Agency nursing: what you need to know before you start out

Working as an agency nurse can offer shift flexibility and better pay. We look at how to choose an agency, and the questions to ask before signing up

Many nurses experience financial problems and work-life balance issues, and agency work can provide a solution to both.

But how do nurses get into agency work and what are the pros and cons?

What is agency nursing work?

Agency nurses work on temporary assignments in a wide range of health and care environments. They are used in the NHS and social care as well as in private hospitals.

You are not allowed to take shifts in your usual place of work in the NHS as an agency