[pinayRN]

Could someone please give me some tips on how to NOT get cancelled? I am between contracts and was trying to pick up some shifts through a local agency that works through All About Staffing for the HCAs in my city. I got a call last week to pick up this past Fri, Sat, and SUn night shift and was cancelled for ALL OF THEM!!! Then I got booked tonite and got called off again! THen 15 minutes later after I sent my mom home (who watches my kids when I'm at work) they called back and said they were able to get my shift back. Is there some rhyme or reason to this madness or what?! I read through some past posts that suggested signing up with more than one agency. How will this help if I'm trying to get booked at the same HCAs? Does each agency bill the hospital differently, so AAS cancelling me because my agency is more expensive that perhaps another in town? Any feedback on how to KEEP my so-called "confirmed" shifts would be greatly appreciated!

[suzanne4]

Did you go with the agency that pays the most? If so, this isn't always the wisest s they are the first to get cancelled usually.

You cannot get booked at the same facility thru different agencies. If you are trying to do that, that will also add to your cancelled shifts.

The reason for signing up with a couple of agencies is that if one hospital has a low census, perhaps another in the area will have a need. But not for the same facility. Most facilities will not permit that, and usually you have signed a contract with the agency about not working at that facility for anyone else during a certain time frame.

Agency does pay more but sometimes you will get cancelled. And this past weekend being a holiday weekend, census is usually down at many facilities all over the country.

Hope that this helps................

[pinayRN]

No actually, it's not the agency that pays the best. I work in the NICU, so I'm limited to the hospitals that have a NICU. And all but 4 in my area are HCAs. One of those I just finished a contract with. One I'm starting a contract with next week. Almost all of the agencies have contracts with AAS, which staffs for all the HCAs in my city. I'm just starting to wonder if its my agency that is the problem...grrrrr.

[suzanne4]

Your agency can easily be the problem.. Do you know for a fact that they are actually scheduling you with the hospital? Some do not, and wait until they get a call from the hospital....you think that you are scheduled but you are not......perhaps you should consider another agency.

This past weekend was a full moon and most nurseries, at least Level III, were going crazy. I can also work Level III and had no problem getting placement.

You may want to check out some of the Peds ICUs in your area also, as they still get the little ones. If the infant has gone home but needs to come back to the hospital, they will go to PICU, not NICU. Something else for you to consider and you may find more extra work that way.

Good luck...................

[prmenrs]

Don't forget the Level II units. Mine has been going bonkers for about a month now.