Why are others nurses rude to agency nurses?

I have just started agency nursing and I'm just wondering why the staff is so mean to a agency nurse. If we were not available to help they would be short? I have encountered rude people and just wondering what is up with that?

Hellllllo Nurse said:
No problem, Tweety.

I was just adding on to your post to show that everyone's experiences w/ travelers/agency are different.

I've gotten so much respect and appreciation as agency. I almost never did as reg staff.

I have had very good experiences as both Traveler and local Agency insofar as interacting with the staff and management/supervisors. I do not discuss my pay, but know that the RNs I work with at a local University hospital make more than I do if they are being paid for the same number of years experience.I HAVE been treated unfairly by Nursing Admin. on two occasions. Another tale...but each time it had a negative impact on my ability to work in a particular health care system.Hang in...most of the staff behave the same toward any "new" person. Give them a chance to get to know you and your skills and dependability, team-work willingnes....all of those qualities we value in our co-workers.

My question is this why is that the regular staff members are calling the agency nurses or CNA's lazy? and two there are the ones that would follow you around with a pen and paper in their hands writing down everything you do rather its right or wrong,plus they would run to their supervisior just making up lies and get away with it?

Let me just relay my experience with an Agency nurse this past week! This young woman walked onto my unit, a rehab unit in a long term facility, on her cell phone, talking to God knows who! Oh, late I might add! Once off the phone, she proceeded to complain about the fact that she was placed on a unit rather that being the evening " supe". Said that every other facility she goes to, she is put on as supervisor, because( just in case I didn't know it) " I'm an RN".

I was working a 12 hour shift that evening, so I was able to observe this unprofessional little twit!

Let me see! She was on her cell phone for the major part of my last 4 hours. She handed one residents wife his evening meds and said " sweetie, take these to your husband since you're on your way down to his room" She prepoured meds and left them on top of her med cart, locked the med cart and left the keys on top of the med cart, and walked away! She complained to whoever she was speaking to on the phone and cursed all along!

I am an old LPN, I was horrified, but, I didn't say anything to her, I didn't want to start an arguement. I did call the " supe" on duty and reported my findings before I left, I was frankly very nervous about leaving my patients with such and incompetent nurse.:angryfire This may be one reason why other nurses are so rude to agency nurses! Frankly, I have yet to meet one who is anywhere worth the money they make!

I know that everyone who works for agencies are not like this, but maybe we get all the flunkies!

Let me just relay my experience with an Agency nurse this past week! This young woman walked onto my unit, a rehab unit in a long term facility, on her cell phone, talking to God knows who! Oh, late I might add! Once off the phone, she proceeded to complain about the fact that she was placed on a unit rather that being the evening " supe". Said that every other facility she goes to, she is put on as supervisor, because( just in case I didn't know it) " I'm an RN".

I was working a 12 hour shift that evening, so I was able to observe this unprofessional little twit!

Let me see! She was on her cell phone for the major part of my last 4 hours. She handed one residents wife his evening meds and said " sweetie, take these to your husband since you're on your way down to his room" She prepoured meds and left them on top of her med cart, locked the med cart and left the keys on top of the med cart, and walked away! She complained to whoever she was speaking to on the phone and cursed all along!

I am an old LPN, I was horrified, but, I didn't say anything to her, I didn't want to start an arguement. I did call the " supe" on duty and reported my findings before I left, I was frankly very nervous about leaving my patients with such and incompetent nurse.:angryfire This may be one reason why other nurses are so rude to agency nurses! Frankly, I have yet to meet one who is anywhere worth the money they make!

I know that everyone who works for agencies are not like this, but maybe we get all the flunkies!

I think I worked with that girl when I was staff! LOL I'm agency now, and REFUSE to perpetuate the reputation of "agency nurses being lazy", since I've seen that side of the fence first hand. I hit the floor running, do my job to the highest standard I was taught, don't take shortcuts, chart legibly and completely, and generally do my job as I was taught to, with respect and compassion for my pt's and co-workers. I attend any in-services I can at whatever facility I'm at, to extend my learning. I keep up with the usual nursing articles, buy the latest books that might teach me something new, and am always up to try a new procedure or learn a new way to do an old one. I'm proud to be a nurse, and agency or not, I do my job well. I appreciate the respect staff gives me after they get to know that I'm not lazy or stupid, and work hard to earn it. There are, unfortunately, a few bad apples out there, and just as in facility staff, they need to be weeded out. I've also worked with some staff nurses that couldn't be bothered to get off their a$$es to do their med-pass promptly, took hour lunches when they were entitled to only a half hour, and talked to their kids or s/o's thru most of their shifts, not to mention being generally unsafe, in my opinion. This shouldn't be tolerated, and in my opinion, the way you're treated when you're agency is a direct result of your integrity, professionalism, and pride in what you do. I'm a NURSE first, and an agency staff-relief nurse second! I'm glad you reported this twit to your sup, but rest assured, not all agency people are like this, and if you ever get the opportunity to work with me, I'll prove that. I truly hope this unsafe nurse isn't brought back to your facility, as she's not only a danger to your pt's, but give us proud agency nurses a bad name.

