Extra shifts

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I work in a assisted living facility and we are short staffed. I pick up extra shifts when they ask me to but I don't see the full time employees having to do this. Sometimes it is hard because I am working two different shifts back to back. It doesn't really seem fair to me. Do they do this because they don't think I am good at my job. What gives.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

It's probably mostly a dollars and cents thing. If you're PT, it will take longer for you to get into overtime hours. A FT nurse will be there quicker---and lets face it, ANY facility is in the business of saving money wherever they can.

I highly doubt they ask you to cover extra shifts because you're a subpar nurse--I'm sure it's quite the opposite, or they wouldn't ask you!

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The reason they probably do this is that you're an easy pick-up (extra shifts). What gives is that you accept the extra shifts when you apparently may not really want them. Just say 'no'.

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Specializes in Long-term/Geriatrics, Home Health.

I work full-time at my SNF job and I'm constantly asked to work extra shifts even if it results in overtime. Their main motivation at my job is just to have a warm body to cover that shift otherwise the higher-ups would have to come out of their office and actually do work! As long as they have someone to cover their precious medcarts, they are content and don't really care who takes the shift. IMO!

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

You can always say (practice with me) "I'm sorry,I'm not available but thanks for asking"

PRN staff are exactly that-and generally cheaper to utilize than paying overtime to the full timers.The full timers are usually the charge nurses or the regular unit staff and are usually responsible for more of the routine stuff than a PRN nurse is-they have a tough job and deserve their time off.

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