Best offer for OT?

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

What has been your best offer to work OT or agency?

About 2 weeks ago I turned down $65/hr from my staffing agency to work 11-7. Why? I had just finshed 2 12 hour shifts for HH agency in the heat wave, I was crashing hard at 9:45 pm when they begged me to come in at 11p.

I thought that was good, but today was unbelieveable! My agency called while I was at work in my HH job, and left a message w/ my hubby, asking me to work for ...hold onto your hats...$182/hr!!! As the only nurse in a peds unit with 2 pt's. I missed the boat, since I wasn't home, naturally someone took that bait fast! But I called to be sure my hubby got the message right, and it was true!

I haven't worked in peds since about 1996, and all my peds exper is in an open heart unit, where I never even had to start an IV, since we always had anesthesia around to put in pedi lines, and kids were all lined up in the ICU post-op anyway. So, I am not sure they could have gotten me there for all the tea in China anyway. What if I had 4 admits? Needing IV's?

Would you have talken that bait even if you felt rusty in peds or weren't sure of your peds ability? I told my husband, hey, it would cost me waaaaay more if I was sued, than I could make for one shift! Hey thinks I would have been NUTS to turn it down. I'm just glad they didn't try me on my cell phone, I may have been too tempted!!

[kaycee]

That's a lot of money but I would feel very uncomfortable as the only nurse, even if there were only 2 pts. What if you did get more admits would you have still been alone? It would depend on how sick they were. What kind of Peds unit was it?

I work ER so I take care of sick kids but the really sick ones we send out.

There must be a reason they would be paying that kind of money and that would make me suspiciuos enough to say no.

[spudflake]

It's getting scary out there boys and girls. I'd be too concerned for my license. What if... OOO I got goose bumps. If nurses could really stick together we'd be better off. Someone made a comment the other day that if we were considered the same as police, fire and teachers we'd have a much better job environment and retirement. Gee, what do they all have in comman...UNION:eek:

[cmggriff]

I'm in a union:D . But I would have jumped on $182/hr in a NY minute. I guess I'm just a mercenary. G-man

[mgmaniac45]

I would have thought for about a second and then went for it. My pedi is 8 years on a full-service pedi floor and 2 years pedi ICU, so maybe I am a little more secure.

[nicunightnurse]

Our hospital is paying bonuses depending on the number of hours you work. Not only is it OT but you get an additional $7 to $11 and hour.They said it is cheaper than paying agency. Most of us sign up for one shift extra a week.. I do 12 hours...if you do too much Uncle Sam takes more than you bring home!