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Discussion

Going on call after only a few months

So, I am planning on speaking to my manager about switching from part time to on call.

Backstory: I am a new nurse on a med surg unit. Frankly, I had family assisting with childcare so I could catch up on sleep. They had agreed to this arrangement for a year but after a couple of months have decided they no longer want to watch my kids. And they have every right to. However, I am part time hours and not able to afford day care. I have tried to switch shifts once when there was an opening but did not get it and there have been no openings since that would allow me to afford childcare. There has also been alot of low censusing where I work. And the health insurance where I work eats half of my paycheck. I have been applying elsewhere for full time positions that would allow me to afford day care and have more affordable health insurance. I do want to stay where I am currently working on call once I get another position.

How do I express this to a manager in a professional manner? I want to go this about the right way and I am super nervous. I know it is bad to leave a job before the first year. But financially this is getting really hard.

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    What does "on call" mean to you? It sounds like you might a actually be talking about "per diem".

    Being on call usually requires you to rush in within 30-45 minutes of being called. It would be more chaotic and more difficult to find child care. And the pay is much lower until you actually get called in ...sometimes as low as 5ish dollars an hour.

    If you're thinking of per diem, it doesn't hurt to ask. Depending on your unit's staffing needs, they might say yes or no. My per diem position required a minimum of two years experience.

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    • Author

    Sorry. I sometimes make the mistake of using the terms interchangeable. But no I mean from switching to part time to a per diem position. Per diem would require picking up a minimum amount of shifts a month and sometimes I could still be called off on those shifts. I am okay with that financially as long as I have a full time position. Also, my unit does not require a minimum experience for per diem.

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    Sorry. I sometimes make the mistake of using the terms interchangeable. But no I mean from switching to part time to a per diem position. Per diem would require picking up a minimum amount of shifts a month and sometimes I could still be called off on those shifts. I am okay with that financially as long as I have a full time position. Also, my unit does not require a minimum experience for per diem.

    How can you be per diem AND consider yourself as having a full time position? I'm confused

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    • Author

    I would try to get a full time position at another hospital where I could have the chance of overtime while maintaining a per diem position where I currently work.

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    You can always ask. The worst they can say is no.

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    I would try to get a full time position at another hospital where I could have the chance of overtime while maintaining a per diem position where I currently work.

    But you still don't have childcare...how can you take on shifts at the other hospital when you can't swing them at this one?

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