What Every Nurse Should Expect from their Chosen Nursing Agency

As a clinical nurse working through an agency, the arrangement is often referred to as ‘casual’ work or ‘casual’ shifts. However, the relationship forged between the Nurse and the Agency isn’t ‘casual’ at all. This relationship is built on trust and respect, both expressed and implied.

As a Nursing Agency, the elements of trust revolve around a number of essential aspects:

Financial

• Your chosen agency should provide you with the most competitive rate of pay it can secure. The probability of you gaining work should not be hindered by excessive agency fees.
• The cost of processing a nursing payroll should be covered by the agency. This means no or minimal bank fees flowing on to you as nursing staff.
• The frequency of the payment should be customized to meet your financial lifestyle. Decide what pay schedule is more convenient – do you wish to be paid weekly or fortnightly?
• Your agency should inform you of your current rate of pay and other entitlements. You should have quick access to accurate information on this subject. There should also be effective procedures in place to assist you to deal with incorrect payments (or any queries you may have) in a timely manner.

Superannuation

• Your entitlement is based upon an Australian Taxation Office calculation that states: ‘if the nurse earns a gross of over $450 per month then the Agency shall contribute 9% of the nurses gross wage into the nurse’s nominated fund.’
• While it is true that the process time it takes some funds to allocate contributions into member’s accounts is lengthy, remember that all super funds begin accruing interest from the time the payment is received from the agency.
• Responsible agencies pay super on a quarter by quarter basis, as scheduled by the ATO. There should be no catch here – Superannuation should be paid on time, every time.
• Superannuation information should be validated by your pay slip and the statement generated by the nominated Superannuation fund.
• Superannuation is not only a legal obligation; it is a matter of trust.

Working Conditions

• There is good proof that correct clinical placement is the proven method for achieving good working conditions. You should be placed in a working environment that matches your skills, strengths and personal goals. Your Nursing Agency should take the time to listen to your aspirations and take into consideration any concerns or anxieties you may have in a workplace setting.

Provision for Ongoing Nursing Education

• Resources should be made available to allow the all-important accrual of Continuous Professional Education Points towards your re-registration.
• Continued up-skilling will provide you with correct clinical placement in a rapidly evolving clinical area with new technology.
• Keeping up clinically with the technology push isn’t just a nurse’s responsibility; it’s a joint responsibility with the Nursing Agency.

Safety

• A top priority for any corporation or agency – be it nursing or not – is making sure you are safe.
• The intended result of the training should be a confident nurse being allocated the clinical area of their chosen competency, with the full support of his or her agency.