I keep getting cancelled.. help :(

[Heather Danielle]

Hi everyone, I am currently a newer nurse working on a specialized unit in a hospital. I started working there in January and came off of orientation in March, so I have been on my own for about 1.5 months. Up until now I haven't had any issues with getting cancelled, but I was just called off for my 4th shift in a row today. This is extremely frustrating because a. how am I supposed to gain more nursing experience as a new nurse and b. how am I supposed to have any means of income? It is frustrating because I was hired for per diem on my unit (all new nurses are) so we are the first to get cancelled due to low census. I'm afraid that I'll lose all of my shifts for the upcoming week as well.

Is there anything I can do in this situation? I know I should talk to management about this but in reality there is not much they can do since it is hospital policy to cancel someone if the census is low. Since I have been there only 4 months and this is my first job is it inappropriate to start looking for another one? And given the current crisis we are in I feel that this makes this extra difficult for me to find another position. I really do love my current job and don't want to leave but this lack of hours lately is not okay with me. Anyone who's been in this situation or similar, what did you do? I'm just a baby nurse who really wants to gain valuable nursing experience and a solid income. ? Thanks guys.

[KellyMPH]

What I used to do when canceled from my unit was to call the nurse supervisor and tell him/her that I wanted to work and if they had ANY other needs that day. This worked because I'm an ICU nurse and I could float to any other ICU and I would also go to Step-down, Tele floors. Is this an option for you? Can you speak with the supervisor when they cancel you and ask if there are other needs in the hospital that you would feel comfortable floating to?

[Blackcat99]

Go get a full time job at a nursing home. You will not get cancelled. They will even call you on your days off to see if your want any overtime.

[NewRN'16, ADN, RN]

Have you tried applying for an agency job? They have a multitude of shifts and different facilities available.

[TriciaJ, RN]

18 minutes ago, NewRN'16 said:

Have you tried applying for an agency job? They have a multitude of shifts and different facilities available.

Unfortunately agencies now have an experience requirement (in order to maintain JCAHO accreditation). This might not be an option for a new grad.

OP, due to the current pandemic and people being furloughed, there might not be work on other units. Sounds like everyone is in the same boat. But it doesn't hurt to ask and to make yourself available to come in on the spot if called.

I imagine during normal times, working per diem was more reliable and lucrative. I suspect the hospital hires new grads this way because it cuts down on the whole probation issue. Easier to just cancel people who aren't working out.

I'm not implying this is what is happening to the OP. These are unusual times. It's just turning out that new grads in that hospital are in the same position as a lot of workers who are currently not able to work at their jobs.

[turtlesRcool]

OP, who makes the decision to cancel at your hospital? I realize that per diem nurses are the first ones called off, but on any given day, there is someone who goes through a list or process to call people and downstaff them.

Is there anyone you can contact to see if there's a way you can get more shifts?

Personally, I have control hours and a union, so I don't have to accept being downstaffed or put on call, no matter how low the census gets. However, I have 3 kids at home with no school or daycare, and I am in a financial position to not be paid for a while. Earlier this week, I got up early and called the staffing office to ask if I could be down staffed, and was. If I'm down staffed, it doesn't count as a call out for attendance disciplinary matters.

Maybe see if there are any control hour nurses in your department who would like to be called off, either to use PTO or to take a day unpaid. While I realize most people want a paycheck, there might be some who would happily take the chance to stay at home and not have it counted against them as a call out.

[11blade, RN]

I agree with others-apply for unemployment benefits NOW in the state you are working in. You may not even be able to get through right now, but keep trying. Some states have a waiting period for benefits, so you want to do this soon. It may take some time to get paid. I was lucky this past week. I spent all day on the phone Monday, got a live person. I had applied on line, but the online website directed me to call. I was unable to get through until just this week. I got submitted Monday by the live person, then the computer had to update overnight..a few overnights. I requested payment on Wednesday and actually got a payment (6 weeks) on Friday.

Don't wait, you've earned that money!