So I did some math...I found out that as an agency nurse (at least with my agency) I get paid a little less per hour than the core staff does at the agency facility. I don't get benefits, whereas they do get them. I do not get paid time off, whereas they do. I am not guaranteed hours, whereas they are guaranteed them.
On paper, that seems very unfair...especially the being paid less as an agency nurse than as a permanent employee.
In reality, I have complete and utter control over my schedule, whereas they do not. I can not be mandated to work extra hours or overtime, whereas they can. I can choose to work extra if I wanted to, whereas they can be told they have to. I can not serve as a charge nurse, whereas they can be made to. I can take off as many days as I want and still have a job, whereas they can't.
So in practice, I really have the better end of the stick.
Money isn't always everything, and the highest salary doesn't always bring happiness.