Forgive me for rambling, but I just did a double shift, and will probably have another one tomorrow, because of a staff nurse that has been chronically calling in sick for the shift following mine about ten minutes after her shift is supposed to start. LOL, it's been a long week!

When I first graduated in 1984, there were no nursing jobs and I ended uo going Agency and sustained myself for many years on agency work. I loved it, people were always nice and helpful to me; I made lots of friends and get lots of job offers. Now I have been a FT RN at several facilities (LTC) and when agency nurses come in, I am ALWAYS glad to see them.I think even if I had not been an agency nurse myself, I appreciate the help! I currently work at such a money pinching place that they refuse to utilize agency staff relief, have NOT ENOUGH staff of their own and it is becoming increasingy worse and worse. Were it not for that the agencies out there now are so often fly-by-night and crappy, I am wishing I could go back to it.

Specializes in post surgical, tele, icu.

I've only worked a few shifts with an agency. I followed an experienced nurse who did nothing for her patients, had no idea how long either of them (ICU) had vitals signs that needed acted upon. Left things a mess and she's core staff. I've only been a nurse a year and a half and I took care of my patients, leaving nothing left for the oncoming shift from mine, taking no break, and offering to help. I got a nasty reception nonetheless. Then some of the girls talk about going for ritas right in front of me, ask me for another agency nurse's number so they can invite him...and leave me out.

The only thing I asked for all night was "where is ___ located" and what is your policy on doing ___, yet I felt they were all put out by my being there.

Specializes in med/surg.

With my experiences so far the staff at facilities have been very accepting (for the most part anyway). Though I do have to say from experiences with some agency nurses before I started to work as one there were some nurses that did some pretty scary things and asked some scary questions and for me only having been out of school for almost 2 years now hearing those questions and seeing those actions really made me question the type of nurse that works for an agency. I have made it my vow to never be one of those nurses!!!

I have just started agency nursing and just wondering why the staff is so mean to a agency nurse when if we werent there to help they would be short?? I have encountered rude people and just wondering what is up with that??

Today is my birthday and I got 'fired' from my contract assignment as a agency nurse. Why? Because of a jealous staff nurse. I just got the position last week. Moments ago, I got a call from my agency that the assignment had been cancelled. Supposedly, I told a staff nurse I like working Corrections because I can sale tobacco to the inmates. Blatant, blatant lie! In fact, this nurse was telling me all the 'dirt' of the facility. I honestly believe she and others were involved in it and wanted to see how I would fit in.

It was obvious I am a square peg because I chose not to engage them in the conversation when my opinion was solicited. I should have left the area when the conversation began but again I now believe I was being screened or filtered or some crap. Then to top it all of the nurse said I was talking about my pay which I never do. But she had to sign my timesheet and on a sheet of paper she saw I had computed my hourly rate and hours worked just as an fyi to me and she made snide remarks.

In any event, I am kinda depressed. I just returned from a travel nurse position to work for three months in my home state before traveling again. I have no other income.

So, I have to bust butt to find a per diem job while I get a new travel assignment or either look for something more permanent here. Staff nurses can be rude to agency nurses but being malicious is really harsh. My livelihood is at stake and my agency didn't even advocate for me not that it may have mattered but gee, that to me is character assassination. Well, thanks for listening.

I know I can get a job it is just that the process is timely here and not only that I shouldn't have to. Oh well, maybe this is a blessing in disquise. It makes me want to be a silent worker on assignments but I can't do that either. Well, happy birthday to me!:biggringi :(

As a native Floridian and Southerner and as a traveler nurse:

- I have always been treated poorly, at least initially, in Florida. I could be the sweetest most abiding nurse on a unit, and at least initially, will get the "she gets paid more, so lets dump on her" attitude. And bad attitude begets bad attitude. If you continually dump on agency, NO ONE good will want to work with you. There are some facilities in Florida that NO ONE with any experience and an in with grapevine, will work (thinking of "Hellray" or "Deathray" Beach).

- No matter how much that YOU THINK we make, very few of us make that much. The only reason that I ever work Florida is to visit family and friends, not for any "so called" big bucks.

