Sent home after 4 hours...AGAIN!!!!

Specialties Agency

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:confused: I know this happens to all agency nurses sometimes, but this is begining to hurt in the pocketbook!!! I was cancelled 3 out of 4 days last week, but was allowed to come in this morning. Feeling more optimistic, I drove the hour to the hospital where I have been pre-booked for a couple of months. I got there, went to my floor and started my day. I worked until 9:00, when the charge nurse said, "I'm sorry, we are overstaffed, you'll be going home at 11:00". I was carrying 6 patients just like the other nurses and no one else was coming in at that time. The hitch was that they have hired 6 new nurses, most of which are on orientation right now. The teams of regular staff/orientees took one or two of my patients and home I went. I am really discouraged! I am a good nurse, and they like me there. They always ask me to pre-book and come back. I really don't think it is about me, but I still am stuck with 4 hours of pay instead of 12. I couldn't take a 3-11 shift anywhere else this evening because I am supposed to work 7a-7p tomorrow again. Probably just more cancelations and early send home! I just wanted to know if this is at all common in other areas, or just Houston? Thanks for listening!!

Becky:sniff:

I'm getting cancelled a lot too. I was starting to think it was something I'd done! More likely the bad economy has more nurses putting in more hours.

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Diversify ------

I cut and paste this from another post I just made... It does apply here too:

Here in Denver, we have seen great changes and shifts between the nightmare of

9-11, Enron Crash, impact of airline power and loss of revenue, and the addition

of AllAboutStaffing with the largest of facilities here of Health One.

Diversify with registry has been my survival.

It is this type of conversatin that impowers us and helps us to be strong in

ourselves. Just like not counting on one facility for income, we should not

count on one agency for assignments.

All my agencies know that I am diverse in my contacts. We went through the whole

power struggle with loyalty. I cam to the conclusion that they have more then

one nurse and so I should have at least more then one agency.

It works for me....

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Feast or famine, you know!! Yesterday, (1) I wasn't cancelled, (2) The floor they placed me on was well staffed, (3) I only had 4 patients most of the day, and (4) I ENDED UP STAYING 16 HOURS!!! Life is so funny!! I just have to keep remembering that GOD IS IN CONTROL!!

Becky:chuckle :lol2:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I wonder if you have noticed a increase in hospital census now. My agency could book me 7 days a week now, last month there was a slower census. I consistently work my 3 12 hr shifts, sometimes between two facilities. With the winter months creeping up here in Pittsburgh all the hospitals are begging for more help.

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Grrrrrrrrrrr. Got there last night (after driving an HOUR), and found out that I had been cancelled.....NOBODY told ME. I couldn't get a hold of my scheduler, so I have no idea if she knew or not.

Did get a chance to talk to the DON in this facility and asked her what was going on. As of Weds, I wasn't cancelled. She said she didn't know that it was happening.

DUH. I don't believe that. I don't think my scheduler is doing her job for me, so I am looking into another agency in town. I can't exist on 8 hour weeks. Especially when I am booked for 32. This is getting old. We don't have that many nurses available here, there are more than enough openings, but the most I've seen out here for wages is about $14.00 an hour, and I can't work 40 hours a week, due to school.

This is getting old.

M

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Nightngale,

You are so right. Thanks for helping me feel better about signing up with another agency this week. Only been working agency for 3 months, as well as my private duty and contingent at one facility. The only times I have been working is the jobs I have found. But I am a loyal employee and have been struggling with having so many employers (agencies). I finally realized that "loyalty" isn't paying the bills.

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kae rn: Be loyal and true to yourself... When you do the right things, somehow, everything eventually falls into place.

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OH! Had an AWESOME experience in a new facility I started at tonight. EVERYONE welcomed me, THANKED me for coming, and wanted to know when I was coming back to help them out!!!!!! My jaw is STILL on the floor.

Beautiful place, beautiful staff, just plain great!

Tomorrow I get to go back to the facility from H**L for 3 days, and then back to the awesome place for a month! I can tolerate the old place for 3 more days.

Nicest thing is that the new place is 15 minutes from the house instead of an hour.

WOW! Life is good.

M

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I so know what you mean. My supervisor didnt know how to manage the schedule or a budget and she was always over staffing and having to send people home. You just get angry. Thats why I like travelling now. I haven't had one assigment fall through yet and my people treat me real nice. I hope things get better for everyone else.

Try to relax and look for a better agency. Maybe even one from out of your state.

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I so know what you mean. My supervisor didnt know how to manage the schedule or a budget and she was always over staffing and having to send people home. You just get angry. Thats why I like travelling now. I haven't had one assigment fall through yet and my people treat me real nice. I hope things get better for everyone else.

Try to relax and look for a better agency. Maybe even one from out of your state.:zzzzz

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We don't use agency nurses but it is not unusal for an FTE to be sent home or called in to stay home. If they want a full check they have to supplement with benefit time. On my unit it works out kinda well... there are e few who like to take off and don't mind and some who don't have the benefit time and need to work so we all cooperate.

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We are in an agency forum, I had assumed everone here was working for an agency.

I know being sent home is not unusual, however it does become very frustrating, after all we do have a life to support and possibly family and not only does the employee need to be dependable, but so does the employer.

Thank you for your input though.

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