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?
