Patient care is the backbone of any facility, and nurses are on the front lines of delivering that care. However, in recent years, healthcare organizations have increasingly relied on agency nurses to fill various needs to help overcome obstacles in the ever-changing industry. But why do hospitals use agency nurses, and what benefits do they provide in today’s complex healthcare environment? Let’s peel back the curtain on this growing trend and see why it’s not just beneficial for hospitals but could be a game-changer for you, too.
Filling Staffing Gaps
One of the biggest reasons why hospitals use agency nurses or travel nurses is to help fill any gaps in staffing. With unexpected upticks in patient numbers, sick leaves, and vacations, full-time staff can only stretch so thin. Agency nurses and travel nurses help step in when hospitals are struggling to ensure patient care doesn’t skip a beat. And with many states experiencing a nursing shortage—due to an increase in chronic illnesses and the aging workforce—the role of agency nurses is more crucial than ever as demand continues to rise.
Flexibility and Short-Notice Availability
Hospitals deal with all sorts of fluctuations in patient numbers, from seasonal illnesses to unforeseen pandemics, and having enough permanent nurses that perfectly match this ever-changing demand is difficult to manage. Agency nurses provide the flexibility for hospitals to scale their staffing up or down without missing a beat. When a facility is suddenly short-staffed, an agency nurse can sometimes be deployed on short notice, often within a matter of days or even hours. This fast turnaround is invaluable for hospitals that need more nurses for a few days or a few months.
This flexibility is also a major benefit to being a travel nurse or agency nurse, as an agency or travel nurse allows you to choose your assignments, experience different types of healthcare settings, and even explore various regions of the country while building your skill set.
Increased Need for Specialized Skills
Nurses from agencies frequently bring with them specialized skills and certifications that hospitals might struggle to find within their local recruitment pools. Instead of dedicating months to the recruitment and training of full-time staff who have specific expertise, hospitals can employ agency nurses who already have the necessary qualifications. For example, hospitals in rural areas might have trouble finding local nurses with specialized skills in cardiac care or NICU. By working with an agency, facilities can bring in qualified nurses willing to help out to ensure all types of patient needs are taken care of.
Reducing Nurse Burnout
Burnout is an incredibly common challenge that nurses face in today’s world. High patient loads, long hours, and the emotional toll of nursing can wear down even the most resilient. To help lessen the burden, hospitals use agency nurses or travel nurses to help distribute the workload more evenly in order to relieve permanent staff of added stress while maintaining excellent patient care.
A Stepping Stone to Permanent Positions
Another reason hospitals may decide to use agency nurses or travel nurses is to screen nurses for permanent positions. For hospitals looking to expand their full-time staff, using agency nurses can be a great way to assess a nurse’s fit within their culture and team. It allows nurses the chance to immerse themselves in the facility’s environment, while hospitals can observe their performance in real time before offering a full-time position. There’s also a major benefit for nurses, as this is an opportunity to test out different hospitals and units before committing to a permanent role. It’s also a chance to gain experience and determine what kind of setting best suits your professional goals.
The Impact of an Agency Nurse
Agency nurses and travel nurses have become an integral part of healthcare, providing essential support during times of need. For hospitals, agency nurses help to alleviate staffing shortages, bring in specialized expertise, offer flexibility, and ensure that permanent staff don’t burn out. For nurses, agency and travel work offers a unique blend of adventure, career growth, and the chance to make a difference in care all over the country. If you’re ready to take your career on the road and use your extraordinary skills to help patients in communities near and far, Medical Solutions is the best travel nurse agency to get you started! Apply today, and our recruiters will help you reach your goals.