It is common for an agency or travel nurse to earn far more than the permanent nurse working beside them, sometimes for the same shift on the same ward. It breeds resentment and pushes more nurses to leave permanent jobs.
The question: Is it fair for agency and travel nurses to be paid much more than staff nurses?
The case for
- They fill urgent gaps at short notice, often in unfamiliar places.
- They usually lose benefits like pensions, sick pay and paid leave.
- Higher pay reflects market demand and flexibility.
- Without agency nurses, wards would be even less safe.
The case against
- Staff nurses carry continuity, training new starters and leadership duties for less pay.
- Spending on agency staff drains money that could raise permanent pay.
- The gap encourages nurses to leave, increasing reliance on agencies.
- Agency nurses may get the easier patients because they do not know the ward.
What the evidence says
Health systems in several countries have tried caps on agency rates and expanded internal staff banks to reduce costs. Spending on temporary staff rose sharply in many countries after the pandemic, then fell as caps and recruitment improved.
The bottom line
Most nurses do not resent agency colleagues personally; they resent a system that pays more to fill gaps than to prevent them. Better permanent pay and flexibility may be the only lasting fix.
Related: Bank and agency nursing in the UK · Travel nurse pay by state
Where do you stand? Tell us in the comments. We read every one, and the best answers may feature in a follow-up article.
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