Well, heck!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

I need some advice, yall, before I get another ulcer to go along with my Barrett's esophagus (which is what my repeat scan showed, for those who remember. If anyone else has that, I'd sure appreciate some tips, such as, should I fear for my life (no medical advice, I'm already wearing out my NP's phone)).

I have been working for my company for a year. From previous posts, y'all know that it has had its moments. Well, now it has come to a head. The plant is closing, yet we are doing new hire physicals. We're cutting shifts, yet they hire 2 new nurses. Makes about as much sense as a milk bucket under a bull.

The way the schedules are done is usually this: full timers are placed first, then PRN's are called to fill in. I never got a call for September, and got canceled for my last 2 shifts because the full time gal I was covering for decided to come back and, guess who got the shaft?

The September schedule came over the fax, and I had no days for the WHOLE MONTH. So, I called my company and asked about it.

"Oh, yeah, there were no openings."

Another older PRN-er and the new girl have the monopoly on days, it seems, which gripes me, since I think it should be an even split. I hate to pull what little rank I have, but they never made that allowance for me when I hired in.

My boss in MI said that the supervisor had said that she was going to call and let her know if she could use me on a project, and that she would let me know next week.

I spoke with my supervisor today, and she was really surprised to hear about that conversation, since apparently she was not present for it. She also had no idea that I had no days.

We had a major accident at work yesterday when this blew up, guy fell and fractured his C2, I was the responder, and everyone was so nice to tell me how well I did. Nice way to treat an employee that does a good job, huh?

Should I just quit? I'm looking for other work, this is my only job, and I need money. I'm so mad I could spit fire right now. Thanks for reading.

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Can you do agency work until you finish school?

Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

This IS an agency. I am currently looking into others, though.

Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
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Should I just quit? I'm looking for other work, this is my only job, and I need money. I'm so mad I could spit fire right now. Thanks for reading.

I can't speak for you - you'll have to make your own decision. But it seems to me that if you're not getting any days, then it's not much of a job. Best of luck to you.

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Oh, I thought you worked for the plant. Well, if they can't find anything for you, then I'd sure look for another agency. It's hard for me to believe they can't find any shifts for you, though. Most seem to need people constantly. Something's fishy in staffing somewhere.

Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

I agree. I may call tomorrow and let them know I will be looking. They always expect me to drop everything and come running when they need someone, so maybe it'll do them goo to know.

Well, if I were in your shoes I wouldn't even call them.

I'd be looking for work and if I found something I'd take it.

Then let them call me.

I would have to tell them....well, I wasn't getting any days with you, so I had to go find some work somewhere.

I was treated dirty on a part time job I had.

I have a full time, but was doing some part time at a ltc, near my house.

Well, I decided I wanted to cut back, I was tired, and needed some rest. The DON there suggested cutting back to 1 day a month and I could work it on a day off on the full time job.

So I said ok, I can do one day a month.

Well, the 2 LPNs who make out the schedules knew this and they were supposed to schedule me one day per month.

I got it one time....and it has been months now.

So one evening, I got a call from one of the LPNs asking me if I could do a night shift the weekend coming up, and leave my full time job at midnight and come in to the LTC and stay until 7 am.

I said, "Well since I'm working that evening on this job, can't you see if someone could move the days around so that I could work on one of my days off?"

She says, "No, not really."

So I said, "Well if that's all you can give me, then I can't commit myself to that, since I would have to leave this job at midnight, stay at the LTC until 7am and be back on the other job at 2 pm. I'm not going to commit myself to that."

They can just have it if that's all they can give me. I was doing without it before I got the part time job, and I can do without it now.

Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

Well, I don't really understand how agency work goes, but can't you just tell the agency you want a different position/diff facility/job? Don't they keep you abreast of jobs availability and if your'e interested or available??

Angelfire,

Don't you think that full-time or part-time staff should get priority over PRN/agency? It's not appropriate, or even legal, for an employer to give shifts to a PRN/agency person over another employee because it would make it possible for employers to get around offering benefits like health insurance and retirement by staffing with a large proportion of people who they arent' required to pay benefits to. However, I do feel for you. I'm PRN and I was left off the schedule for Sept. since they had enough full and part time employees to cover all the shifts. I'm hoping people will be calling in and going on vacation frequently. As for your situation, maybe you could apply for PRN or agency positions at several facilities to increase the likelihood of getting hours.

Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
Well, I don't really understand how agency work goes, but can't you just tell the agency you want a different position/diff facility/job? Don't they keep you abreast of jobs availability and if your'e interested or available??

Not this agency, this facility is the only one in the state that they serve. So, no, they don't tell us about other opportunities. I sure wish they did.

Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
Angelfire,

Don't you think that full-time or part-time staff should get priority over PRN/agency? It's not appropriate, or even legal, for an employer to give shifts to a PRN/agency person over another employee because it would make it possible for employers to get around offering benefits like health insurance and retirement by staffing with a large proportion of people who they arent' required to pay benefits to. However, I do feel for you. I'm PRN and I was left off the schedule for Sept. since they had enough full and part time employees to cover all the shifts. I'm hoping people will be calling in and going on vacation frequently. As for your situation, maybe you could apply for PRN or agency positions at several facilities to increase the likelihood of getting hours.

I may not have been clear, the agency cherry-picked 2 PRN nurses for ALL the hours after the fulltimers got theirs, the rest of us never even got a call. THAT is what has me steamed. And one of them is brand new! I know she needs to train, but I think they should at least spread it around a bit. I'd have been happy with one shift a week, at least I'd have a check coming in.

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