Anyone work full time agency as a scrub nurse?

[slavetothenhs]

I'm an ODP but thought the title may get more views! I'm two years qualified and I am skint. I work full time, so does DH. I will admit that we've got some debts that need to be cleared, the payment plan is for another 3.5 years and the thought of being utterly poor for that time makes me feel really depressed as we both work our socks off and are struggling to make ends meet. We have NO holidays, NO days out, NO new clothes (only ever buy off Vinted/eBay) we never go out anywhere to eat, nights out or otherwise. Everything is pretty much pared back to the bone.

The exhaust fell off my car yesterday, it needs other work done to it too and we literally cannot afford to fix it or to replace it. If another disaster happens I can see us going under completely. We're up to the hilt on credit cards etc, although thankfully not an amount that is insurmountable to pay off. We've got some other debt due to buying a very large "item" which as mentioned above will be paid off in 3.5 years.

I could work extra shifts at work but quite frankly I'm exhausted as it is and I need down time for my own wellbeing, doing 4x 10 hour shifts is quite enough.

I've a friend who works agency, has been with the same agency for ten years and has always had work and she said there is plenty available. I'm in a position where I can travel (youngest child is a teen now), I could work 3 days a week and earn well over double what I earn now. I feel like it's a no brainer but is a bit scary, but it would enable me to pay off a load of stuff and have some semblance of an actual life rather than scratching out an existence.

So essentially I'd like to hear other people's experiences. I don't think I'm interested in dropping my hours in the NHS and picking up extra agency, I'd rather just go gung ho and do the whole hog for a few years, get everything paid off then rejoin the NHS part time!

There’s plenty of work out there certainly.
Pay is good, less hours more money.
Travel can be a pain.
You get to see how other NHS hospitals work, it’s funny that we all do the same thing but differently.
Picking and choosing shifts is great too for home life.
The transient nature can be off putting and permanent staff can have a stinking attitude towards Agency staff but if you get a regular slot with a particular place, they get to know and enjoy working with you & vice versa.
There is of course that if you don’t work you don’t get paid, so holiday & sick pay isn’t there. Last minute cancellations are a bit crap too.

There is of course good progression in the NHS for ODP’s and areas to work so not just theatres by I U/HDU ward work too. At one time it was pretty restricted but there are trailblazers out there and redeployment for COVID helped.

It’s great for like you say, 2-3 years.
Good luck OP, don’t blame you at all for looking at this route.

Thank you - there's not any room for progression where I work due to the location which I won't go into - but none of the managers are going anywhere so their jobs won't come available (plus there'd be a bun fight of other people who've already been there 20+ years for their jobs if they did). ODPs don't work anywhere else in my trust except theatres either. I just feel like I'd be more than happy to travel up to 2.5 hours away for a block of 3 days, done then come home. I'm early 40s, no health issues etc. Feels like the right time I just dint know how realistic I'm being!

There are fewer agency shifts at present because nhs hired from abroad and trying ( unsuccessfully) to be rid of agency nurses.
The work will pick up again just slower at present.
I’d be wary of leaving your job at present.

To start with, try giving availability on your days off and see how much work you get.
You may also find you have to travel further but if you’re not too fussy you should be ok.

I do agency ( general med/ surg, not scrub) and work 3-4 shifts a week. But I travel a lot.I’m also with 4 agencies.
Much better work life balance and can actually afford to go on holidays and treat myself.

As mentioned above i'd be happy to travel - my friend, who is in the know, is confident that they're desperate for staff where she works - if you work for more than one agency do you go with an umbrella company?

Just be mindful of the other benefits that come with an NHS contract which you'd lose - sick pay, pension etc. If you broke your leg and couldn't work for a couple of months could you survive on SSP?

Be vareful of umbrella companies, even the so called “ compliant” ones.
You can take out income protection insurance to cover sickness but it’s not cheap. However, worth it imo in case the unthinkable happens and you have to be off work for considerable time.