Low census/flex time

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2010

My past life of working for Legacy, Portland (which was the suckiest hospital on the planet) was to see my flex time PTO ripped out of my vacation funds (first and only hospital I know that got away with doing this!). So, sure, one could take vacations anytime. Expectation to be reimbursed for vacation time, nada! No money in the tinker. I don't know how they legally could get away with this?! If you are hired full time, you should work full time IMO and be given paid vacations period!

nohika · Jul 17, 2010

My past life of working for Legacy, Portland (which was the suckiest hospital on the planet) was to see my flex time PTO ripped out of my vacation funds (first and only hospital I know that got away with doing this!). So, sure, one could take vacations anytime. Expectation to be reimbursed for vacation time, nada! No money in the tinker. I don't know how they legally could get away with this?! If you are hired full time, you should work full time IMO and be given paid vacations period!

I volunteer at the Legacy in Vancouver, and I know the department I volunteer on has had census drop ridiculously low - 6pts in two units, with four RNs (two in each unit). They've been talking about being flexed tons lately - I'd be curious to see how that affects their pay.

Delaina · Jul 18, 2010

Sadly, I'm a fecal attractor also. I call my scrubs "poojamas".

I just graduated in May and have only worked three days so far at my new job, but on all three of those days someone was asked to take off because the census was low. On the first day, I remember thinking, "I bet that doesn't happen very often, so I'd embrace those times." By the third day I started getting scared that I'll never be able to count on a full paycheck or make a budget.

I'd always stay, but the nurses that do stay are left without a unit secretary (those are sent home too) and a PCA that has to take practically the whole floor. It's more than double the workload for the ones that stay and they don't get paid any more money than normal.

This is scaring me, I don't mind saying.

pharmgirl · Jul 18, 2010

This is currently a HUGE issue at the hospital I work. We have a low census at the beginning of the shift so someone is called off, and yes, this comes out of your PTO unles you sign the book that you dont want to be paid that day. By the middle of the shift we have 8 or 9 patients each, with no charge nurse because she was pulled to take patients. Then by the endof the shift we are back down to 4-5 patients because our original 3 are now being discharged after 4pm. Its' been a nightmare. Last paycheck I was short 3 shifts due to being called off. It really has been brutal. If we are able to get someone to agree to be on "busy call" they get $2 an hour until they clock in/out. Danged if ya do, danged if ya don't. One of the reasons I am changing departments

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 18, 2010

Our charge nurses tend to try to flex people to come in later, vs. flexing people to leave early. Sending someone home usually opens the floodgates, and we end up with a waiting room full of people to be seen and five ambulances arriving simultaneously. Never fails!! :)

Mulan · Jul 18, 2010

My past life of working for Legacy, Portland (which was the suckiest hospital on the planet) was to see my flex time PTO ripped out of my vacation funds (first and only hospital I know that got away with doing this!). So, sure, one could take vacations anytime. Expectation to be reimbursed for vacation time, nada! No money in the tinker. I don't know how they legally could get away with this?! If you are hired full time, you should work full time IMO and be given paid vacations period!

Where else is it going to come from?

It's not going to come out of sick time.

It's either take PTO and get paid, or don't get paid.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2010

Where else is it going to come from?
It's not going to come out of sick time.
It's either take PTO and get paid, or don't get paid.

Actually, hospitals generally have a separate account (VACATION) outside of one's regular PTO.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 20, 2010

We don't. We have PTO, period. When we were acquired by another hospital system, our "vacation" hours were rolled into PTO, and our "sick" hours were rendered virtually untouchable in an "Extended Illness Bank," or EIB, that can only be accessed when PTO is exhausted. Annoying, because I have 233 hours of EIB time.

EmergencyNrse · Jul 21, 2010

I'm seeing it more and more. People sent home and forced to take mandatory PTO to fill in the weekly shortage. Many nurses without much in the way of PTO are hurting and now with the summer season can't afford to take off because their vacation time is depleted.

Me, I don't feel that it's right. If I agree to come on board for a full-time schedule I want to be utilized for full-time hours. Expenses, Bills, Mortgage, Car Notes all need paid. Can't just cut workers hours because census drops off. People depend on those hours.

It's a bad situation in an already stressful environment being forced to go home. As a traveler that is contracted for 4 12's/week. They can send me home but they gotta pay me. I'm not being sent home until they are ready to turn the lock on the front door. Basically, I'm guaranteed my shifts and to actual staff feel shafted. Creates some resentment for travelers @ these facilities.

I hate to gloat but I'm happy I'm a traveler these days. Sucks to be staff.

Horrified · Sep 22, 2010

We get low censused without regard for whether we have PTO or not, too bad so sad is the culture. PTO is used until it is gone and then pay checks get hit.

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · Sep 26, 2010

Our ER is staffed regardless of census, all other units are staffed by census, somehow I never got called off when I was on Med/Surg and after transfering to the ER I still get called to pick up extra when census is booming lol