Per Diem availability question

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 10, 2014

I give shift and open availability. The open availability for my one job puts me on the top of the "rapid respond" call out list (I do home care/private duty so if I can respond within a an hour to a last minute call out I get 1.5-2x my base rate).

RNperdiem, RN · Oct 10, 2014

I guess every place does staffing differently. I sign up with the rest of the staff for my shifts well in advance. (We are scheduled all the way through January right now).

If I am not needed to staff or float on a particular day I have signed up for, then I get called at home prior to the shift.

Sometimes there is a list of shifts available after the schedule is made for staff to pick up to cover holes. If you sign up, then you are expected to work unless called off.

kiszi, RN · Oct 10, 2014

I have two prn jobs, and I do not give them availability. They call me each schedule or I call them and get signed up for the days I want to work. If I've committed to working a day, I work it. Beyond that, I feel no obligation to be available.

Once I gave a prn job all of my available days for the month, but stated I only wanted 4 shifts. I ended up being scheduled for something like 10 shifts without being asked. Yes, I worked them, but that was the last time I gave availability.

But either way, they should be confirming if you are still available for those days if some time has passed. If you did not agree to be on-call, then you have just as much right as regular staff to say no.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2014

For the per diem jobs I've worked, I've met or called the scheduler before the schedule comes out to discuss what shifts are available and which ones I am willing to work. She would then put me on the schedule. Once that happened, I was only responsible for the shifts I was actually scheduled. I don't know what the labor law says, but where I work now, a nurse has to be paid to be on call--as in have your cell phone by your ear, don't drink, don't make spontaneous travel plans etc because you could get called in. Once the scheduler told me "I'm fully staffed for this day you want to work," I planned not to work that day.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 10, 2014

With one job, I put in my availability for the month, and I'm considered booked for any shifts that I put in for, unless I am cancelled that morning.

With the other job, I give them my availability for the month; if they want to book me right away they can. Otherwise I tell them that if they don't book me now, they can contact me later to see if I'm still available.

newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 11, 2014

I'm per diem float at my hospital and I am required to work a minimum of 24 hours a month. At the beginning of the month I give them days and shifts that I want to work and they put me on their "schedule" but I am not guaranteed to work. I find out the day of about an hour before the shift whether or not they need me. I am required to be available for those shifts that I have told them I will work. For any other days or shifts where they having staffing needs, they can call me to see if I want to work but it's entirely up to me whether or not I work.