Communication and shift call-offs

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I work for a software company that lets nursing homes instantly reach all possible RNs and STNAs :nurse: that can possibly replace a nurse or aide that has called off or did not show up for a shift. And many homes we work with said that calling agencies was not an option due to cost.

What I am curios about is that one of the comments we get is that whomever is doing the searching for a replacement (most of the time calling down a phone list or asking others on the floor to pull a double) has to beg and plead on a personal level to convince someone to take that shift.

My questions are:

a) do you think that the need to beg and plead is primarily due to not being able or not having enough time to reach all possible replacements for a shift? and

b) if they were able to really notify and instantly reach all possible nurses/aides that could fill a shift, would that have more success and reduce (not eliminate) the need to beg and plead?

Thanks for all your input.

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Specializes in ICU, Psych.

Quote: "b) if they were able to really notify and instantly reach all possible nurses/aides that could fill a shift, would that have more success and reduce (not eliminate) the need to beg and plead?"

In order to instantly "notify and reach" anyone would require them to actually be interested in being reached and notified at any given time. While the arrogance of some employers presume all their "subjects" are on constant standby only to serve at any given notice, some people actually have a life outside of the workplace.

Sorry for sounding so harsh, but I think that reaching people is not the solution to solving this problem, the conditions at the workplace must become more attractive to people and you will not have the constant shortage.:twocents:

Marx would be so proud of me :wink2:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

The problem is that nurses, like any other profession want their time off just like everyone else. So no, I dont' think that would help.

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Your point about changing conditions is right on. Which is why the communication service is very non-intrusive so staff don't get harassed and can pick/choose when they do want to pick up extra shifts for extra overtime dollars. I spoke to staff that was even angry that they were passed over for extra overtime shifts due to favoritism for others. Some really wanted the equal opportunity to pick and the rest have the right to opt out.

If that process was in place it might actually improve the conditions?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I think being able to reach everyone could help if there is a way to do that without just calling everyone who is off work that day hoping to find someone with no plans and willing to come in. I wouldn't mind if I received a text message on my cell phone about an available shift or something like that. If I don't have any plans and want to make some extra cash I can call and take that shift, if I'm busy then I can ignore it. I know many times we have worked short and then the next day someone would say that if they had been called they would have come in.

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Quote: "b) if they were able to really notify and instantly reach all possible nurses/aides that could fill a shift, would that have more success and reduce (not eliminate) the need to beg and plead?"

In order to instantly "notify and reach" anyone would require them to actually be interested in being reached and notified at any given time. While the arrogance of some employers presume all their "subjects" are on constant standby only to serve at any given notice, some people actually have a life outside of the workplace.

Sorry for sounding so harsh, but I think that reaching people is not the solution to solving this problem, the conditions at the workplace must become more attractive to people and you will not have the constant shortage.:twocents:

Marx would be so proud of me :wink2:

I agree, Michael. And I also feel that it is the job of the supervisor, DON or whoever to have a plan in place for such eventualities. And that plan should NOT be to bully the people that are already there to stay if they don't want to.

The last few years I worked, I worked part-time, and I got very tired of one supervisor believing that my off days were there for her to make use of.

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