Why pick agency nursing over a full time position?
If you’re a nurse hoping to work in Australia, you may have considered agency nursing. It can give you the flexibility and freedom you need for your life down under.
I’ve loved working as an agency nurse for the last 5 years in Australia.
If you’re planning to work in Sydney I recommend Network Nursing Agency and First Choice Care if you’re planning to work in Queensland. If you need help registering or would like the recruiter’s details I used please email me via info@shamrocksdownunder.com.
But first, check out my step-by-step guide on the Australian Nursing registration if you’re not registered yet.
Since I worked as an agency nurse for over 4 years and it was my only source of income. I feel I can give you the nitty gritty into the pros and cons of agency work. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows. But, for the most part, I loved having the opportunity to try so many things in Nursing and getting paid PRETTY well if you ask me
Personally for me, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. You could try working part time and casually do some agency nursing on the side. You won’t know until you crack on and give it a go!
I’m all for transparency here. I definitely wont be one to sugar coat things, which we know Instagram is guilty of. Only showing us all too often everyone’s highlight reel so let’s dive into the “cons” first.
Cons of Agency Nursing
Agency nurses receive no annual leave and no sick pay
I really recommend saving for your trips as you go so you don’t take the hit all at once. Your shifts and income are never guaranteed so save it while it’s there.
I saved one shift’s pay-slip every week for 6-7 months. This helped me with spending money and bills whilst I was away.
- You don’t get paid when you’re sick.
This can be difficult, if you injure yourself by breaking your leg and need a few weeks
off.
You won’t be allowed return to work until you have been deemed fit or signed off by your doctor.
This is where that emergency fund comes in handy! The rent and bills can stack up fast when there’s no money coming in.
You can look at purchasing some income protection insurance for a back up plan.
Shifts Cancelled Last Minute
So part of being an agency nurse is accepting cancellations are part and parcel of the gig. They will happen and they will frustrate you from time to time.
- However, the nursing agency has to notify you a minimum of 2 hours before your shift starts, that you’re cancelled.
- If the agency cancels you within the 2 hours they have to pay you for 4 hours work.
This still doesn’t cover a full shift but at least it’s a start. It can be tricky to find another shift the same day at short notice.
Usually they’ll ring around other hospitals for you to get a shift as soon as possible.
They want you to work! They make money when you make money!
What I’ve learned over the years is some hospitals are a lot worse at cancelling you last minute than others.
- You can ask them not to place you there, if you find one hospital is constantly cancelling you and leaving you stuck for work.
Inconsistent income during quieter periods
Private hospitals use agency nurses the most. The majority of private hospitals reduce their inpatient capacity or come to a close around Christmas/summer holidays. So for us agency nurses the work can seriously dry up.
- December, January, Easter and school holidays are all the quieter periods in the metropolitan cities like Sydney.
You should plan for these quieter times, I learned this the hard way. My first year I was stuck with no money and very little work over Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t by any means struggling to make ends meat.
But, I definitely could’ve put a few more pennies away had I known the work would dry up for nearly month.
When the work is flowing it’s amazing and you need to remember to put something aside for those rainy days.
Another tip I recommend is try and time your own holidays during these quieter periods.
If you know you’re unlikely to get a lot of work around Christmas and January, plan those weeks for yourself. Go on a trip. Take some time off and enjoy! Or you could try a nursing agency contract over Christmas to guarantee yourself some work for a few weeks and really build up those savings.
You’ll come back refreshed, tanned and ready to go again when the work picks back up.
Difficulty forming good relationships as an agency nurse
One of the challenges is struggling to form strong work relationships. If you’re not regularly working at the same hospital, it can be hard to build connections with the permanent nurses. It can also be difficult to get to know the doctors.
You’ll naturally want to prove to them that you’re a capable nurse who can stand on your own two feet.
Agency nurses are sent to many areas of the hospital: medical, surgical, cardiology,
respiratory, rehab and much more.
- The permanent staff there don’t know your abilities and level of knowledge in that specialty.
- Stand up for yourself and be your own advocate you deserve to be there just as much as anyone else.
- You’re expected to come in and hit the ground running. This is why alot of agencies ask that you have at least 1 years experience.
Pros of Agency Nursing
Higher rates of pay
- On average agency nurses earn a whopping 45% loading to accommodate for no annual/sick leave.
This is a nice chunk of change and really helps to fund those amazing trips around Australia.
You can also work directly with the facility on the casual pool “bank.” Essentially, you are employed by the hospital.
However, casual nurses employed by the hospital receive a loading of about 25% versus 45% with an agency.
Just keep in mind before you join a casual pool you can’t work agency in the same facility.
Complete freedom and flexibility with shifts
One of the main perks of being an agency nurse that I absolutely loved was the freedom to choose my working hours. I could decide how much or how little I worked.
- You decide if you want to work 1 day a week or 5 days a week. If you want to work nights, weekends or evenings, the choice is yours.
- You just let the nursing agency know your availability and they source the shifts for you.
- Compared to nursing in many other countries Australia typically uses 8 hour shifts instead of 12 hours.
You may be used to having 4 days off but I promise you the burn out from three 12s is real.
I noticed a MASSIVE difference in my burnout and sleep after starting agency nursing here.
You can go to a gym class, meet a friend for dinner or head to the beach.
When I worked 12 hour shifts the day was a write off and I was fit for nothing else but my bed.
If you’re still not convinced there are still facilities that have 12 hour shifts. You can make it work for you and your lifestyle, which is what agency nursing is all about!
If you have a boozey brunch at the weekend, you have the freedom to take all the time off you need. Planning a girls trip? Take all the time off you need. After coming from a permanent staff nurse position in Ireland this was a much welcomed change.
Freedom to choose the facilities you want to work at
- If you work somewhere and don’t like it, you don’t have to go back.
As we all know, some facilities are better to work at than others. This could be due to the workload. It may also be because of the staff or overall culture.
- You can let the agency know if you loved somewhere and would prefer to go back there over another facility.
Keep in mind you want to keep your options open for work, to maximise your opportunities for shifts. But, if you have a really bad experience, it’s definitely worth mentioning it to the nursing agency. They can provide feedback to the facility.
I was so fortunate to work regularly at 1-2 facilities. Don’t get me wrong I’ve probably worked in over 15 facilities since arriving here back in 2020. You’ll whittle down the ones you like.
But it makes such a difference to enjoy the place you work at and see familiar faces. I really felt part of the team, some of the doctors thought I was permanent I was there that much!
- Also, working at multiple locations gives you an idea of the place you might want to work at in the future.
Opportunities to complete rural and remote contracts with travel nursing agencies
- Rural and remote contracts are an amazing opportunity to guarantee work anywhere from 6-12 weeks in Rural Australia.
If you want to explore the outback, rural contracts can be a great way to save money. They allow you to explore at the same time.
- Accommodation and travel costs are nearly always covered.
- High hourly rates and sometimes allowances are paid tax free for “living away from home”.
In a nutshell
Agency Nursing is an amazing way to make some pretty good money and explore Australia. I hope you love it as much as I have.
Whether you work agency or go for that permanent job you can make so many amazing memories here. You could choose to do a rural contract for a few weeks. Afterwards, travel around Western Australia to explore the infamous Ningaloo Reef. The choice is yours and the possibilities are endless.
