AHS--Short staffing, call back, and the ever popular OT issue

[Fiona59]

Joanna started a thread in the regular forum, but I'm more interested in how we are handling it, here.

I work acute care. I'm a part-timer by choice. I have been obliging my manager by picking up extra shifts both at straight time and OT. Now here's where it gets snarly. Under the AUPE contract, pt LPNs only get double time on their weekends off, which give the employer a lot of straight time shifts for LPNs. The pt RNs still have their extra double time days.

As a result, staffing is constantly calling in LPNs because they know our skill set is more than appropriate for the units we work. They go through their pt RNs available at straight time (who 90% of the time turn it down) and head to the LPNs. If they can't get an LPN at straight time, then they call the double time RNs. AUPE are you listening? Your negotating skills sucked big time when you bought the Capital Health "oh, your nurses are the first to loose the slash pay, the pt RNs and RPNs will lose it on the next contract".

I'm tired of working full time. I'm tired of casuals who want to work M-F days or As. I work my required nights and extra nights because the casuals won't and if I don't they will have an RN on double time work an LPN shift. Yet, we have RNs on my unit who will be straight on the phone to UNA if they see an LPN work one of their shifts at any pay level.

Other units are happy to run with a majority of LPNs and I'm talking Surgery NOT Medicine or Transition or LTC. One Charge RN, one floor RN and five LPNs, no NA on that shift ever. Every patient was well cared for, all meds on time, all wound care performed.

I think it's time AHS looks at how much part timers are working and increase either their position sizes if the worker wants it, or starts creating new positions. Staffing needs to start telling casuals if you can't work shift (and they all agree to it at their interviews) you can't have the M-F full time hours you have been snagging. I'm tired of being asked to work "any shift" on two different units, when I know that their are casuals who used to work shift until they realized they could get away with just snagging days.

It amazes me how they can have countless paid hours for Unit Clerks and are busy creating HCA positions. How about they just step up and sort out their nursing house first?

Ah, that felt good to get off of my chest...

[Fiona59]

There is already a backlog in the procedures that we perform and trust me the surgeons involved don't give a damn on how strained nursing is. They will not cancel their OR time. We've filled up PRCs and assorted forms in regards to this. But they still continue to slam us when they want.

Despite your concerns on us not being "exactly the most pleasant people to be around" my unit consistently recieves the letters of compliments on our professionalism, kindness, and attentive attitude from our patients and their families. In the last four years we've had exactlly one complaint from a patient and we all saw it coming. Some people will complain about anything (and she did, wrong flavour of popsicle).

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I refuse to be guilted into working extra shifts. Period. It's not my fault the unit is short, it's not fault the unit can't keep staff, it's not my fault the unit is overloaded with junior nurses who can't do anything much and it's not my fault that our management is unable or unwilling to pitch in when things get hairy.

Now, about the Regularization. It's the work of a joint committee and this committee has significant power. They're tasked with documenting all the overtime, extra shifts worked by part-timers at straight time and all the casual shifts worked on a given unit in the preceding 12 months. Then the reasons for all these hours are to be sussed out. Once that has occurred, the hours are calculated to determine how many FTEs they would comprise and authorization to fill them is granted. Management will then decide what the postings will actually look like and what FTEs they'll post. The process has already been completed on several units and postings have been made... 14 FTES for one unit at the U. (It won't solve the unit's problems because they're adding several beds, and the way the postings were written the positions will be awarded to new grads where nurses with significant experience are who're desperately needed.)

Then there are the ballyhooed 300 positions announced recently - 100 in each of Edmonton, Calgary and The Rest of Alberta. I don't know how they think they'll meet their timelines of having people hired and working before the end of August when just the process of checking references can take 4 weeks. But what do I know?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Same with mine. I like my residents, and I wouldn't take my frustration out on them. You can learn to compartmentalize those feelings and remain professional. And it isn't always as cut and dry as "just say no". Sometimes you have to say yes. I've done my share. Now I feel justified that I am saying no after 8 months.

While I agree that our health is important, the coworkers who are never available to help are not looked favourably upon by other coworkers and management after a while. Why? Because you're working in a team environment. Saying "yes" once in a while will not overwork you. Going in once in a while will allow another person to avoid burnout too, especially if you work in a specialized or rural facility.

