Working Agency at my Place of Employment? Is That Allowed?

[jejunebug]

Hi everybody!

I'm new to agency nursing and have a few questions. I'd really appreciate any input you might have!

I just accepted a job with Hospital Sunshine, which is part of a larger health care system called Happy People Health Care. The job that I accepted is in an outpatient unit and is casual and per diem: I have no guaranteed hours or schedule, and no benefits. I will likely only be able to pick up one or two shifts per week. Therefore, I would like to supplement my income by working agency.

1) Can an agency assign me to Hospital Sunshine, where I work per diem?

NB: My job at Hospital Sunshine is on an outpatient procedural unit, and any agency work that I would pursue would be inpatient (ICU). I would never work on my home unit through an agency.

If this is an issue and I can't work at Hospital Sunshine, then:

2) Can an agency assign me to another hospital in the Happy People Health Care system?

I'm sure I'm overexplaining, but if the Happy People Health Care system operates Hospital Sunshine, Hospital Smiles, and Hospital Cheerio, can I pursue agency work at Smiles and Cheerio?

I accepted my job before working any agency shifts, so I do not believe non-compete clauses apply. The agencies will not be able to claim that they "introduced" me to the hospital when I was already employed there.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate all insights!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You need to run that scenario by your facilty's HR.They must make that call.

[caliotter3]

Speak to both employer parties involved. They will tell you what they find acceptable and what they will not allow. We can not speak for them.

[jejunebug]

Thanks so much for your advice. I will talk with my agencies and the hospital's HR.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

IMO, I don't see a hospital that you are currently employed at letting you work agency there, even on another unit. Agency nurses cost a facility more than staff nurses do, and unless your facility is so flush with money that they don't care about losing some of it, I don't see them paying an agency $50/hour for your services when your staff nurse salary is $30/hr.

That being said, bounce it off of both the facility and agency and see what they say.

[NedRN]

If she was allowed by the hospital to pick up extra hours as staff on another unit (I'm guessing that she is not allowed), then they would be required to pay overtime. There are other costs to having staff work overtime such as PTO/vacation accrual, and workers comp. It could be less cost to hire local registry, and in any case if the hospital has needs to fill, it would be more efficient to use the original poster for those hours as she is familiar with policies, procedures, and actual workflow of the hospital (i.e. more efficient). Why use someone unfamiliar to the hospital for the same money?

That is not to say the hospital is rational about staffing policies of course. I agree that the only correct answer here would be from HR.