What's Up With Agency Nurses?

ratchit · Oct 7, 2004

Gompers- CA is a whole different story. :) Southern CA doesn't pay as well, but northern CA pays very well indeed! Rates in the $30's are common. For travelers, pay rates of $40 are VERY VERY unusual, even in Northen Cal.

There are three things that make CA rates higher:

1) The cost of living is astronomical- $30 an hour there is worth a lot less than $30 an hour somewhere else.

2) Many hospitals in CA have to pay time and half after eight hours in a day. So nurses will make, for example, $30 an hour for the first 8 hours then $45 an hour for the last four hours of a 12 hour shift. Some companies "Blend" the rate and pay the weighted average (something like $38 in this example) for the whole shift. Not all hospitals or companies pay this way- it depends on how the pay structure at each hospital is.

3) CA has new staffing regs that went in to effect this year- they are desperate for nurses in some areas, which drives up the rates.

I was an ICU travel nurse for years- please trust me when I tell you $50 an hour is NOT normal. I know many NICU nurses who would have taken that job for $10 an hour less and been thrilled- they don't need to pay that much so they don't.

There are RARE exceptions- strike coverage, independent contractors (no agency middle man, but that $50 an hour has to cover all the taxes- on some taxes your employer pays half, but not if you're an IC.) There is another board dedicated to travel nursing and recruiting- rates are posted there. Whenever I post the link here it gets deleted as advertising (which it is not but I guess that is moderator's privilege)- please PM me if you'd like a link to it. LOTS of posts there from nurses who want contracts saying "Must have $35 an hour"- and lots of responses saying "I can get you $32 - $33..." $35 happens. $40 will happen rarely but you probably won't want to be there- pay rates that high almost always mean they can't get anyone to go or stay there. $50? Never seen it in 5+ years of traveling.

Sorry for the long message. :) But I've spoken to a lot of staff nurses who think travelers are rolling in the money- you CAN do well traveling, but it's not what the rumors say it is and there are downsides to it, as well.

For what it's worth, the most money I ever made in one tax year was as a staff nurse. City hospital, averaged about 3 hours of OT a week. My highest income as a traveler in one year was about $10K less- but I had a LOT more fun traveling. :)

nightingale, RN · Oct 7, 2004

Well, it looks like there are enough responses that are positive and accurate in defense of Agency Nurses. There is no need for me to ad much but to say that one of the many things that makes AllNurses such a good thing for Nurses is the fact that we can share information that is truthful and accurate. It is a wonderful oppourtunity that we have to learn from each other and grow within and out of our "comfort zones".

nightngale1998

Moderator Team Member

PS

Come on over, take a peak, and see what "Agency Nurses" talk about

https://allnurses.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=111

mattsmom81 · Oct 7, 2004

You said it Nightngale...and I'm glad you came to our defense here!! (Particularly the way I've been 'venting' lately on how badly some regular staff dumps on agency today... I sure never did that when I was on staff.)

Its a two way street, and when agency nurses start saying 'no' odds are thats what is going on...dumping. Just like any other nurse, we have an obligation to speak up if we're outside our comfort level.

I just DNR'd a facility where agencyfrequently come once and say 'never again'...there's a reason. And I was happy to point the reason out on my final shift...when they complained that without me they would again be working short. They need to get a clue...LOL! :uhoh3: :rolleyes:

fluffwad · Nov 1, 2004

It seems like most of the agency nurses I've met in the past few years are too odd to hold a regular job. We hired a couple of them before our facility decided to stop using agency entirely, and both of them turned out to be problems later on.

allele, LPN · Nov 1, 2004

Wow, I just started working agency as a second job a couple of months ago, and I didn't realize I had such power!! Can I refuse to give suppositories??? I HATE suppositories!! Or enemas! That's what I'm gonna do, I'm going to walk into my next assignment and say I don't 'do' suppositories, enemas or anything else PR!! LOL!! I love it! I never saw any agency nurse I work with refuse to do anything, but I do wish they'd ask more questions sometimes. Since I've started working agency a little, I've got a lot of respect for them. I don't consider it easy! :nurse:

I really do hate suppositories though, wish I COULD refuse to give 'em!! LOL :chuckle

angel337, MSN, RN · Nov 1, 2004

agency in chicago pays very well. specialty is any where from 45-60/hr and med surg is anywhere from 37-44/hr. favorite nurses is one of the higher paying agencies here. most staff/registry jobs pay high 20's to 30's so most nurses won't work agency unless its over forty. if you are a good nurse, you are a good nurse. it doesn't matter whether you are staff or not. we have one agency nurse that has been at our ED for 5 years because she is so good and is very helpful. as long as you have a good attitude, most places are ok to work at.

