Per diem etiquette and expectations?

[ceebeeRN]

Ok..I work in a long term care facility and I am Per diem/PRN. I do not have a fulltime schedule neither do I have benefits, health coverage, etc. I have another primary job, so of course, . Every month, I have to do a staff availability form where I write down the times I would potentially be able to work. So a few days ago, they told me ahead of time, I would end up getting all 3 days I had put down for the week, which was a bit of a shock to me because I only expected a day here and there. Because I got all 3 days I put down, coupled with my other job, it made me have to work 5 days straight, which as any nurse knows, is exhausting! =/ ,so I really wanted to call out because I felt like I was getting burnt out, but I didn't because I thought it may look unprofessional or even lazy of me, especially since I had written that I was indeed available. I worry that not having enough availabilities and/or declining work looks bad. So my questions are:

1. As a per diem, can I actually call out ?

2. If I had previously written I was available, but then they end of calling me in with very short notice ( like less than 2 hours), can I decline, especially of I am in a situation where I am far from home, not feeling well, etc. or is it expected of me to be staying home and waiting in the event they do need me on those days I told them I was free. Essentially I am asking, do they expect me to be somewhat "on-call" on the dates I provided them with.

3. In august, I plan on going on vacation, so when my August availability sheet is due, I thought I would simply leave those days I want to go on vacation blank, however I fear it may look unprofessional because by then I will only have been working for them a bit over 2 months and that even if I am PRN, I am still in some sort of 'probationary' period so that may be frowned upon or even not allowed.

[Fedide]

It would depend on your facility's policy for PRN workers. What was your commitment as written on your hiring paperwork? I work PRN in a long-term care facility, my commitment is one weekend a month and one holiday a year. I give the scheduler 2 potential weekends, and I get assigned one of them. I can call out for illness, same as full time workers, but I could not call out because I decided I wasn't available anymore. I need to work the shift or find a nurse to cover it. It really depends on what your facility's policy is.

[ceebeeRN]

I do not believe I had any specific scheduling commitment. I simply put down when I am available (barring any unforeseen circumstances off course) and my employers seem okay with that. I guess next time I do my availability sheet I should think of it as those days are days I WILL work to avoid the run-on work week !

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Did they give you a list of expectations for the PRN position. When I did prn I had to commit to working so many days per month or I was booted from the PRN list (hahah, they prob would have still called, most LTCs are desparate)

I wouldn't call off for that 5 day stretch. You put you were available so they scheduled you. Next time, list the days you can work, but put a not next to it that you would only like to work 1 or two of them or what ever. They assumed you could do all 3 of them so scheduled you for them.

On call and prn are two different thing but could be both. If you are prn on call where they can call you up until a certain time to work, then that is what it is but if give them a schedule ahead of time and they schedule you to fill the empty shifts, I wouldn't wait around on those days you gave them as open waiting for them to call...that is considered on call.

[ceebeeRN]

My facility must be very informal because they did not ask me to commit to X amount of days or anything. out of courtesy, i always put down at least one weekend and i decided to work the 4th of july. As for being on call, There was no discussion of being on call. 99% of the time, I am scheduled with a day or 2 notices. Only once had I been called in the day off, but I couldnt go in because I had already accepted to work a double at my other job. The supervisor at my PRN job seemed understanding of this, so I suppose I am not expected to be on call.

You are so right...I should treat the days I put down as days I WILL get. It was my mistake in assuming I would only get a few days scattered, but the damage is done for the month of July so I can only keep my fingers crossed there are not many call outs!