Let’s be honest… working in healthcare is demanding. The long hours, the emotional toll, the physical exhaustion. We’ve all felt it. But what if there was a way to keep doing the work you love while taking back control of your life?
That’s exactly what our agency workers tell us they’ve found at Bluestones Medical.
Why agency work might be your best career move yet
When one of our nurses joined us as an agency worker three years ago, she was burnt out and considering leaving healthcare altogether. Fast forward to today, and she describes herself as “falling in love with nursing all over again.”
What changed? She got her life back.
“I can actually plan things now,” she told us when popping into the office last week. “I can be at my daughter’s school play. I can book a holiday without spending months negotiating with rota managers. I work hard when I’m on shift, but my time is actually my own again.”
This is what we hear time and again from healthcare professionals who’ve made the switch to agency work. It’s not just about fitting work around life, it’s about remembering that you deserve to have a life in the first place.
The flexibility you've been dreaming of
Agency work puts you back in control. Want to work three 12-hour shifts a week and have four days off? You can do that. Prefer shorter shifts spread throughout the week? That works too. Need a month off to travel or spend time with family? No problem.
No more missed birthdays, no more cancelled plans, no more putting your life on hold for work.
One of our ODPs uses this flexibility to pursue his passion for mountain biking, working intensively for a few weeks then taking time off for adventures. “I’m actually a better healthcare professional now,” he explains, “because I’m not constantly running on empty.”
Growth at your fingertips
Remember why you got into healthcare in the first place? That desire to help, to make a difference, to keep learning and growing? Sometimes the daily grind of permanent positions can bury that initial passion.
At Bluestones Medical, we’re bringing it back through training opportunities that permanent staff often wait years to access. From advanced clinical skills to specialised certifications, our agency workers are expanding their expertise in ways that wouldn’t be possible in traditional roles.
Take one of our specialists, who started with us as a general nurse but wanted to gain experience in different areas. Through carefully selected placements, she’s now developed a broader range of skills and experience. “I couldn’t have developed my career this quickly anywhere else,” she says.
The perks that make life better
Let’s talk about the extras that make a real difference day to day:
Our private healthcare package means you can access medical care when you need it, without the wait. Ironic that healthcare workers often struggle to get healthcare themselves, isn’t it? Not at Bluestones.
Rapid pay means no more waiting for payday when unexpected expenses pop up. Your money reaches you quickly, giving you greater financial stability.
Your free Blue Light Card opens up discounts on everything from your weekly shop to your summer holiday, helping your money go further.
And our £300 refer a friend scheme means you can build your own network of like-minded professionals while earning extra cash.
Support that never quits
Healthcare can sometimes feel surprisingly lonely, even when you’re surrounded by people. Our agency workers tell us one of the biggest surprises was just how supported they feel with Bluestones.
Every agency worker has their own dedicated consultant who gets to know them personally, understanding their preferences, career goals and even which hospitals have the best canteens!
Beyond that, our team of highly experienced clinicians is always available for advice, mentoring or just a chat about a challenging day. It’s like having the world’s best staff room on speed dial.
Try something new
Been working in A&E for years but curious about intensive care? Interested in seeing how different trusts handle the same procedures? Agency work gives you the freedom to explore.
Many of our workers use agency shifts to sample new specialisms before committing to further training, giving them invaluable insights that their permanently employed colleagues simply can’t access.
“I’ve worked in more placements in six months of agency work than in my previous 10 year career in nursing,” one of our RGNs told us recently. “I’ve seen how different teams handle the same conditions, picked up tips and techniques from across the region and found my true professional passion in the process.”
More than just filling gaps
There’s sometimes a misconception that agency workers are just stopgaps, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Our agency workers bring fresh perspectives, diverse experience and specialised skills exactly when and where they’re needed most.
Teams value the energy and ideas you bring. Patients benefit from your broad experience. And the NHS gets skilled professionals who arrive ready to hit the ground running, fully trained and fully engaged.
Is agency work right for you?
If you’re nodding along to this, thinking “that sounds like exactly what I need,” then maybe it’s time we had a chat. Agency work isn’t for everyone. It takes adaptability, confidence in your skills and a desire for something more than the traditional career path.
But for those who take the leap, it offers something precious: a way to keep doing the work you love, on terms that work for you.
After all, you’ve spent your career taking care of others. Isn’t it time someone took care of you too?
Ready to explore what agency work could mean for your career? Give us a call — we’re ready to show you exactly what makes Bluestones Medical different.
