[Ashera]

My agency often tries to book me with a certain hospital - and then I get cancelled at the ol' 0500 wake up call. I then told them 'no-way- ever again - etc'

And of course, I said yes last week to what my recruiter promised me was 'guaranteed' per the facility - or that he would not have called me.
Three days - fr/sa/su

Brutally hard, exhaustive med-surg - too many pts, dumping on agency nurse, the usual - 12+ hours, etc -

Did Sat and Sun - had same pt group - they really needed another nurse and I knew they were hurting for staff.

Sun - crawled out of bed - get the call - 'go back to bed'

Faxed my time sheets - asked to be paid for Sunday as I was told it was guaranteed - and I'd also turned down two other assignments were I usually work over the weekend

Wonder if the agency will follow-through? When does 'guaranteed' mean 'guaranteed'. Probably should have asked if the 'hospital' was guaranteeing it or the 'agency' -

Hard to bank guarantees -

[suzanne4]

If the agency told you that it was guaranteed, then it means that you will get paid for it. Or you should be, this is what guaranteed means. But it also is dependent on how reliable that your agency is as well.

[cursenurse]

you should ask exactly what "guaranteed" means. you should also get it in writing.

[Haunted]

Is it me or am I the only one here that is getting fed up with the "ol 5 ayem wake up call" telling me I am cancelled, and then when I do get a shift, yeah I get dumped on. I used to enjoy registry but am beginning to feel like it's more important to have the chance to work in exchange for a little flexability.

[cheerfuldoer]

Having worked a lot of agency hours over my 18 years as a nurse, I can say that when the shifts are numerous, the pay is great! When the shifts are cancelled, it sucks big time. I've had more shifts filled than cancelled, but with today's nursing, agencies get cancelled a lot. Not a great way to make a stable living, but I still like the options of owning my own schedule.

[Haunted]

Originally Posted by cheerfuldoer

Having worked a lot of agency hours over my 18 years as a nurse, I can say that when the shifts are numerous, the pay is great! When the shifts are cancelled, it sucks big time. I've had more shifts filled than cancelled, but with today's nursing, agencies get cancelled a lot. Not a great way to make a stable living, but I still like the options of owning my own schedule.

So how do you occupy your time when you get cancelled? I'm a work horse and save my leisure adventures for the week end so being a home body during the week is lonely and isolating for me.

Most of my friends are working full time, have their hands full with kids or going out of town. I am not Martha Stewart and need to have a few shots just to gear up for grocery shopping.

I figure I got something accomplished with my day if I shave my legs in the shower. I know I am in trouble when I have Dr Phil , channel 4 penciled into my "to do" list and I wait gfor the mailman to deliver like some demented stalker.

I think I am the only Mom on the planet who secretly wishes school wouldn't start in the fall, surprisingly my teen age son is overjoyed at the prospect! I never knew you could organize his t shirt drawer by smell..... and some days even the dog refuses to make eye contact. How was I supposed to know they can't digest peanut butter?

[suzanne4]

Not sure where you are living, but you can either sign up with a per diem agency or even consider working prn for the summer at a hospital near you.

And work more hours during the winter to covert the lulls. Remember that agency was created for the benefit of the hospitals and not for the benefit of nurses. Think of it that way and you can benefit the best.

Are you restricted to the hours of shifts that you can work? Are you available nights and weekends?

Not sure what you responsibilities are at home, but if you get pushed, you could also consider a four week contract someplace and just work extra hours while you are doing that.

[land64shark]

Originally Posted by Haunted

.... and some days even the dog refuses to make eye contact. How was I supposed to know they can't digest peanut butter?

Is that true? My dog has recurring intestinal problems and we do fill his "Kong" with peanut butter.

[cheerfuldoer]

Originally Posted by Haunted

So how do you occupy your time when you get cancelled?......

I hang out here at Allnurses!

Being that my kids are adults raising their own kids, I live alone so have all the time in the world to just be me...........sleep as long as I want, eat when I want, watch any channel on t.v. that I want, listen to music I love instead of the music they listen to laze around nude if I want (now that's a sight to behold!) Go take in a movie, exercise, read, go for long walks, go visiting those I love, dance and sing around the house like a movie star, go walk around the mall and have lunch there.............basically when I'm not working I'm chilling. I've learned to do that quite well the past few months. My father told me to live my life as if it were my last day to live, so I do. When work comes, I work no more than 36 - 40 hours per week...won't do overtime, don't ask, won't do it. It took me years to learn how to stop and smell the roses. I had to force myself to STOP the insanity around me. Everything and everybody wanting to consume my time, my every minute of every waking hour. Heck, I turn off the ringer on the phone when I go to bed, and turn it on the next day when I feel like it. I love controlling my own day every day. I'm broke as hell right now, but I'm at peace inside myself for taking back my life. As I reenter the workforce, I will do it differently this time...I will maintain total control over my life. I will never again give up that much control of my life to someone else........men, women, employers, family, friends....no one. And...that's how I survive those "off times" that I have come to cherish! :hatparty:

[Haunted]

Hey cheerfuldoer, please close those curtains!