Do you work full time?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 31, 2013

I work full time hours but the agency does not offer full time status/benefits. All nurses are considered per diem for one agency. I have a primary case that I work 2x 14 hr shifts and an 8 hr shift plus fill in on other cases. 40 plus occasional OT.

I work a second agency mostly weekends and some short bus runs (2hr minimum pay even if run is 20 minutes round trip) plus last minute fill in for a higher rate. The second agency offers contract positions with 'guaranteed' 20, 30, or 40 hours with minimum of 2 weekend shifts per month. Still poor medical benefits (discount plan plus faster access to PTO)

Most agencies in my area only offer for full time for office staff. & clinical managers/supervisors. The skilled field staff is per diem so there is no obligation if there aren't any shifts or your client is in the hospital.

PerfectlyPlump, ADN, RN · Jul 31, 2013

That is interesting. Thanks! What is a bus run?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 31, 2013

I accompany school aged children on a bus 99% of the time they have some form of epilepsy and are at risk of a seizure. Therefore a licensed nurse needs to be present at all times (the school nurse takes over during school hours) to administer Diastat or other prescribed medication in the event of a seizure during the bus run. My agency contracts with various school districts. I'm paid to meet the bus and ride along with a specific child to and or from school to monitor for potential seizure activity. Most are well controlled on their current medications. these children do not need a 1:1 nurse in the school setting but in my state only a parent or licensed nurse (RN or LPN) can administer diastat or other medicaiton.

SDALPN · Aug 3, 2013

I work full time and then some! My agency has a f/t option that makes benefits cheaper and I was lucky enough to get the position since they don't offer many f/t positions. But they require me to work a min number of hours and a minimum number of weekend hours. I also have to cover certain holidays to maintain f/t status. But being a single female means I don't have a second income or someone to put me on their insurance, so its the best option for me. I also had to give up any bonus pay for the option (they still will offer it if they are desperate enough). I float and work almost any case. That way I can keep my hours up if my regular pts are in the hospital. Floating also lets me see what cases I prefer to stay regularly staffed on. I try to schedule a minimum of 36 hours a week and then I pick up extra shifts as I can or choose to. That way, I can choose to have an easy week if I only do 3 12s. Or I can pick up extra shifts for extra cash.

I work mostly 12 hour shifts with an occasional 8 or 10 hour shift. My minimum is 8 hours, but I can be flexible with that for emergencies or a family I really like. It costs me gas and time to get to and from work, so the more hours I can do, the cheaper it is long term.

I work days. I used to work nights, but I need to have a life again! And I don't find it hard to maintain most of the time. I schedule some weeks as heavy as I can, knowing that it will be a rough week but knowing that the week will give me security in knowing my bills will be paid if I get a bad week that month. I will work one week a month for about 60 hours and then a 40 something hr week and at least one 36 hour week so I can have time to do what I need to do. That leaves me a week to play with for the month depending on my needs. Because I'm with a national company, I work for multiple offices and also keep up hours that way. They will occasionally have a need further than I care to drive and will put me in a hotel if its too far. They will cover some of the gas expense. And they don't cover food expenses so I make sure I get a hotel with a fridge so I can eat cheap.

I'm also coded by them to work any case. Meaning I can work with trachs, vents, IVs, feeding tubes, peds, infants etc. not every company does this. But I see lots of nurses limiting themselves by not learning or wanting to do other cases. But the "harder"cases are harder to cover because less nurses can do them. So it gives me an advantage.

I also communicate with my office and the other offices to keep them posted on availability so I will be one of their first options to be called.

PerfectlyPlump, ADN, RN · Aug 4, 2013

Thank you, that was really informative. I can see some things I can do to possibly improve my availability and number of hours. It is great to find out what other nurses are doing. Are you in a major metropolitan area?

SinikRN101 · Aug 4, 2013

I work full time, per diem. usually 4-5/ 8 hr. Noc shifts. Usually all on one pt. If my patient is admitted they scramble to catch me a couple of days. I think it usually just depends on what they have available at any given time, when you are hired, new patients coming on services or off.

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2013

I work independently and I could work enough hours to be considered full time, but of course there are no benefits with that and it would be foolish to put all my eggs into one basket; for both the family and myself. I am signed on with two agencies and I work the bare minimum (8-16 hours per month) to stay active with them; they are really just backups should my primary PD case become unavailable for whatever reason. Lastly, I picked up a full time office job that offers my insurance and is not private duty at all, so I am working anywhere from 54-70 hours per week most weeks. Interestingly enough, it really doesn't feel like it since many of my private shifts are short shifts or weekend overnights.

PerfectlyPlump, ADN, RN · Aug 18, 2013

Thanks for your responses.

I am starting to think that the full time case that I am hoping for, in my general area, and that is a reasonably good fit, may not be out there. I am thinking that I need 2 gigs going at once to achieve FT hours...either with my current agency, or by signing on with a second agency.