Licensing question for a new grad in HH

[MBrickle]

Hi all,

I recently graduated from school and passed the nclex. I was lucky enough to secure a PCA job for a chronically ill child before graduation, and since, have begun the process of getting hired through the home care company that supplies nurses (16 hrs/day) for this child.

The mother is having issues with her nursing hours - telling the agency she wants to hire me for Wed and Fri, but telling me that she wants me to work Wed, Fri and Sunday. When I mentioned this to the agency they brought up the issue of her hours and how she would not have enough to employ me for three shifts (the agency will put me on another case so that I am working 40hrs/week.) The mother often asks her nurses to work an hour or so late on most day, which is fine since none of the other nurses work 40 hours. Since I will be working 40 hours, I will be unable to stay late as the agency will not grand overtime.

The mother has alluded to the fact that she wants to pay me in cash for extra hours I work (including, potentially, the entire shift that she doesn't have the hours for.) This is strictly against the policy of the homecare agency and could get me fired. If I get fired or if I quit before I have been employed for one year by this agency, I owe the agency $5,000 to make up for money spent on training me.

I told the mother that this was against the policy of the agency and, per the agency, they said I could lose my license. The mother said that she has verified that I won't lose my license by accepting cash, but yes, it is against the policy of the home care agency. I'm very irritated that she doesn't seem to care about me possibly losing my job over this, but I'm noticing alot that in home care parents seem to push for whats easiest for them, no matter what rules they are breaking.

My point is this: I plan to tell mom that I will not accept cash payment in any way, shape, or form because I absolutely cannot afford to lose my job. What I am wondering is this: What is the ramification that I may face from a licensure standpoint? I'd like to know, if, in fact, I would potentially lose my license for accepting cash payment from her over-and-beyond her hours? I'd just like to have more info to back myself up in case the mother pushes back.

Thanks!

[KateRN1]

Best thing would be to contact your state board of nursing.

[caliotter3]

This case is trouble before the get go. If you are wise, you will ask the agency to find another case for you and avoid the headache this woman has planned for you.

[caliotter3]

And BTW, there are nurses who do private duty for their agency clients. The agency may not be happy about it, but, as a nurse supervisor told me one time, 'what she does on her off duty time is her business'. And the private duty client's take on the matter usually involves the view that 'the agency can't provide me the nursing care I need, so I will get it myself, even if I have to pay for it'.