Trauma-tizedRN · Nov 1, 2004

I'm with you, Dixie- I've worked staff and travel jobs all over the country, including MA, and no nurse there is making $56 an hour. That is likely the bill rate the agency charges the facility for her.
CapeCodMermaid- The agency gets $56 an hour, out of which they they pay for the nurse's salary, benefits, housing, and their own costs. The nurse is probably getting $24 - $30 an hour, plus having her housing provided. If that nurse has a home she pays for then she should have housing provided- I wouldn't want to pay rent or mortgage twice! :) If she does not have a home that she pays for then the housing money is taxed as income.
If staff RNs add the cost of their benefits (usually about 1/3 of your salary I believe) to their salary, then add the necessary cost of the middle man (agency) the totals are pretty much the same.

I concur...traveler here too. $56/hr...no way. Also agree with the fact that there are marginal nurses on both sides of the fence. I have worked with great travelers with experience and skills that would make your head spin. We learn so much at every hospital....it is funny....I have worked with nurses that have been at the same hospital for 25 years or so and they can get so tunnel visioned. It is only RIGHT if done the way "we do it here". I flex as a traveler and do it thier way if it is sound. No biggie. I have worked with very few "bad" travelers....you really have to be on the ball and ready to roll or you don't make it far. I would have to say i've worked with more marginal permanent staff in general.

MandyInMS · Nov 1, 2004

I've found most times you get what you give..if you welcome new faces and are friendly and helpful, that's what you get back..always exceptions to the rule..but works for me :)

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Nov 2, 2004

Hate to think all y'all thought I painted all agency nurses with the same brush....we have a few agency nurses who are wonderful....caring, follow through with the patients....must have struck a nerve out there...and hmmm....I think I'll double check the $56 an hour, but that is what the evening sup. told me....

VOTE---VOTE---VOTE---VOTE---VOTE---VOTE---VOTE---VOTE---VOTE---

mattsmom81 · Nov 2, 2004

Why such huge expectations of a nurse new to your facility? Give us a break. Almost feels like harassment to me personally.

I expect (AND AM NEVER DISAPPOINTED) all the problem patients, often in all 4 corners of the unit because they're who the staff don't want...if I ask for help I likely get nada cuz I'm not 'in the clique'. So...I run my whole shift and the staff sits on their hineys and/ or avoids me, when they know I can't possibly know all their policies, procedures, etc.. This has happened more than I can count and its really sad. It has what finally burned me out to be honest...so many staff nurses have turned into ugly bullies. As a 'new' agency nurse I'm appalled and I wonder how the young nurses just out of school feel...no wonder they feel 'eaten'.

I'm very experienced and very willing...but when unstable patients roll in from ER and nobody lifts a finger to even help settle them in, assigns an admission or unfamiliar procedure then refuses to answer questions,the problem is with the STAFF not the agency.

The question begs to be asked: why would the staff assign unstable admits to the new agency or travel nurse?? Or 2-3 hr long extensive admission processes to a brand new agency who's never seen their unit or met their docs before?? I never would assign this to agency as a charge nurse...unless I really knew the agency nurse, she'd been around forever and was comfortable. I guess I'm in the minority out there today.

I feel this is really frustrated staff nurses dumping and bullying the outsider...and its really sad its come to this IMO. Its lateral violence and a major problem in our profession. 99% of the agency I've worked with are very competent and willing to help...within reason.

Rant over...this is from a nurse who has finally had enough of hospital politics, so burned out...YES. But I hope staff nurses here can see things from a different angle.Management loves it when they can pit nurses against one another.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Nov 2, 2004

We have great Agency nurses and I know exactly why. When an agency nurse comes for the first shift they get watched (unknowingly) but one of the regulars. At the end of the day a decison is made right then whether they will be allowed to come back or not. We have a DNR list (do not return) if they can't or won't work like the rest of us then they are a DNR. The list we have (about 20 on our floor) are all well known and feel like they are part of our own staff and it really doesn't matter which one shows up to work. This system works out really well for us.

Trauma-tizedRN · Nov 2, 2004

We have great Agency nurses and I know exactly why. When an agency nurse comes for the first shift they get watched (unknowingly) but one of the regulars. At the end of the day a decison is made right then whether they will be allowed to come back or not. We have a DNR list (do not return) if they can't or won't work like the rest of us then they are a DNR. The list we have (about 20 on our floor) are all well known and feel like they are part of our own staff and it really doesn't matter which one shows up to work. This system works out really well for us.

Ooooh, sounds so covert. It's ok to do it knowingly. Feel free to monitor, ask questions, size us up. It's expected and welcomed. Let's just hope the nurse that is assigned to sizing you up for the day is a professional, and also in a great mood. Lots of nurse drama queens out there with a penchant for power moves when given the opportunity. I've seen a few great nurses get shafted by these sorts. Hospital environments can be nasty henhouses. Anyway, the bad nurses usually stick out like a sore thumb anyway, should'nt require covert operations to spot em' LOL