Getting called off

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I am a nursing student and will begin semester 3 of 4 the end of August. For the summer I am working as a PCA in two different hospitals. One position is on the oncology floor and the other is in post partum. Both hospitals have called me off on several occasions. Of course, I am not the only one getting called off, even the RN's get called off. I can't help but feel discouraged. Is there really a nursing shortage? I can think of several nurses this week who would have loved to work. Is this something I need to get used to? I was hoping things would improve for me financially when I get out of school. Now I am not so sure...

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A nursing shortage in America doesn't mean a) a shortage near you or b) that your company isn't putting profits first or c) that you staffer accidentally or purposely overbooked or d) that they are trying to come under budget or anything else.

I also tend to think the nursing shortage applies to RN's. At least where I have lived, LPNS and CNAs were a dime a dozen. That's just here though. We have a large nursing population.

Being called off happens sometimes. There have been times where I have accidentally overbooked the floor but instead of ruining their day I send myself home. :) Vacation time spent doesn't count against the budget or allowed nursing hours!!!

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During my internship we has a low census week and several high, high census weeks in the NICU, I was worried during the low census week too!!

The nurses told me that if you can float anywhere you will usually work when your unit is low census. Other nurses told me that it evens out over the year, some times you get called off but more often the unit is short and you are able to work over-time.

I know it is different everywhere, this particular hospital has a lot of RN positions open and hires travelers.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

And we wonder why nurses are 'dissatisfied' in their jobs. How many other professionals are forced to use vacation days - or worse yet, go without pay?

This is the result of a traditional mode of staffing that smart organizations are trying to eliminate through various means. However, in the current climate it is a reality.

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I can understand the census to a point. For instance, there was one day when there were two CNA's on the schedule, myself and another. They sent her home and gave me 17 patients. That day they also sent two RN's home. I got my butt kicked that day and to be honest, more importantly, patient care was compromised...all around. That is the day I decided emphatically that I would never do a day of med surg floor nursing. I will not graduate and loose my license from making a mistake as a consequence of being overwhelmed all because the hospital is trying to save a few dollars. You are right, they wonder why there is a shortage. I love the clinical setting and feel I have a lot to offer as a nurse, but I can't help but wonder what's to come.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

I understand that working as a PCA is about getting opportunities to do procedures. But, if you need the hours of work, go to a nursing home and work as a CNA. You'll most likely not only never get called off, but work extra days and overtime if you want. The challenge there will be to practice basic nursing and good principles of nursing sometimes with coworkers (other CNAs) who just won't understand why you care so much.

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At the hospital were I work, 9 months out of the year we are extremely short on all staff. The other 3 months the census drops so low that many of us are constantly getting called off. Most of my friends who are nurses work 50+ hours weeks for 3-4 months during the winter and bank the overtime so that they can take the majority of the summer off to travel and spead time with their children. The trick is to bank the overtime rather than budgeting your bills to the inflated busy-time pay. Winters here are crazy. They were even paying triple time for ER nusres one winter. Unfortunately while I am in school, I can't work to the overtime when it is available and get called off when I have the time to work. One more year and it won't matter!

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Specializes in LTC, Cardiac Step-Down.

Don't know if this is the same nationwide, but the last several years here the summer has been notorious for low census. It'll pick up around the time the weather cools off and everybody starts getting flu/pneumonia :p Just realize that it works in cycles and don't get discouraged!

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It seems during the summer there are a lot more "low census" days in the hospital setting. The weather's nice, people are busy, etc. People either aren't getting sick or and aren't scheduling procedures during this time. This also happens during the holiday season.

I agree with the previous posts as far as working OT when you can and banking the extra cash. Something else that can be considered is working with an agency to pick up extra hours when things are slow at your "home" facility.

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Thanks for all the encouragement! Today I actually got in 2 hours before they sent me home. The summer time theory makes a lot of sense, especially because I am in South Florida, but the fact that I am labor and delivery kind of throws it off, babies are born in the summer too! But it is clear that for some reason, this tends to be a summer thing, even in L and D from what I hear. The banking of overtime is a valuable idea. I will remember that. Thanks again for all the support! You guys are great.

Triple pay in the ER during winter? Wow!

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Specializes in pediatrics.

I also work as a pca on a peds floor. I have been called off a few times and i only work 2 days a week so that was a problem. I called staffing and let them know that I would be interested in picking up some extra shifts and gave them my school schedule so that they know when I am absolutely not available. I have been called everyday since. Some of the positions are to pt sit and some are to work another unit. I like the exposure to the other units. It will come in handy for clinicals, but pt sitting is perfect for a student because you are stuck in a room for eight hours to observe a pt and take vitals every four hours. You have one pt and they do not need total care. So far I have been able to get a lot of studying in this way. I bet my pt tomorrow will require all of my attention now that I said that. lol. Anyway, call staffing. They love to get volunteers!!

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Specializes in Cardiac,Research,L&D,PACU,OR.

As i can see it's a habit to get called off by your unit. For me is very frustrating and i can't understand how this works. I consider that when you get a job you make a commitment with your employer. They are expecting you to come at work every day you are scheduled, do the best you can, isn't it? They are counting on you, I'm assuming. Same here too, i count on my employer that they offer me the possibility to do my job, to have the possibility to work my 80 h...'m I dreaming? Probably.

The way it works makes me fell used and trown away when they don't need me.

In my unit they say you can have the schedule you want, after you pick up the schedule you want they come to you and ask you if u can change a little your schedule working extra weekends, work as they want you too...:down:

I was a RN in my country for 11 years, nobody called me off telling me " we don't need you today, go home or don't come at work..." It's so frustrating....

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