Bait and switch!!

[callmekipling]

Lord knows I don't like to field my own complaints too often, I think it makes me sound pithier to just help everybody else out with theirs:icon_roll

Yesterday I was scheduled to work 3-11 but they called me the day before and asked me if I could work a one-on-one from 7-3.

Well that's just oodles of cash by my standards, and usually you end up 'beating the house' if you take your chances with working 1:1's because typically the person's in bed and confused, and frankly you only have to get off your duff if what they've tried (physial/chemical restraints/pain mgmt) isn't working. I like most of the staffing people, and I like the ideals behind my job and the hospital, and I love america, etc, etc, so I went in.

I sat down in the room for 10 minutes when a surgical tech comes in and says "they wanna see you up front." Management called and sent him in in my place, and put me out on the floor. Thank god the nice staffing lady came in at 8, and said I could go home at 3. She was mortified that mgmt switched me over, and was very apologetic. Thing is, staffing takes EVERY opportunity to tell us that they constantly need aides to come in and sit 1:1's.

I thought about walking off, not without telling people of course.. but I've been thinking it over, and while I realize some flexibility is necessary, when is shuffling people around too much?

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

I know exactly how you feel but I dont take any BS from staffing. If they call me to sit and I find out the patient was removed from 1 to 1 or if they rather have me work the floor then i politely call the staffing office and tell them i will be going home.

It is not fair for them to contract you to sit and then move you around as they please.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

You were scheudled to work at 3....I'd either have gone home and come back at 3...or told them that I'm going to sit here until 3...then I'll go home...with pay, thanks! Staffing's a real bear....In IL, they just passed the new nurse staffing law...which means that techs suffer more....only 1 until 16-17 patients are on the floor...go figure...makes me glad I'm going to grad in May! sooner I get a bonus the sooner I can give notice for a few weeks off!

[JaredCNA, CNA]

Is one aide for 16-17 pts supposed to be a lot?

I usually have the entire floor to myself...and that's 30 pts. lol

[Atheos]

I know it sucks to be moved around. I am not sure how things work in a hospital but as the Staffing Coordinator at a LTC, no matter why you came in or where you are working, you are subject to be moved as is needed. On the other hand, I try very hard not to inconvenience people because doing so makes it harder for people to come in and help when it is needed.

While the CNA (you are a CNA right?) should have had no say in whether they were moved, the administration should have told her what was going on. Just moving someone without communication is bad all around and quite rude.

Remember, you are being paid for you time, not your duties. Whether you have 30 patients or 1 doesn't really matter. You are being paid for 8 hours to do CNA duties and other duties as needed.

Your only real option is to remember what they did and next time they call you and say no.

[JaredCNA, CNA]

I know it's not as bad for us as it is for nurses but I really used to hate the 4 hour floats.

I'd get called and asked to come in at 7p instead of 11p because *my unit* was short staffed and they needed my help. Then I'd get there and we'd be staffed. Supervisor would call, "You need to float a CNA from 7-11." So then it was between me and the aides that have been there since 3, and you know who'd end up going. :-(

Now it's pretty nice to float because I work as the "ortho aide" for the joint replacements which is considered a specialty and I'm not supposed to float if there are 4+ joints on the floor.