How do ya'll handle late cancels?

[mattsmom81]

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??

[mattsmom81]

Thanks guys...I need to do my homework on the good agencies in my parts now. The three agencies I used to work for are either gone or not enjoying the best reputations now...good suggestion to visit with the supervisors a bit as they know the score.

Guess I'll tell my agency I have a second job so don't call me before 2pm..that will at lease slow down the volume of calls a bit...LOL!

The recruitors in my office are all young/20's... and I DO know this generation (my sons') loves to phone gab constantly....perhaps don't realize they're bugging me by calling me up to 9 times a day... to wheedle me into work I don't want. The repetitive calls need to stop too.

Now I'm glad they're looking for work for me BUT....

I was spoiled at my other agency jobs...basically one scheduler (another nurse) who knew the nurses needs very well and worked with us.

[eddy]

I've had better experiences overall with staffers that weren't nurses. I always felt like the staffer that was also a nurse tried to talk over the field nurses. Also, it seemed like nurse staffers weren't as aggressive at getting new facilities when one dried up. Sorry, it's a slanted opinion... but it's just what I have experienced.

Also, be carefulllllll about playing both sides of the fence (threatening that you'll go to another agency). Some facilities frown on people switching and going thru another agency after they've been there thru another. My assumption is because it can cause confussion when it comes to requesting the person, cancelling the person, etc. So, long story short, make sure it's on the up and up with the facility before doing it..... That's my advice. :)