A nursing agency, also known as a nursing staffing agency or nursing recruitment agency, is an organization that connects healthcare facilities with qualified nurses and other healthcare professionals. Nursing agencies play a crucial role in filling temporary or permanent staffing needs for healthcare providers, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home care agencies.

Here’s an overview of how nursing agencies typically operate:

Recruitment and Screening: Nursing agencies actively recruit qualified nurses and healthcare professionals. They may advertise job openings, review resumes, conduct interviews, and verify credentials and licenses to ensure candidates meet the necessary qualifications.

Staffing Solutions: When a healthcare facility needs additional nursing staff, they can reach out to a nursing agency to request personnel. The agency will match the facility’s requirements with available nurses in their pool of professionals. This includes considering the nurse’s experience, skills, availability, and specialization to find the best fit.

Temporary Assignments: Nursing agencies often provide temporary staffing solutions to cover short-term gaps in the healthcare facility’s workforce. This can be due to vacations, sick leaves, or fluctuations in patient volume. Nurses from the agency are assigned to work at the facility for a specified period, filling in as needed.

Permanent Placements: Nursing agencies may also assist healthcare facilities in recruiting permanent nursing staff. They collaborate with the facility to understand their staffing needs and preferences, then identify suitable candidates for permanent employment. The agency may handle the initial screening, interviews, and background checks, providing the facility with a shortlist of qualified candidates to choose from.