[hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse staffing agencies are becoming a major investment opportunity.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These staffing agencies have received multi-million dollars of funding.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ShiftMed received $200 million of additional funding this year.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You might think a list of hot investment startups would cover sectors like AI, defense, and aerospace. But a perhaps less likely candidate joined their ranks in August: the nurse staffing agency.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Staffing agency Nursa emerged as a [hen-ui-link href=”https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/biggest-funding-rounds-biotch-artificial-intelligence-space-axiom/” target=”_blank”]top 10 investment deal[/hen-ui-link] in August, receiving $80 million from investors in its latest round of funding.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursa is not the only, or even the largest, nurse staffing agency to receive major investment funding recently. For example, ShiftMed, a staffing firm for nurses and home health aides, started with $45 million in October 2021 and [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/shiftmed-clinches-200m-fresh-funding-investors-bet-big-healthcare-staffing-companies” target=”_blank”]received another $200 million[/hen-ui-link] this February.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As the [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/the-us-nursing-shortage-state-by-state-breakdown//”]nursing shortage[/hen-ui-link] continues and more nurses depart the workforce, nurse staffing agencies like Nursa and its competitors are filling the gap. Given the latest investment figures, it seems likely that this funding will continue to play an increasingly larger part in the nursing workforce.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]What does the growth in nurse staffing agencies mean for nurses and nursing students? Should you get involved with a nurse staffing agency? Explore how nurse staffing agencies work and the pros and cons of working for an agency.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Does a Nurse Staffing Agency Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It’s a classic, vicious cycle: when more nurses leave the workforce because they reach [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/guide-to-retirement/”]retirement age[/hen-ui-link] or feel too much burnout, it reduces the number of available working nurses, which in turn increases burnout.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Agency nurses work for a nurse staffing agency and may be assigned to one or more workplaces and functions. [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/travel-nurse/”]Travel nurses[/hen-ui-link] are a form of agency nurses who travel longer distances to fill short-term personnel gaps at facilities around the country. A typical agency nurse tends to stay more local.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing agencies offer various contract types. They may offer short-term or per-diem contracts (typically shorter than six weeks), short-term contracts (6-12 weeks), or even long-term or permanent placements. Pay is typically hourly and may not include benefits.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/agency-nurse-salary-SRCH_KO0,12.htm” target=”_blank”]According to Glassdoor[/hen-ui-link], the average annual salary for agency nurses is $91,609 annually. Some nurses work for a regular employer part-time and for a nurse staffing agency the rest of the time.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nurse Staffing Agency: Getting Involved[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse staffing agencies recruit at nursing schools, through nursing publications and websites, and at their own networks and online vehicles. Finding the right agency for you depends on what you are looking for. Factors to look for include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]What are the pay and benefits?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Do the potential contracts align with your career and work-life goals?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Can you decline any placement that you would rather not work?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Are you eligible for overtime pay?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Can you hold another job or “side gig” while under contract?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]What kind of notice do you get before an assignment?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Does the agency provide financial assistance for new training? [/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Are there opportunities for advancement? [/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If a nurse staffing agency asks you for an upfront fee, consider it a warning sign. This is not considered a best practice in the staffing industry.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If an agency places nurses at your current workplace, ask them what they like and dislike about their agency.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nurse Staffing Agencies: The Pros and Cons[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are tradeoffs to agency work compared with more traditional employment.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The pros of working for a nurse staffing agency include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You may receive higher pay than a regular staff member. Check with each agency to find out what’s available to you.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can try different employers and roles to see what suits you best.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Working for a nurse staffing agency can give you the flexibility to pursue a side gig, spend more time with those you care about, or explore other interests.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You may be eligible for stock options or other financial incentives that nonprofit organizations do not offer. [/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Some cons of working for a nurse staffing agency may include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You may find it more difficult to fit into a work culture and make work friends as a short-term staffer.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You may have less choice of assignments and workplaces.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You typically are not eligible for benefits, including paid vacation or health insurance.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You may have unpredictable travel times at an agency.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Demand for nurse staffing agencies is likely to continue growing and creating new opportunities to consider. If you are looking for a variety of assignments and workplaces to explore, a nurse staffing agency may be the ideal choice for you.[/hen-ui-text]
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