No one bothered to call me before my shift

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Jul 18, 2012

I work for a hospice seeing patients in their homes. Sometimes a patient will die over the weekend and they will not notify the week day folks. This hasn't happened to me yet, but a colleague turned up to an already dead for a day patient................. it had to have been really awful explaining to the grieving family.......

caliotter3 · Jul 18, 2012

This has happened to me enough times to bother me if I think it could have been avoided. In my state, one is entitled to show up pay, also called reporting time pay. Recently, I was paid that once, but not paid two or three times. Very aggravating when they don't pay you. Then you're in the position of deciding not to go to the Labor Board because you don't want to get totally canned.

wsuRN09 · Jul 18, 2012

Well, that stinks. I never went to a home when the client wasn't there, but there were times where I had to call the agency because I knew the client had been in the hospital and no one had called to update me. I did show up at the wrong home once, they had shuffled nurses around to cover holes and forgot to tell me. I think this kind of thing is inconsiderate and unprofessional but it does happen, the agency employs humans after all. So once and a while didn't bother me too much (3 or 4 times in 2.5 years). However, if it's a regular occurrence and/or you're not compensated, I would be looking for new job.

Blackcat99 · Jul 18, 2012

Thanks to all. So I am not the only one. It was so frustrating! I was suppose to work a night shift so of course, I arranged my whole day so that I would be "well-rested" for my night shift. Sorry to hear that others have had to deal with it too. Yes, we nurses are suppose to have rights. We are suppose to have the right to go to the Labor Board. Of course, if we actually go to the Labor board or elsewhere then we are canned. I have a job interview soon so hopefully I can say goodbye to this particular agency. This agency does not like to hear any complaints of any kind. Nurses who complain about anything are removed from the work schedule. Two of these nurses complained to the agency that the patient was being verbally abused. Those 2 nurses were taken off the work schedule for 3 weeks to "teach them a lesson." They only want non-complaining nurses here.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2012

Thanks to all. So I am not the only one. It was so frustrating! I was suppose to work a night shift so of course, I arranged my whole day so that I would be "well-rested" for my night shift. Sorry to hear that others have had to deal with it too. Yes, we nurses are suppose to have rights. We are suppose to have the right to go to the Labor Board. Of course, if we actually go to the Labor board or elsewhere then we are canned. I have a job interview soon so hopefully I can say goodbye to this particular agency. This agency does not like to hear any complaints of any kind. Nurses who complain about anything are removed from the work schedule. Two of these nurses complained to the agency that the patient was being verbally abused. Those 2 nurses were taken off the work schedule for 3 weeks to "teach them a lesson." They only want non-complaining nurses here.

That, sad to say, is pretty much nursing in general especially in this present economic climate. While frustrating...what labor laws were broke to cause you to lodge a complaint? Frustrating your employee is perfectly legal. There are laws about being paid for your time but nothing about being treated unfairly that causes you frustration.

Showing up to work and being sent home also happens at hospitals. Upsetting? yes. Illegal?No.

Most hospitals/facilities/agencies want compliant,non complaining yes men/women. :mad: That is the sad truth.