Nurses putting temp agencies to work

The nursing shortage is helping some temporary agencies find new business. In a time when temp agencies placing people in traditional positions have experienced a decline in business. some are using nurse staffing as a survival tool.

Some [temp agencies] that get involved in traditional temporary work have been hit hard by the recession," says Dr. Jason Meyer, the national director of nursing for Comforce Staffing Services. "They're looking for new markets to get involved in, and medical is one of those areas.

The nursing shortage began two to three years ago, Meyer says, and is expected to last another 15 to 20 years. Currently, the country lacks 10 percent to 20 percent of the nursing work force it needs. That percentage is expected to increase over time, since enrollment is down at nursing schools. With the aging of the baby boomers, the average age of nurses has increased from 36 to 45.

"Baby boomer nurses are ready for retirement but they're not being replenished," Meyer says.

Maryanne Boorse, marketing and placement specialist at StaffSource in Binghamton, agrees. "Those that have the credentials are already employed," she says. "The supply and demand is not balanced."

Though Comforce already places workers in the medical field, it only recently moved into the nurse-staffing area. With offices around the country, Syracuse is the only Comforce location in Central New York that now includes this extra service.

"Basically, it's an extension of our existing business line," Meyer says. "There's a base of customers out there."

Since there is a shortage, using a temp agency seems like an unnecessary step for nurses in search of a job. However, there are some benefits to it.

"She wouldn't need to [go through an agency] at all," stresses Annmarie Frigolette, nurse recruiter at Adecco Health. "It's for the hours and the flexibility."

Frigolette says that because of the shortage, facilities are understaffed and some nurses are required to stay after hours. But, "if you're with a temp agency and you're scheduled to get off at 3 [p.m.], you'll get off at 3 [p.m.]," she adds.

Meyer says that working with a temp agency allows nurses the freedom to choose the hospital in which they would like to work.

Two categories of nurses use temp agencies, Meyer continues. One is those who already have a full-time job with benefits, but are looking for some extra money. The second is those who are professional temp or contract nurses who like to pick and choose their own schedule.

"It's the freedom of choice," he says. "And agencies like ours benefit."

The nursing shortage has increased the number of local and regional companies entering the nurse-staffing field, but Meyer says that it's not for every company.

"It's a highly regulated business, and your credibility is on the line as well," he says, referring to the fact that agencies must actually find nurses who will work at hospitals. That's where recruiting comes into play.

"You need to have an infrastructure for recruiting nurses," Meyer says. "We have proprietary recruiting, everything from word-of-mouth referrals to a myriad of recruiting techniques."

Nurses who are recruited by the agency go through a complete orientation program that includes prevention from contracting diseases, Meyer says. Once the nurses are ready to be placed, the agency works with them to find out when and where they'd like to work. Comforce can even place nurses in different states. "They really go through a comprehensive review process," Meyer says. "We need to meet their needs."

Comforce will continue to place nurses, even after the shortage is over, Meyer adds. "It will always be part of the company," he says. "There are cycles of nursing shortages."

Copyright Central New York Business Journal Feb 08, 2002
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