PDN Nurse Shortage?

[CloudySue]

Within the last 4 days, I have had THREE different clients' parents have a conversation with me about their dissatisfaction with their children's overnight shifts not being covered. They've all been left without a nurse at least once a week for many weeks now. One mom had three nights unfilled last week! They just don't have any extra people, all our nurses seem to already have a job every night. I took 5 days off last month and I gave my agency 6 weeks notice. Most of them were not filled. None of the parents fault me, but they complain to me since I'm the company's point of contact for them in the moment. I empathize with their frustration and try to smooth things over. Has this been happening with your agency too?

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

This is pretty standard in my area. We are always short of night nurses. Also short on nurses who don't call off, or show up on time. I think it links to the fact that the agency tells people they can make their own schedule. So all those hopefuls put in their full time Monday through Friday day calendar and then that's all they want. Some of them even get it. The other factor is this sector attracts mostly appliance nurses, who don't want to work off shifts or an abundance of hours. Also we loose good night nurses at the rat of about one every three months because they are caught sleeping. Which weather intentional or accidental results in immediate termination.

[caliotter3]

Well, fascinating that in my area the agencies will fail to call nurses that are available for night shift to fill these vacancies. Then they "complain" that either, they have no work for nurses, or no nurses for available work. Of course not, if you don't bother to do your job.

[smartypantsnurse, LPN]

My agency is ALWAYS short on nurses for both day and night shift. I constantly get calls and emails asking me to pick up extra shifts. I feel bad for some of the families because they honestly need the coverage but on the other hand, I have one family who goes through nurses like there's no tomorrow and then calls the agency to complain that they don't have enough coverage. Oh and the father is unemployed and spends his days watching TV/sleeping. Lovely.

Sorry this turned into a little bit of a rant lol.

[smartnurse1982]

Wow,where do you live?Nj is oversaturated with cases,but you see my friend,that depends on the agency.Agency P pays much much more than Agency M.Agnecy P pays overtime(even Rn's),gives 'fair" pto,great health bennies,maybe excellent,and again,they pay extra,like way extra,for someone to cover a shift on short notice(and that's usually 1 day ahead of time)Agency M pays none,nada.No OT,crappy benefits,etc.Not even Pto.Guess which familes of these 2 agencies can't get adequate coverage?

[ceebeejay]

Yes. Yes. But, it seems to be getting better. As always, the weekends are the hardest to fill with regularly scheduled people. I have a family and want to spend my weekend with them (when they are home), but I will fill in occassionally for the families that I already handle. Of course, many nurses don't consider anything outside of acute care "real nursing".

[Elle23]

There has never been an issue getting my shifts covered, but my case is a very simple one.

I do know they are desperate for vent/ trach qualified nurses, and I'm sure those shifts are more difficult to fill.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Things have been precarious since my school case ended at the end of 2012 (the client graduated). I prefer nights, but keep getting stuck on days. My agency has been cutting hours since July. I had 6 shifts cancelled in December alone, and one client cancels me at least once a week. It's gotten to the point where I wonder if I will be able to keep my health insurance. I've been job hunting.

[mluvsgnc]

"I have one family who goes through nurses like there's no tomorrow and then calls the agency to complain that they don't have enough coverage."

This is the case where I work.

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

I informed my agency last June that I would be having knee replacement at the end of October. They tried to get nurses to come for orientation numerous times but every single nurse they scheduled for orientation was a no call no show. I work 4 nights a week with this child so for the time I was off the family had no night nurses those nights.

[middleagednurse]

I work for an agency in the Midwest that is always short of nurses. Clients complain that they can't always get coverage. I think private duty is something a lot of nurses dont think about.