What do you do with an agency that does not understand NO?

Specialties Agency

Published

Nurses Month 2024 | Discounts & Freebies AORN Celebrates Nurses Month

My agency will call me for shifts at facilities that I will not go to, then they seem to get mad and say stupid things like "well we need to fill this but no one else will cover this shift either". Gee maybe there is a problem at that facility:D When we tell them of open shifts they are not always quick about checking on them. I may have to go back to working regular staff if this continues. My husband is not very happy with a stay at home wife. :rolleyes: I have several facilities that use me when they need someone, which at times keeps me quite busy. This is a slow time right now. One facility that calls for hours then cancels at the last minute has gotten my last exceptance for shift. It just make my husband too mad when I have to turn down another facility that will not cancel and then get cancelled by this facility. Oh by the way my agency will not let us cancel on this facility but it is ok for them to do it to us. Go figure. Well now I feel better. Thanks for letting me vent.:o

What nerve!, calling you in the middle of the night for something like that! (or for any reason), good thing you had muted your phone.

Maybe you should call whoever is on call for the agency at the same time some night, see how they like it.

I'm in the south eastern United States.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I own an Agency. There is not as much money made as what is assumed. We have the fees of workmans compensation and $3,000,000 Policies along with unemployment insurance.

On the other issues, if our staff does not want to work a day, week, month, shift or facility we gracefully accept the employees preference.

Keep in mind, the work is in our area "supplemental" We can not promise a full time position or a paycheck for 2 weeks, it simply depends on the needs of those with whom we have contracted. We can't "make" them call us.

On the same note, we exist because of staff shortages. We are a service that is contracted to fill a position, even if it is at 3:00 in the morning because someone didn't show or someone on the facility end is ill.

I love my employees, I respect them and I have to say, we are a great team. I work with them at facilities as a CNA, LPN and RN, whatever is needed if there is no one else to cover. I know what it is like out there. I have done it. I am proud of my employees who enjoy the work as much as I do, and fortunately I can say at this moment, all of them are on the same page with me.

There are two sides to every coin.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, I really don't think you can justify calling someone in the middle of the night to change a shift for a week later as was posted above, that couldn't wait until the morning?

I am interested in the . What type of insurance do you carry and who and what does it cover?

What about the hospital's liability insurance, how does it cover when an agency nurse is involved?

I carry my own nurse's liability insurance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The insurance is actually called "" and it covers all acts that could cause harm. Our policy limit must meet the same limit as what the facilities carry.

The facility insurance will also cover an act that could cause harm, the agency policy is in addition to so actually, when using an agency, the facility is also getting "double" in coverage. Which is something else that agency nurses do not readily know

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the info.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am also an agency RN that has experienced rudeness from agency staffing coordinators to cover a shift/or facility I do not care to work with. Also, I have seen many family members have the audacity to expect private duty RN's to be a baby sitter, housekeeper, and phone answer person for them when the RN is caring for a pediactric/adult ventilator dependent family member. The agencies do not intervene despite complaints from the nurses. Where is the respect?? Where is the fairness in labor law practices?? The case I'm on now has a family who is demanding that one of our injured LPN's put off urgently needed surgery for a poorly healed fx ankle because the agency cannot find any coverage to take the nurses place temporarily. After 24 yrs as an RN, I see more and more emotional abuse toward nurses in this

society. The family has threatened to fire this nurse if he takes any time off. The agency refuses to step in to intervene. Their attitude is that they need to keep the family happy and the case staffed. Also, they do not like the nurses to take off for vacation time. I am totally fed up with any company who treats their nurses so poorly. They should be grateful they have us. Thank you for listening.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I worked for a few years as a staff nurse and was always BROKE.....Now I work for an excellent agency who is more like family then employee -- employer..It is one of the largest staffing agencies around however, it is very very family oriented. When my husband recently had surgery, the branch manager kept my kids so I could be with my husband, when they wanted me to go out of town, the HR secretary kept my kids for the weekend.. Agency has its ups and downs and they do indeed need to understand NO...but, if you work for the right agency it takes just a little give and take and it will make all the difference in the world...Email me if you want to know the agency, we are currently very very busy and need some good nurses.. Becky and Tonya will hire you if you are qualified. Oh yeah,,,,my branch manager also took my husband to the doctor the other day so that I could take my sick grandaughter as we have only one vechicle.

