Dealing with Extra Assignments

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My agency continues to give me extra visits, although I keep telling them I will go into overtime and don't want to work extra. I work 50 hours/week.

They don't have enough nurses because they are extremely selective and the nurses they have leave due to all the pressure.

Have you been in a similar situation and how did you handle it? I am hourly so I do get paid overtime but working like this for a year now with no reprieve is too much.

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Specializes in Pulmonary, Lung Transplant, Med/Surg.

Sounds like you really need to have a face to face with your supervisor/boss and let him/her know your concerns. Maybe in the past nurses have left without discussing their issues with the appropriate people? It never hurts to speak up and if nothing else you can see how they handle your concerns. If they do nothing then maybe it's time to find a new agency but if they take notice then I'm sure it won't just benefit you but the other nurses as well and improve the agency's retention.

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Thanks. I did sit down with my boss and discussed the situation three weeks ago. She promised I would not be expected to work overtime every week. That lasted one week and now things are back to where they were before. I did tell her in our meeting that if nothing changed I would have to pursue other opportunities. She was very sad when I told her this and stated they just had a hard time keeping nurses. I explained to her that most nurses could not work 50-60 hours per week as they had families and such. I don't know if things will change and if I should try to stick it out or leave now. I am under lots of pressure and my poor hubby is always helping out extra with things but he is getting tired too. Thanks for your help.

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Specializes in Home Health.

I feel for you. It's the same way at most agencies. The bottom line is profit and if they hire more employees they will lower profits. So glad I'm prn now!

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Specializes in Pedi.

Tell them that you are not available for the extra visits.

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the next time they ask you, don't explain or get upset, just say no. If they ask you again, just LOOk at them.

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We have this problem with our agency too, which is especially tricky for some of us when salarly paid. However, it looks like you have taken your first step which is set an absolute limit to your work load, now stick to it do not negotiate. Do not feel guilty that they do not have appropriate staff to fill visits, your responsbility is your work only! And their job as administrators is to assess appropriate case load, hire according, and possibly hold off on new admissions until staffing is adequate. At least that is my strong opinion on the on-going battle I face with my agency as well : ) If you truly don't think its going to change then definitely beginning seeking other employment, you don't have to let your family/personal life suffer!! : ) Good Luck

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Thank you everyone for your replies. I held my ground yesterday when they asked me to do more because of a staff call in. I was asked three more times. Even when they asked me the las time they said well "Mrs. Jones" won't get a visit then. (In the past i would have said alright I'll do it. I told them it was not my fault their nursing staff was not adequate.

Two days ago they told me I only had 6 visits. Then when I synchronized there were 8 on my computer. I went back and said "so which six are really getting visits today?" There was lots of ah, um....after which I was reduced to 6.

Thanks for the encouragement to stand my ground. I think that it is a necessary requirement in home health with the way things are today.

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they said well "Mrs. Jones" won't get a visit then.

lol funny, but aggravating at the same time.

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Specializes in Home Health.

Turningred 15 good for you. Stand your ground!

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