Temporary nursing assistant: what you need to know
30 January 2026 · 5 min reading time
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See job offersWorking as a temporary nursing assistant means taking on replacement assignments in facilities that need to secure their schedules quickly. Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes (EHPADs) or social and medico-social care structures regularly rely on temporary nursing assistants to cover an absence, reinforce a team during a busy period, or absorb a peak in activity.
This way of working offers more flexibility and allows you to move between different environments, but it relies on a specific setup: registration with an agency, sometimes very quick start dates, and the ability to adapt to each facility’s organization and internal protocols. In this article, we clearly explain the conditions to get started, how to find assignments, the types of facilities where temporary nursing assistants most often work, and key pay benchmarks in temporary work.
How do you become a temporary nursing assistant?
To work as a temporary nursing assistant, the simplest option is to go through an agency that is familiar with recruitment in the healthcare sector. Staffmatch supports nursing assistants who want to work on assignments by offering opportunities in medical and medico-social settings, depending on periods and facility needs.
In practical terms, the first step is to register with the agency and prepare a basic file (state diploma as a nursing assistant, ID, CV). Before offering an assignment, the agency must validate the profile, as the facility expects support staff who can be operational quickly, sometimes on very short notice. This validation is not based solely on the diploma: it also considers the ability to work in different environments, services already known ( EHPAD, general medicine, post-acute care / rehabilitation (SSR)…), scheduling habits, mobility, and ease in quickly applying team protocols.
The regulatory framework governing temporary work in healthcare, particularly since the Valletoux law*, has led facilities to increase their requirements regarding the profiles they use: experience, reliability, continuity of presence, and the ability to integrate quickly into an organization that is already running. Once the file is validated, assignment offers may be regular or occasional. Some are planned several days or weeks in advance, while others come at the last minute to replace an absence or reinforce a team. Clear communication about availability and responsiveness then plays a central role: these are often what make it possible to access more frequent, more stable assignments that better fit one’s rhythm.
*Since July 1, 2024, a decree implementing the law of December 27, 2023
requires 2 years of full-time equivalent (FTE) experience before being able to take on certain temporary assignments, including for nursing assistants.
Where can a temporary nursing assistant work?
In temporary work, nursing assistant assignments mainly appear where a team needs to be reinforced quickly: an absence to cover, a unit under pressure, or a schedule to stabilize without interrupting care. What these facilities have in common is not their status (public or private), but the level of urgency and the need to be operational from the first day.
In hospitals, assignments often take place in fast-paced units, with organizations that can vary from one department to another. General medicine, geriatrics, post-acute care / rehabilitation (SSR)… the temporary nursing assistant must find their bearings quickly, sometimes with a short handover, and apply protocols that are not always identical from one team to another. This environment is particularly suited to profiles who are comfortable with change and used to working in multidisciplinary teams.
On the EHPAD and medico-social side, needs come up frequently, but the challenge is different: assignments rely more heavily on continuity, daily support, and relationships. Even on a short replacement, facilities expect quick integration into an existing organization, with constant attention to listening, presence, and quality of support for residents.
Assignments can also be found in clinics, rehabilitation centers, and certain specialized facilities. Organization there is often more structured, but expectations vary depending on the population being cared for. From one unit to another, tasks, the level of autonomy required, and work pace can change significantly. This is also part of what makes temporary work attractive: testing different environments, identifying those where you feel most comfortable, and gradually building a scope of assignments aligned with your way of working.
What is the salary of a temporary nursing assistant?
In temporary work, a nursing assistant’s pay is often higher than in an equivalent long-term contract, because assignments are temporary and require more flexibility. In practice, the hourly rate is most often between €13 and €16 gross per hour, depending on the type of facility, location, and assignment conditions.
To this rate are added two elements specific to temporary work: the end-of-assignment allowance (IFM) and the paid leave allowance (ICCP). They are generally calculated on gross pay and increase the amount paid at the end of the assignment. Depending on the situation, additional premiums may also apply to certain hours (night work, Sundays, public holidays), with rules that vary depending on facilities and applicable agreements.
Over a full month, a temporary nursing assistant who regularly strings assignments together can therefore earn a higher gross income than in a long-term contract, for the same number of hours. In return, pay can vary from one month to another, depending on assignment continuity and how easy it is to position oneself on recurring needs.
A concrete example of monthly pay in temporary work
At full time (35 hours per week), this represents about 151.67 hours per month. With a gross hourly rate of €14.50, this represents around €2,200 gross (151.67 × 14.50). To this base are added the IFM and ICCP, which increase the total received for the assignment, not counting any additional premiums for night work, Sundays, or public holidays.
With the same hours base, you get simple benchmarks: at €13 gross/hour, the month comes to around €1,970 gross, and at €16 gross/hour, around €2,425 gross. These amounts are indicative: they vary depending on the assignments actually completed during the month and the conditions (urgency, hours, type of facility).
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