The process of Nurse Registry.. Someone explain

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Nov 17, 2009

are you in USA?

CaliNrse · Nov 17, 2009

Yes I'm in California

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Nov 17, 2009

never dealt with registry outside the Board of Nursing. I had the understanding that there used to be registries that worked like agencies or more like a union hall. You paid dues and they helped you find work. When states got more concerned with nursing scope of practice the registry faded away. We now pay to renew our license as REGISTERED and licensed nurses and the BON keeps up with who we are, our credentials, etc. but does not assist in finding work. Anyway, sorry I could not help. I did not realize registries were still around.

DoGoodThenGo · Nov 18, 2009

Worked with a Nurses Registry in NYC as a NA doing private duty in both major hospitals and patient homes, but this was during the 1980's, but *think* some are still around.

Before there were temp agencies, a "Nurses Registry" was just that, a place where nurses registered (signed up) to find work. Clients (hospitals, doctor's offices, patients etc), who required the services of a RN, LPN or NA would contact the registry to hire someone off their books. At the registry I worked for, they referred you to the hospital or patient who in turn paid you directly, you then had to pay a percentage to the registry as their "fee" (IIRC, they sent out bills). If you didn't keep your fees current, the registry would stop sending you out until accounts were current.

Think where registry nurses (and NAs) differ from an agency is that one is NOT an employee of the former, but rather a self-employed contractor. Unlike an agency (which I worked for as well), there isn't a paycheck with taxes and such taken out. When I did PD for an agency, be it in a home or hospital, all either did was sign my time slip indicating hours worked, once the slip was turned into the agency they issued my checks. When working for the agency the family paid me directly if working at home. If working at a hospital, would follow whatever proceedures established by the Nursing Service.

NRs probably reached their hey day between the 1930's to around 1960's or so. There were lots of nurses then, usually surplus to hospital requirements, and or some nurses preferred private duty over hospital work. Also many persons, at least in the early part of this century did not want to stay in hospital. People suffering from chronic,serious or even mortal illness preferred home care. There was also a booming demand for infant nurses, especially in wealthy areas of the country. The registry I worked for had been in Manhattan long before the 1950's, and prided itself on serving the "best homes". Their bills were hand written as well.

If you watch some period Hollywood films, you hear references to nurses registry. One of the more famous would be "Sorry Wrong Number", where a very ill woman rings up a nurses registry to request a nurse for the night, only to be told that due to the war (WWII), there was a shortage of nurses and therefore Madame's request could not be honored.

allnurses Guide · Nov 18, 2009

I haven't heard the term "registry" in eons. I remember though, that it was a way to staff a shortage on very short notice-- for instance, if a unit was in dire straits because of a lot of call-offs and not enough nurses to float over from different areas. The hospital always called them as a last resort because it cost them quite a bit to do this.