Agency question (and maybe a little bit of a vent)

[trauma_lama, BSN]

Hello friends! Okay, so I've been having some issues with the agency I work as a CNA for. Nothing exciting and juicy like some of the back-stabbing stories I read on here but issues nonetheless... My agency staffs 3 hospitals in the area, the smallest of which is a 665 bed facilitiy, and one of which is a level 1 trauma center, and 2 of which have well known chest pain centers so you'd think it would be at least kind of busy, right? I'm well aware that you give the agency your availability, and they assign you to work prn based on your availability. That said, I'm also aware that my availability does NOT guarantee me hours. I'm a nursing student and not in summer classes so my schedule is pretty open these days, and I've been giving pretty open availability so my husband and I can try to save some $$ before school starts back in the fall...

I've been scheduled to work 6 times over the last month or so, and I'm okay with that...but 3 of those times I have received a phone call between 1a and 5:30a the night before a 7a-3p/7p shift informing me that my shift had been canceled. 2 of these cancelled days are days that I had been offered a babysitting shift with the family I sit for (hey, money is money right?) and I had told them I was unavailable to sit (because all things hospital come first as I need all the experience I can get)... So the other 3 shifts I actually made it to the hospital for were cut significantly short. Like 4-6 hours short. No headsup, no nothin'. All of a sudden a hospital-employed CNA shows up and tells me I am to report to my agency office in the hospital for further instruction. Apparently when a pt status changes, hospital CNAs/sitters take over for any agency staff working.

I get that pt safety and agency liability is a big issue, but this has gotten frustrating. We are a single income family and I am sincerely trying to get as much experience as possible before clinicals this fall while making some $$ to put away for when the "s*** hits the fan" this fall .

So can any of you agency-employed CNAs or RNs tell me about your experiences with agencies? This seems a little unreasonable. I don't expect to work whenever I'm available, but really? Phone calls in the middle of the night and shifts cut short? I don't know if the $10/hr I'm making is worth all this...

Sidenote: I've been TRYING to get my foot in the door at the area hospitals for over 6 months now- it's just a tight market for a CNA without a lot of experience .

[klone, MSN, RN]

Heck, that's happening a lot to permanent fulltime employees of hospitals. Low-census call-off is happening everywhere, to everyone. I literally cannot remember the last time my paycheck had a full 72 hours on it. I think it was back in January.

[Mulan]

It's all about the money.

Some agencies will tell you that you are confirmed (when the hospital has not confirmed), just to keep you on the hook and available in case someone is needed (so the agency can get the money) and then cancel you at the last minute.

The hospital is not going to pay for agency unless they absolutely have to.

I'd take the babysitting, at least it's a sure thing.

The same thing happens to hospital employees, FT, PT, and PRN or PER DIEM.

[Orange Tree]

Yep. You are more expensive than their own CNAs, so if they find one of their own available, you're going to get sent home. They might be keeping you for four hours because the agency will require four hours of payment- even if you're canceled.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

As an agency aide you are expensive.....some hospitals book agancy nurses and aides to meet top census requirments in case the census climbs they have staff.....to cancel you...in most cases costs nothing. The 4 hour window is if the supervisor doesn't cancel you within the time limit for your agency they owe the agency that 4 hours reguardless so thye let you work then cut you lose..........I'd look for a staff position....:)

[caliotter3]

Most employers have a time frame where they will not disturb you in the middle of the night. They will wait until 5 or 5:30, out of courtesy. I would get a limited job in a LTC facility if you need dependable income.

[trauma_lama, BSN]

thanks for all the responses friends! glad to know i'm not the only one experiencing this mess... please keep your fingers crossed for me that i can land a staff position soon. you guys are great :)