Nursing Agency driving me over the edge

[Merlyn]

I'm an agency ,male LPN I belong to about five agencies. One is a real pain when it comes to my time. I give this women my time according to what I think I can do for the next week. If I can't do the one or two days that I said because another agency gives me time before this one does, this woman goes postal, because she has already schedule me for a job before she ask me if I can do it. She wants me to call her every time that I get a job from another agency. Sometimes the other agency asked if I can do a job in an hour. I don't have the time to contact her. The next day she calls me and yells that she had a job and I didn't pick up my phone. It has gotten so bad that I now use a recorder when I talk to this woman. My handicap wife is getting upset with this woman's phone calls. I am on unemployment so I can't quite this agency. On the other hand this woman has schedule me for jobs and when I get to the facility they say they don't need me that she never confirmed me that day. this has happen eight times in the past year. Does anyone have ANY suggestions?

[RNgonewild]

Tell her you are going on a long vacation and you will call her when you get back. Then don't call her. And don't answer her calls. I would say quit, but I'm just not understanding your unemployment thing, if you're working how are you collecting unemployment?

[NICUQueen]

How are you on unemployment if you are employed by this agency???

[KatieNoelLPN]

Just playing devils' advocate, but if you give her a schedule of your availability and then when she calls you to work within that availability and you are booked elsewhere, I can see how she could be frustrated. Maybe more communication with her is needed. Good luck!

[nurseiam08]

I definitely think that if you cannot afford quitting this particular agency, then you have to make an endevour to improve communication between you and this woman. Obviously she is not very good communicator. I would ask for a meeting with her and respectfully bring up the issues that you have been having. Explain to her the problems that you have been experiencing with her scheduling and try to work out some solutions together, if possible. Good luck!

[caliotter3]

When I was on unemployment they asked me if I was signed on with any employment agencies (home health or other). I was expected to check for work daily (or however, to be available). If the agency had work for me that day, I was forced to work or lose that day of unemployment (and possibily have my claim terminated). For each day during the week worked, unemployment benefits for that one day are subtracted from unemployment check. Makes you a slave to the agency. I have had agency human resource personnel rub this fact in my face and I have happily informed them that I was not drawing unemployment (and thus could refuse an assignment). At least this is how it works in my state from my personal experience.

[Merlyn]

Thanks. I'm going to check with my unemployment tomorrow.

[Merlyn]

How are you on unemployment if you are employed by this agency???

In my state, you can work as long as you don't make over a fix amount. If you make over that amount they deduct it from your weekly benefit.

[Merlyn]

I definitely think that if you cannot afford quitting this particular agency, then you have to make an endevour to improve communication between you and this woman. Obviously she is not very good communicator. I would ask for a meeting with her and respectfully bring up the issues that you have been having. Explain to her the problems that you have been experiencing with her scheduling and try to work out some solutions together, if possible. Good luck!

I have tried to straighten out issues with her. She just rants and raves at me, and then if any issues are brought up again, even the next day, she will say "I never said that". In fact, that is her favorite phrase to use if there are any issues, and usually she is the one who creates them. In fact, it has become so bad that I have had to get a digital recorder and record any conversation that I have with her (it's legal in my state) as she turns things around to make it seem that I am in the wrong all the time. I have checked with other nurses and she also does this with them. She manipulates people. She is not a nurse, never has been. She is a recruiter who gets paid by how many nurses she can send to jobs.

Another issue is that unless she wants to berate you over the phone, you will always get her voicemail, even if she just called 3 minutes before. This makes it impossible to communicate with her even regarding my availability. Often when I give her my availability she will call 3 or 4 times asking "what is my availability?' when I have already told her numerous times when I am able to work.

This situation is even affecting my disabled wife, whom she has even lied to and made statements that were blatantly untrue. My wife is starting to get an ulcer and also is becoming a nervous wreck now whenever the phone rings. I just don't know what to do.