Being Cancelled

[rn undisclosed name]

I am normally scheduled 72 hours per pay period and don't usually pick up extra shifts. I also work 12 hour shifts. I was scheduled to work this past Saturday for a 12 hour shift and this was my normal day to work and was not extra. I haven't worked extra in several months.

I received a phone call Saturday am that they were cancelling me for the first 4 hours of my shift. I'm not happy about it because if I want to get paid for that time I have to use my vacation time otherwise my check will be short. Is this standard practice to do. I was always under the impression that if this is an "extra" shift for you and if you are a registry person you would be canceled before a regular staff nurse. When I got to work there was a nurse from the float pool they had working. This just doesn't seem right. Opinions please. How do they handle this where you work.

Also they had a meeting and are only cancelling us in 4 hour increments so basically it seems to me that I am keeping my schedule available for them and not being paid an on-call rate.

Kelly

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

If the float nurse was a registry nurse . . .our contract with the registry says the registry can't be canceled without paying what you would pay if she did work, so it is cheaper to cancel the staff nurse.

Money talks.

steph

[suzanne4, RN]

First thing, float pool is not registry, they work for the hospital and just do not have a home unit but are placed anywhere that they are capable and that staffing has needs.

And many times, they actually can have more seniority and that is what governs who will get cancelled for a low census day.

If outside agency, then it depends on the contract that your facility has with the company.

But many times, we have seen it as the in-house float pool, and they are usually very seasoned nurses that have been there for years so their seniority usually trumps all. This is what you need to find out first, did that nurse work for the hospital or outside agency? And then find out what the exact policy and procedure is and how it is specifically written that they will handle things like this.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Our policy is to cancel, in this order: travellers, mobile pool, core flex, then staffers who would be on overtime, then core staff on regular time.

For core staff, the unit has a list and people "share the joy" by taking turns being low census'd.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Actually, I prefer to "share the joy" by offering to take any and all call offs. :yelclap: I love being called off.

steph

[mediatix8]

At my facility there are float nurses that are exactly like regular staff... except they get paid a whole 2 dollars more per hour. Because they are like regular staff, they take turns with getting low census with the rest of the staff... everyone. I feel like they deserve to take turns with us because the 2 dollars isn't worth it and they usually get the first admission too. Then we also have registry float... they make the big money and they get cancelled first.

You could try to say you dont want the low census and ask them to call someone else and offer it... but if no one else wants to take it and it's your turn then you have to take it. We also get cancelled for 4 hours and do not get paid extra for being on call. They have called us off and then called us right back an hour later or even sooner to come in... and then you come in and have to catch up.

I think all hospitals do this so that's how they get away with it. For a month last winter time we were getting mandatory low census quite a bit and I was starting to get worried. But then someone always quits and you're back to your usual high patient load. Personally I try not to use vacation time because I deserve that time to actually take a vacation.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i love being called off just like stevie.. hey if they want someone to leave early .. i'm willing to go... lol ... but our census has been so high lately those happy moments are long gone....

[BookwormRN]

We also can be put "on-call" (nurses usually don't get "low-census" days)...we get paid $2 and some odd cents an hour while on call. If we are called in, then we are paid time and a half. Not a bad deal! I usually volunteer for those days...I like being on-call.

Oh, and at our hospital, we can only be made to take 8 hours of on-call/payperiod. They can call us, but after that 8 hours off, we have the choice to come and and work on "projects."

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

The charge nurses all know that I'm the first who wants to be called off! I love it!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

The charge nurses all know that I'm the first who wants to be called off! I love it!

No, I'm first!

steph

[BookwormRN]

No...Pick me! Pick me!!!:roll

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Dang, I always wait too long!