- Virtually EVERY facilitiy that I go to, I am designated first to float over regular staff. Which means if for 5 straight shifts in a row, someone has to be floated and I am on duty, I will be floated for 5 shifts in a row. If your facility has designated otherwise, that is a decision made BY YOUR FACILITY'S MANAGEMENT...and you need to be talking to them about that, as it is not "our" fault. YOU are responsible for what YOU put up with.

At my last Florida assignment, I was required by the contract SET DOWN BY THE FACILITY, to work a certain amount of overtime, which griped some of my coworkers. I personally would rather not work OT. I made it clear that OT was not my choice, but that of the hospital's management and that they should address it with them.

- Do you think that we do not earn any extra dollars that we make? You try it for a year or two. Try giving up your car, shipping your things, and flying into a city where you know absolutely no one, find your way around, set up cable/phone. Try finding a MD (especially if you have a complicated medical history), dentist, lawyer (for any legal matters), laundromat, without the close assistance of friends. Try doing reciprocity paoperwork - if you think life was difficult enough trying to get one license, try doing over and over again.

How many of you cannot eat, shop or tour by yourself? There is nothing quite like when coworkers are setting up lunch schedules, so that they go down in groups....as they cannot even think of eating by theirselves in the cafeteria.

And we have to do it all the time. And with a smile on our faces and a good attitude.

- We should not compare things to our previous facilities and we should not quote pay rates. By the same token, WHY DO YOU THE STAFFER ASK US:

What we think of you compared to others?

Is this the best/worst place that you have been?

What do YOU get paid?

What is you favorite place to work?

To answer any of these would be unspeakabley rude. Unless you have a very close relationship with me (have seen me naked in locker room, gone to the beach with me, eat at least 4 meals per week w/me, know my mom's maiden name, or have known me for at least 4 years straight.....it's close enough), you have no business asking that question and I have no business answering it.

- There are highly dysfunctional agency nurses, that can't get a job otherwise. And for each of them, there are several highly dysfunctional nurses that have worked at your facility for ages.....because there is absolutely no chance in heck that any other place would hire them.

- We will have to work most major holidays (unless contracted otherwise) and will get the crappiest schedule. Most places don't recognize us during the holidays or nurse's week. Last Christmas Eve, I got floated. The floor that I was floated had NO REGULAR STAFF nurse on it except the Charge for 50 some odd beds. We couldn't find anything, had no codes to enter the lockups...it was a dangerous nightmare.

- No vacation pay, no sick pay....enough said.

- No security - we can be fired for any reason. And then have to pack up all we own and get outta town within 24-48 hours.

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As to why staffers treat agency badly....they do it because they haven't figured that agency is not the "Enemy".

The "Enemy" is the lousy management practices that lead nurses to working agency and that result in lack of staff, leading to use of agency.

Well said...

Specializes in Critical Care.
Today is my birthday and I got 'fired' from my contract assignment as a agency nurse. Why? Because of a jealous staff nurse. I just got the position last week. Moments ago, I got a call from my agency that the assignment had been cancelled. Supposedly, I told a staff nurse I like working Corrections because I can sale tobacco to the inmates. Blatant, blatant lie! In fact, this nurse was telling me all the 'dirt' of the facility. I honestly believe she and others were involved in it and wanted to see how I would fit in.

It was obvious I am a square peg because I chose not to engage them in the conversation when my opinion was solicited. I should have left the area when the conversation began but again I now believe I was being screened or filtered or some crap. Then to top it all of the nurse said I was talking about my pay which I never do. But she had to sign my timesheet and on a sheet of paper she saw I had computed my hourly rate and hours worked just as an fyi to me and she made snide remarks.

In any event, I am kinda depressed. I just returned from a travel nurse position to work for three months in my home state before traveling again. I have no other income.

So, I have to bust butt to find a per diem job while I get a new travel assignment or either look for something more permanent here. Staff nurses can be rude to agency nurses but being malicious is really harsh. My livelihood is at stake and my agency didn't even advocate for me not that it may have mattered but gee, that to me is character assassination. Well, thanks for listening.

I know I can get a job it is just that the process is timely here and not only that I shouldn't have to. Oh well, maybe this is a blessing in disquise. It makes me want to be a silent worker on assignments but I can't do that either. Well, happy birthday to me!:biggringi :(

Happy Birthday anyway.

I believe things happen for a reason. This was probably the BEST birthday present you ever got, even if you don't know why.

But I AT LEAST can imagine a few reasons why.

~faith,

Timothy.

Thank you. I really need to hear something positive. If you believe in the power of prayer will you stand in agreement with me that God's will will be done in my life. sf.

I am sorry that happened to you. Things do happen for a reason and I bet something better is going to come of this.

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