[Fiona59]

You hit it right on the head, Joanna.

We have one nurse who works the smallest point that has benefits. She has picked up one exta four hour shift this year. Then she had the nerve to tell us we were looking tired. If I stuck to my rotation, I'd be in ten days a month compared to the usual 15 or 16 I work. She works 8 shifts a month, four of them on weekends when our service is so slow, it's painful.

We also have casuals who work a .8 every single pay period. In the past the .5 and .6 have asked to have their position increased but have been turned down due to the budget.

I'm dying to see how this reorganization shakes out.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Exactly. We have one nurse who works 6 to 8 days a month. Yet she notices all the holes and refuses to pick up unless the HN practically begs her. The HN takes 3 day weekends. And then there's me....I'm supposed to work 34 shifts in a 3 month rotation but I've been working 45, and they've still been calling. No more.

It's easy for people to say I'm never picking up. But the reality is....someone has to do it. If everyone pitched in just a little, you wouldn't have this. So....now I don't care. I'm not working above my FTE for a while. Someone else will have to do it. And, again, we only have 5 nurses on regular staff where I am. It's not like the city, where they have a larger pool to draw from.

[ajaxgirl]

You hit it right on the head, Joanna.

We have one nurse who works the smallest point that has benefits. She has picked up one exta four hour shift this year. Then she had the nerve to tell us we were looking tired. If I stuck to my rotation, I'd be in ten days a month compared to the usual 15 or 16 I work. She works 8 shifts a month, four of them on weekends when our service is so slow, it's painful.

We also have casuals who work a .8 every single pay period. In the past the .5 and .6 have asked to have their position increased but have been turned down due to the budget.

I'm dying to see how this reorganization shakes out.

At least she is picking up weekends. if she didn't, you would complain about that.

[ajaxgirl]

Fiona,

If casuals have it so good, then why don't you go casual?

What is stopping you?

The whole beauty of casual is that you can CHOOSE when you work. The downside is that there is no guarantee of any hours. So, I guess the casuals can start a tread about how it sucks to be casual because there are no guarantees.

POINT is-if it's so great, the stop complaining and go casual. But it seems you like the guarantee of the money, something that casuals dont have.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Fiona isn't just speaking of casuals here. She's speaking about people in regular lines who don't offer to help. And yes, you CHOOSE when to work casual. However, some casuals have a habit of choosing their shifts and not coming in for them, leaving the regular staff to work OT. Very unfair. If and when you happen to be in that situation, you will understand.

[ajaxgirl]

Fiona isn't just speaking of casuals here. She's speaking about people in regular lines who don't offer to help. And yes, you CHOOSE when to work casual. However, some casuals have a habit of choosing their shifts and not coming in for them, leaving the regular staff to work OT. Very unfair. If and when you happen to be in that situation, you will understand.

Fiona never mentioned the issue of casuals not showing up, thats a whole different issue.

[27400]

... newbie here, but is OT mandatory or "mandatory" for part-time and full-time staff?

Also, I've found that some floors I've been on they always call Full timers and Part timers first if they're short staffed to see if they want to do OT before they call the casuals. I always thought that was weird.

[lilaclover]

Fiona,

If casuals have it so good, then why don't you go casual?

What is stopping you?

The whole beauty of casual is that you can CHOOSE when you work. The downside is that there is no guarantee of any hours. So, I guess the casuals can start a tread about how it sucks to be casual because there are no guarantees.

POINT is-if it's so great, the stop complaining and go casual. But it seems you like the guarantee of the money, something that casuals dont have.

My thoughts exactly...

[lilaclover]

And I took a .65 position because I want to work .65 FTE. If I wanted to work more I would have taken a bigger line. And yes it is that cut and dry for me. Nobody else is being forced to take more either. Why on earth would you accept shifts you don't want on a regular basis?? If nobody accepts them then it eventually forces them to hire more, extend lines etc...

Yes I hate the thought of my co-workers working short... but picking up shifts I don't want is just a short term bandaid to the problem and I would never begrudge anyone else nor expect them to work on their day off if I was stuck working short. Its not their problem nor mine..