A Mixed Methods Study Examining the High Use of Agency Nurses in Canada

Study Lead

Joan Almost

Professor

What? A notable trend during the pandemic was the rising number of agency nurses being hired by healthcare institutions to fill critical, short-term staffing needs. This trend has continued with agency nurses now being employed for routine, long-term contracts resulting in higher operational costs and other potential implications for the system. Agency nurses (also called travel nurses in some provinces) are employed by an outside or external private staffing agency that arranges contracts with a facility, typically spanning six weeks to six months, to fill staffing shortfalls. They are employed by an external agency and not by the organization itself.

Why? Currently, research and publicly available reporting on the use of private nursing agencies in Canada is practically nonexistent except through media reports. Therefore, the purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate the high use of agency nurses across Canada and its implications on the healthcare system.

How? A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used with three phases: Phase 1: environmental scan of websites and media reports followed by a scoping review of published literature examining private nursing agencies. Phase 2: online surveys sent to Chief Nurse Executives in Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) and hospitals across Canada to collect data on costs associated with private nursing agencies. Freedom of Information requests submitted to the RHAs who did not respond to the survey. Phase 3: Nurses who work/have worked for private nursing agencies, nurses and managers who work in organizations who utilize private nursing agencies, and fourth year nursing students were invited to complete an online survey. Key informant interviews were also completed with nurse leaders, nurses working for agencies and employers who utilize private nursing agencies.

Impact of findings: Public dollars need to be spent efficiently; therefore, it is critical to provide a more accurate picture of the issue. Results from this study provided clearer insight into the current landscape of private nursing agencies and the implications of private agency use on patient, nurse, organization and system outcomes

Funded By

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

A Mixed Methods Study Examining the High Use of Agency Nurses in Canada

Students

Research Assistants

Project Manager