Anyone have some cheese?

They don't give raises??? Is this a company policy? I think I might start looking elsewhere.

Not a company policy as far as I can tell. I have scoured the employee handbook. They actually made the employees take a paycut a few years ago. I didn't know this until after I took the job.

My husband suggests moving on to another agency. There just aren't that many in the area and I HAVE to have a steady income to keep my head above water. I'm also afraid of leaving just to end up in an equally bad (or worse) situation.

Called them again. Finally got an answer. "Due to Medicaid cut backs, we are not able to give raises."

Um. OK. It's funny - the last time I went by the office it has just been remodled/redecorated. And I still see BMWs and other nice cars in the parking lot. Interesting.

It does no good to do be dependable and do them "favors" so the company doesn't get fined for not covering a shift.

Make them think they need you. By saying yes all the time, you look desperate for hours. The office staff get bonuses with most companies for getting cases staffed and for profit goals. By keeping you down, the office staff gets their bonus off of you working more for nothing. And the lowest paid nurse gets called more often, while the higher paid nurses get called less because the office gets less profit off higher paid nurses. Be careful what you wish for as well.

When these agencies figure out that if they take care if their nurses, the nurses will take care of them...things will get better. But they all try to get away with giving us as little as possible, while expecting everything from us.

I'm w the best company in our area and I have not had a pay raise since my start 3 years ago. They are liberal w overtime so I give myself a raise by taking an extra shift sometimes.

Ah, the wonderful world of home care, where everyone is paid the same (LPN/RN) and there is no shift differential!

Honestly, I make nearly double my home care/ PDN rate at the hospital when you add up all the differentials, but my home care position is sooooo much easier than PICU. I actually get a lot of personal stuff done on my home care case (grocery lists, bills paid, general planning and correspondence) that it is a positive impact on my personal life. So I keep at it- plus I like my client and his family.

Honestly, I make nearly double my home care/ PDN rate at the hospital when you add up all the differentials, but my home care position is sooooo much easier than PICU.

That's the trade off for me. I got paid much more in the hospital (large busy NICU), but the low stress I have now in PDN makes the lower pay worth it to me.

For the first time in ages I don't drive to work with my stomach in knots!

I LOVE my PICU job- and the stress is not really a factor for me because our work environment is great. BUT two nights a week is enough for me at the hospital. I would probably feel differently if I worked 8-hour shifts at the hospital, but the thought of another 12-hour night? Not so much!

I LOVE my PICU job- and the stress is not really a factor for me because our work environment is great. BUT two nights a week is enough for me at the hospital. I would probably feel differently if I worked 8-hour shifts at the hospital but the thought of another 12-hour night? Not so much![/quote']

Yeah...8 hour shifts at the hospital seem to be a thing of the past. That's another perk of PDN for me.

I put in my time at the hospital (20 years). PDN is perfect for where I am right now. That may change one day, but for now I am enjoying the "break".

There is a hospital within 10 miles of my home. They hire LPNs but I would have to take an almost $5/hr pay cut and would only get between 20 - 30 hours per week. I just can't afford that kind of cut.

Who fines a company for failing to cover a shift? Why?

And is that in every state?

I don't see how they can promise perfect coverage...and I think the displeasure (and subsequent migration) of families would be a better penalty.

I've never heard of a company getting fined for not covering shifts. The contacts with the families state that they are the primary caregivers and if the company is unable to staff the home that the parent is responsible for caring for their child. But the parent has the right to choose an agency and change agencies at any time. My guess is some office person used that line to guilt trip a nurse into working a shift.