Getting a parent to switch agencies

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Feb 9, 2016

Well she was looking to switch any way. So thank you.

allnurses Guide · Feb 11, 2016

Has anyone done that before? I have a job with agency A but really want to work with agency B. I don't plan to go in there & try to hijack the case & move agencies right away. But how would I do it? I've never tried to get the parents to switch agencies before so I don't know how to go about it.

I've seen patients/clients switching agencies and bringing nurses with them, and I've seen where one nurse will launch a campaign to get the family to switch. The thing is usually it means all the nurses working on that case will need to switch which can be very disruptive to them as they worry about dealing with all new office staff, potential pay cut, etc.

I wouldn't feel right in the role of the convincer while being an employee of the first agency, and thought that if it turns out to be a bad choice the convincer will probably get the blame, but from what I've seen it's a fairly common practice for PDN nurses to do that.

No Stars In My Eyes · Feb 11, 2016

With my agency, every time you sign your name on your time slip, you are...as printed out under your signature...agreeing to NOT work with that particular patient/family for 90 days, should their status with the company change. No free-agent flying allowed.

My primary agency once had a patient with a rare brain disorder, and her primary at-home CG and POA-by-default was kind of whacked. When he got all huffy on them and switched to his 3rd agency, he asked me to stay on with the patient. Since the folks at my agency at the time were very patient-oriented, and since I 'got along' with the CG, they didn't mind if I signed up with the other agency to keep some continuity of care for the poor patient.

Some time later the CG got into it with the DON and the supervisor of the'new' agency and was physically abusive to the DON at a re-assessment visit in the home. YIKES! It was at that point we all three walked out. Safety issue, doncha know.

I hated it for the patient, because although I'd been told she was pretty much 'veg', and therefore 'not really' responding, I KNEW I could get responses out of her that were pertinent to my actions, and told me my methods were successful to the degree that she became quiet, calm, and relaxed. No small thing, if that is the totality of the 'good' part of her existance.

A while later I saw her obit, which said the funeral home was trying to locate any next of kin. I was glad she was out of there, poor dear.

SDALPN · Feb 12, 2016

No judgment here on the ethics.

To me, its business. If a family chooses to follow you, they have the right to choose their provider. You aren't taking them from the agency if they choose to follow you. If the agency was really worried about losing the case, they would get their act together.

The non-compete agreement isn't worth the paper its written on from what I've heard. An employer can't keep you from working. Lets say the agency has one case. The case leaves for another agency. You leave because the agency doesn't have other cases. You both end up at the same new agency. Are you not allowed to work and pay your bills? I can't see any reasonable judge allowing that. If an agency doesn't provide what the family needs, you shouldn't have to suffer for it.

I get the business side of it. If you work two agencies just to take cases from one agency to bring to another, that is sabotaging the agency that you take cases from. To me, that would be unethical. I get the business has to protect themselves. But a good company realizes they need to do what they can to keep good employees and cases.

Don't forget the politics. If you get a bad reputation because of a choice like this, you may hurt your ability to work long term over a short term choice. The boss you cross, may be the hiring manager at your next job. The nurses you work with will remember the work they lost if you take the case. Those nurses could be your next boss or could influence your ability to get another job.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Feb 13, 2016

If the family selects the second agency on their own that's one issue. If you happen to already be working for the second agency it's coincidence.

If you tell the family where you are working and suggest they follow you that violates ethics, can be considered sabotage, and can trigger enforcement of a noncompete agreement. You should not initiate the switch.

I had a former case that knew I worked two agencies. I left the first agency. Parent contacted me about switching. As I don't trust the first agency I suggested several agencies (including one I knew she'd laugh at as they don't have a great reputation or hire qualified nurses) including my current. This parent needs to make their own decision as to what would be best for her family. She thinks she's going to pull her current nurses and unrealistic schedule. Funny thing is one of her nurses has been inquiring about agency D. That nurse doesn't realize her coworker (X) is ineligible for rehire at agency D. (Same nurse doesn't realize X tried to get her fired so X could get her full time hours).

If a family follows that's fine. If a family changes agencies and brings nurses with them that's fine. If you leave and bring clients with you, it's not the wisest or most ethical career move. Only scenario I've seen that work was when the client was private pay and needed to switch to agency and followed the nurse.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Feb 13, 2016

If the family selects the second agency on their own that's one issue. If you happen to already be working for the second agency it's coincidence.
If you tell the family where you are working and suggest they follow you that violates ethics, can be considered sabotage, and can trigger enforcement of a noncompete agreement. You should not initiate the switch.
I had a former case that knew I worked two agencies. I left the first agency. Parent contacted me about switching. As I don't trust the first agency I suggested several agencies (including one I knew she'd laugh at as they don't have a great reputation or hire qualified nurses) including my current. This parent needs to make their own decision as to what would be best for her family. She thinks she's going to pull her current nurses and unrealistic schedule. Funny thing is one of her nurses has been inquiring about agency D. That nurse doesn't realize her coworker (X) is ineligible for rehire at agency D. (Same nurse doesn't realize X tried to get her fired so X could get her full time hours).
If a family follows that's fine. If a family changes agencies and brings nurses with them that's fine. If you leave and bring clients with you, it's not the wisest or most ethical career move. Only scenario I've seen that work was when the client was private pay and needed to switch to agency and followed the nurse.

What happened with me was I met the nurse & she was in the process of switching agencies. She had had a hell of a time with the other agencies in the area I live. I told her the truth about the agencies she'd been with & about the one she was switching to.

I told her about the other one I was with because she was hesitant about agency A. She ended up switching to agency B which was better for me & honestly, better for her. All the agencies in my area are terrible & she knows it.

AdobeRN · Feb 19, 2016

Seems unethical to convince a family to switch. I have only had parents ask me to change after they decided to do it - I have followed a client once but will not again - too much trouble and time consuming on my end :)

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Feb 19, 2016

Seems unethical to convince a family to switch. I have only had parents ask me to change after they decided to do it - I have followed a client once but will not again - too much trouble and time consuming on my end :)

Please read previous post. Thank you.