A PROUD AND HAPPY AGENCY NURSE.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know the feeling, used to work for such an agency. They didn't like to hear the word NO. This "good family oriented" "Good Christian" agency thought that their nurses should work on their days off at another facility so the agency could line their pockets a little more off of the nurses work. They didn't think twice about calling in the middle of the morning when I was working night shift to see if I could take shifts on my days off. They didn't like to give up when they were told NO, would come up with all sorts of excuses to try and make me feel guilty. Didn't work after the first time. People like this are nothing by sly conniving weasels. Weaseling as much money out of the facilities and nurses as possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU.

As the owner of an agency I find it very enlightening to read the posts of this thread.

First, I find it disappointing to hear some of the horror stories about calls in the middle of the night for routine issues that can certainly be handled during normal business hours. Anytime an agency does something like this it hurts the entire industry. It is our policy that calls are never made after 11pm and not until 6am unless there is an urgent matter (change of shift, cancellation, etc.)

I am also intrigued at the backlash I have read against agencies offering alternative hospitals. During our hiring process we make it clear that it is our job, our obligation, to offer our staff ALL staffing opportunities that cross our desk. Many times we will hear, "No thanks" (and that is okay), but we never want it to be said that we didn't offer.

Isn't that one of the advantages of agencies - having the ability to work at multiple hospitals thus allowing for maximum flexibility?

I enjoy the postings and learn from each of them - keep up the good work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Put a block on their phone number.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by Michael Malecki

As the owner of an agency I find it very enlightening to read the posts of this thread.

First, I find it disappointing to hear some of the horror stories about calls in the middle of the night for routine issues that can certainly be handled during normal business hours. Anytime an agency does something like this it hurts the entire industry. It is our policy that calls are never made after 11pm and not until 6am unless there is an urgent matter (change of shift, cancellation, etc.)

I am also intrigued at the backlash I have read against agencies offering alternative hospitals. During our hiring process we make it clear that it is our job, our obligation, to offer our staff ALL staffing opportunities that cross our desk. Many times we will hear, "No thanks" (and that is okay), but we never want it to be said that we didn't offer.

Isn't that one of the advantages of agencies - having the ability to work at multiple hospitals thus allowing for maximum flexibility?

I enjoy the postings and learn from each of them - keep up the good work.

The backlash is against agencies that have heard over and over 'no' and do NOT call, but continue to apply pressure. I quit my agency because of that. Plus they would promise me a wage when I booked, then deny they said that...giving me (of course) a lower rate of pay. :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I Can't help feeling sorry about nurses in the agency being stressed out by their agency for any reason at all. You are taking away the best thing that any nurse should have working through an agency. I don't know about you guys, but my agency work hard for me.

I made it clear to them that I make my schedule not them. I call them not them call me. I call in for reason, no questions ask. (Just make sure you give them time to find another nurse to cover you) I work am shift, so as much as possible I call in the night before. Very, very seldom I called in 2 hours before. That's for emergency only.

I'm very specific with them. I usually give them my schedule on Sundays for the week. I instructed them to call me at 6 am to wake me up for work. Not the night before nor 4 or 5 am. Then I will have to wake up again at 6 am to dress up for work. Evey time they call me before the time I specifically insructed, I warn them that next time they'll do it, I won't work that day. And I will.

I choose the hospitals, shift, units, etc. not them.

I sell myself to the hospitals not them. I never met my staffer but I have a very good relationship with them. I don't play, they don't play.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment