How do ya'll handle late cancels?

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I always call my agency 2 hrs before the shift to confirm. But...if I get all the way out to a facility and am canceled here, I feel I should be compensated 2 hrs time and trouble.

I told them it is customary for the agency to check with facilities and let the nurse know about cancellations at the 2 hr time...I feel it's part of their job to respect my time. 45 minutes in bad weather and bumper to bumper traffic to be canceled...and this is not OK. The agency said they tried to call my house 30 minutes b4 the shift to cancel, but I was on the road already then....and it's still a late cancel IMO.

Now I'm just getting back with agency after 5 years out...have things changed this much that our time is NOT respected?

How do you guys handle this issue with YOUR agencies??

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Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care, Family NP.

The agencies I have worked for have a four hour cut off, If a nurse is not cancelled four hours before the shift, they have to be paid for half the scheduled shift. If a nurse arrives at the facility and is told to leave, they get four hours pay.

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Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care, Family NP.

Also, I have refused to schedule time with any facility that cancels me more than once. I don't give a crap if "one of their own" picked up the hours, sometimes I have been scheduled weeks in advance and cancelled the day before. I won't go back.

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Specializes in Everything but psych!.

Heck, one of the agencies I worked for would cancel me at 10:00 pm for an 11p-7a shift! I couldn't believe it! I would be just walking out the door and the phone rings!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

With my agency we are required to call 2 hrs. before our shift to make sure we are not cancelled. If you drive to work and they cancel you then we are compensated 4 hrs. pay. That happened to me one time in 3 years, a nice little bonus.

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Hi. Where I work, you're supposed to be given a two hour notice. If the hospital calls the agency & the agency doesn't call you, the agency pays the two hours. If the hospital forgets to call the agency, the hospital pays you the two hours. Hope that helps.

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Thanks for the replies. I will continue to push for some recognition with this issue. Every other agency I worked for had a time and trouble policy if cancelled within a short time frame. This agency should too IMO. Thanks for the input guys!

I know different areas do things different ways. I've been with this agency a few months now and am seeing how they operate....I have 3 recruitors who call me up to 9 times a day for repetitive things..pushing me to work more than I want.......yet they don't communicate... and now this late cancel at the facility in bad, bad weather conditions...no consideration for my time.....it is a PIA. Really considering going 'my own way' soon and doing my own marketing/scheduling.

I appreciate the opportunity to bounce things off other agency nurses..thanks again...:).

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Originally posted by BadBird

With my agency we are required to call 2 hrs. before our shift to make sure we are not cancelled. If you drive to work and they cancel you then we are compensated 4 hrs. pay. That happened to me one time in 3 years, a nice little bonus.

I LOVE your policy Badbird!!!! This is what I am used to as well!!

This is exactly what happened: I got sweet talked into an 'emergency' shift with a new client.... at 3 pm. I was to be there at 6 pm for orientation. I left my house at 530 pm to be cancelled at the facility when I arrived. My agency is hedging about TT pay and I'm pizzed. :(

I guess if I can't get this agency to see things my way I will have to move on... it's like, they get 33% plus of the billed rate and what are they doing for ME? They seem to forget they make their $$$ off ME so I am kinda important after all...LOL....Might as well do the marketing, scheduling, tax etc. work myself vs paying them to do nothing for me...:(

Hey, great idea for ALL of us, no?? hehe :roll

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Originally posted by Katmease

Hi. Where I work, you're supposed to be given a two hour notice. If the hospital calls the agency & the agency doesn't call you, the agency pays the two hours. If the hospital forgets to call the agency, the hospital pays you the two hours. Hope that helps.

I remember working for an agency that placed blame for late cancels this way too...nice to know some are still enforcing it! I am not getting any response to my questions regarding policy at this agency...so I guess I'm getting my answer there...and need to check out better agencies in the area. Thanks for responding!!:D

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I had this happen 4 nights in a row over new years -- prebooked for night shift at one facility all 4 nights -- due to start at 22:45 -- the hospital rang me at 20:30 each night to cancel. (Thats 15 min outside the 2 hour window). The agency were very apologetic, & I was going to take the hospital of my list of facilities to work for, but didn't.

The next time they booked me, for a night shift again, I accepted, then I rang them at 22:00 & cancelled myself!! Probably not very nice, but it made me feel better.....!!

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I always remember the agency works for me.

I like to talk to the supervisors and find out which agencies have contracts at their hospital. There's usually a minimum of 6. I let my agency staffer know in a friendly way that I will switch to another agency if I am abused. And the manager and owner knows too.

All agencies have their "favorites" who get the best rates, best shifts, best____________________"

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Originally posted by passing thru

I always remember the agency works for me.

I like to talk to the supervisors and find out which agencies have contracts at their hospital. There's usually a minimum of 6. I let my agency staffer know in a friendly way that I will switch to another agency if I am abused. And the manager and owner knows too.

All agencies have their "favorites" who get the best rates, best shifts, best____________________"

Passing thru, you bring up a very good point. The agency does work for you and they get very nicely compensated as well.

Kris

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