VENT about getting cancelled....

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Disclaimer: I need to vent! I'm frustrated. I work 36 hours/week normally, three 12s.

Soooo the last 5 shifts in a row I've been scheduled to work, I've been cancelled (or attempted to be cancelled). I was actually surprised the first time - I haven't been cancelled in so long, I didn't know what to do with myself. But no problem, I had some stuff to take care of anyway. No big deal.

They called to cancel me the next night I was scheduled too. I said, well, I don't want to lose another 8 hours... can I please come in and work 8? They said well... sure... okay.

Next night I'm scheduled to work... my phone rings two hours before I'm supposed to go in. Cancelled, twelve hours, straight up. Well, fine, I got 8 hours last night and at least I'll be at home with the hubby (he works nights too).

Then the NEXT night... sleeping before work, phone rings, cancelled for four hours, then floated for eight. Uhhh... ok... is it my turn to be cancelled already?? At least I get 8 hours! Not ten minutes later, the phone rings... float to one floor for 4 hours and then another for 8. Well, anytime I get floated I get a little nervous and feel like a new grad all over again, but hey I'll throw on some scrubs on and go to work.

Then I have to work the NEXT night... I get the call... cancelled for all 12 hours. ***

So, out of the past week I worked 12 out of 36 hours. The week before that, I worked 24 hours... so I lost half my paycheck.

I'm really aggravated. I think this puts us nurses in a REALLY bad spot... use up your time off, or just don't get paid. I'd rather PLAN my time off, and DO something or GO somewhere, rather than sit at home and watch TV for hours, then not have enough time off to take a REAL vacation.

Anybody else in this boat?!?! I've heard about the census being low in other hospitals in my area, but business was booming until about a week ago. Now it's like a ghost town.

[amoLucia]

In today's environment, CENSUS really does affect facility income revenue so the first casualty will be staffing when census is down. And census really does fluctuate at times. But I would question why YOU so much??? Are there others also being called out?

I truly ask this respectfully, but are you are somebody's HIT LIST??? It did happen to me in the past. Hopefullly, this is just a fluke but there could be something going on that hasn't yet surfaced and you're getting caught in the crossfire. Keep your antennae up and fly low under the radar. Hope all works out OK for you.

[biblepoet]

Hikes cannot offer anything guess hope it gets better.

[rhellner57]

I can see where the LC can affect all of us but it does seem excessive in your situation. I would go to my manager and find out what the policy is. As a traveler, i learned to read my contract well as I went to 1 facility and it was written for facility to cancel me 12 hours per month. unfortunately for me, they did just that but instead of spreading out the days or hours they usually were all in 1 week ( I get paid weekly) making for a paycheck nightmare. I feel for regular staff getting cancelled, We all want to be the most productive and many times on LC days found some organizing and cleaning can be done so I can work a few hours and floating is another option even to work as an aide

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I don't think I'm being singled out... but it does get frustrating, especially when I get cancelled so a travel nurse can float. I think I will talk to my manager this AM because it is excessive.

[TheOldestNurseOnUnit]

Are you flex/registry/per-diem--whatever they call it at your facility? At my facility it goes like this: anyone with overtime 1st--if you've got $$ by your name, you're the 1st cancelled; THEN flex (which is what we call our per-diem folk); then if you put your name in "the book" (we have a voluntary low census book where regular staff can sign up to be called off if need be) and if no OT/no flex/nobody in book it goes by who was cancelled last (either voluntarily or not).

We've had low census this summer also but our patient ratio is in "flux" (read changing again!) so we're feeling that also. Unfortunately our flex folk have been cancelled quite a bit and it's horrible to have to call the same people over and over--day after day. On the other side of the coin, the regular people who would like to be called off once in awhile can't be because they're technically 3rd on the list so they get upset.

We're starting to have the end of summer patient increase so hopefully less people will be called off. I feel for you and hope things improve. Good luck!!

[Snwbdr]

Our union contract states that we cant be involuntarily cancelled more than twice per pay period

[sublimeaurora]

Are you flex/registry/per-diem--whatever they call it at your facility? At my facility it goes like this: anyone with overtime 1st--if you've got $$ by your name, you're the 1st cancelled; THEN flex (which is what we call our per-diem folk); then if you put your name in "the book" (we have a voluntary low census book where regular staff can sign up to be called off if need be) and if no OT/no flex/nobody in book it goes by who was cancelled last (either voluntarily or not).

We kind of do the same at my hospital, as ECCRN1996 mentioned. In addition, the charge nurse usually goes off of a list of who was cancelled last and of that group, who has highest seniority. If that person passes on the cancel, it goes down the list to the next person. Perhaps the OP's turn just kept coming up by others taking a pass on the cancel.

[TheOldestNurseOnUnit]

We kind of do the same at my hospital, as ECCRN1996 mentioned. In addition, the charge nurse usually goes off of a list of who was cancelled last and of that group, who has highest seniority. If that person passes on the cancel, it goes down the list to the next person. Perhaps the OP's turn just kept coming up by others taking a pass on the cancel.[/quote}

We don't go by seniority nor do we let people "pass" anymore. If it's your turn, it's your turn which unfortunately means a lot of our wonderful flex people get the call. If we can't get in touch with you, we leave a message. I always ask when leaving a message that they call me back so I know they received the call. The worst thing is when someone shows up who's been cancelled and I have to tell them they need to go home....I HATE that!

[billyboblewis]

I know what it is like and I am glad that I am not in your position. I have always been for unions and this is one reason they are necessary.

[OldnurseRN]

The facility I am at is having a census problem right now. We are a specialty unit. Regular staff gets cancelled, put on call, or floated. I am a traveler with a "no float, no cancellation" contract and feel some animosity toward me from a few. Most are very gracious and tell me they knew this would happen and agreed to it before I arrived because my being there ensured their vacation.

[mappers]

We always cancelled extras first (people who signed up for more than their usual), then we had a book where we kept a list of who was cancelled when and we went in that order. You could also volunteer to be cancelled. Just let the charge nurse know before she goes to the scheduling meeting. That's how I ended up being off the last Christmas I had to work Christmas. A co-worker tipped me off that the census was really low and suggested I volunteer to be cancelled. So I did, and I was! Merry Christmas to me! (Now I work outpatient and don't have to do holidays.)