Do you have full time hours?...

[mcknis]

I recently switched specialties and am working in an outpatient (hospital affiliated) ambulatory surgery center. The position is posted as a full-time position, but I have found that many of the staff fall short of the full time (40 hour) status. Having worked 36hrs/week previously, I was aware that I would be working more hours, however I am finding it is typical to work around the 36 hour mark. After taking a decrease in pay (and without shift differentials) and without having regular work hours (due to varied case times/schedules), I am wondering how to make up for lost hours?

What do you do to make up for slow times/days? Do you go home early when all the cases are complete? Do you pick up hours in other departments/facilities? I am working as a single income provider in our home and like to get as much time/money as I can to keep our family unit functioning smoothly.

Thanks for any advice!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I leave early whenever I can- but I work an inpatient specialty with lots of call, and lots of overtime- those days are few and far between. I never worry about getting my 40 hours. However, our main OR (everything but my specialty) has in the past had low census issues. Nurses and STs were told not to show up for the following day when it was their turn to be off- rotating list alphabetically. They had the option of taking it without pay or using PTO. Many needed the income and chose to use their PTO- then when summer came around, very few people had enough PTO to cover their vacations, and either had to skip them or take them without pay.

If you really need the income, you may need to evaluate whether the job is going to continue being a fit for you, especially if you aren't allowed to pick up hours in another department (my facility does not allow OR nurses to float to other units). The other option you may have is to pick up a second job as a PRN employee.

[ChrisNZ]

At my facility people usually do online education, help in other OR's, stock room work or they sit in the tea room until their shift is over.