't apply to you / whatever your situation is then go ahead, look further into it. But bear in mind that these things tend to be cyclical and agency staffing is considered a bandaid for most situations and not a long term solutions so even if your district did accept this as a "now" solution. It probably wouldn't be their "then" solution. And if they are looking to hire a full time non agency nurse again, it may be unlikely that they will rehire someone that was willing to "jump ship" to get more money from them from an agency.