Registry question

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 7, 2007

I asked my manager about changing to registry and she told me that I could... but then she would have to post my job and my posiition would be replaceable. I told her nevermind but now I am reconsidering. Right now there are 2 or 3 other nurses who are registry. In our unit meetings they give us a printout of what positions are available for different shifts. I don't see their jobs on there. I haven't heard of a registry person being fired or laid off and replaced with a permanent person. Mind you, I'm not talking about float people. I'm talking about unit based registry. As far as I know, the only differences are they don't get paid medical benefits or PTO. They also are supposed to be the first ones called off for low census unless someone else wants to take it... but I don't see that happening currently (everyone's been rotating). They also are supposed to be the first ones floated... but I don't see that happening. Either way, I don't mind floating and I'm sure i can get people to take my low census sometimes if I don't want it. Registry makes about $12 an hour more/hr. Does that even sound like it would be worth it to lay me off or fire me for a regular staff position? I think she was bluffing. But then... why don't more people do it? I was asking around and no one seemed to know much about the differences. Does anyone have any insights?

It sounds like your place of employment works similar to mine (I don't know if there are any that would work differently). No, you aren't "fired" or "laid off" when you go to registry, but you aren't a full-time staff member either, so yes, that full-time position would be open when you left it to do registry. If the position were to be filled, the hours wouldn't be available for a registry person to work.

More people don't do it because registry hours are NOT guaranteed - if there are only 16 hours needed to be filled in a pay period, then that is all you get (and you would compete with other registry nurses for those available hours). Some people need guaranteed income and full-time benefits. Registry is also a no-benefits position. Some people need/want the insurance/retirement/vacation/sick time benefits. All those are forfeited when taking a registry position. That is why the pay is higher.

Hope that helps.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 8, 2007

What you are calling registry, is actually called Per Diem work. You are still being paid by your facility, so it is not registry in the strictest of terms.

The hospital has a list of people that they can call if they need the help, and if the census is down, then you are the first to be cancelled. And if cancelled, you do not get paid at all for that shift.

Actual agency nursing means that you work for an outside company that has a contract with your facility, and you remain an employee of the agency; you do not work for the facility. Very different from the Per Diem that you are speaking of.

And as the poster above stated, if you leave a position to go Per Diem, that job will be posted again, and if someone applies for it and gets it, then you will be out your hours. Something else to consider.

mediatix8 · Jul 8, 2007

I know what you guys are saying... that is how registry is supposed to work. But what I've seen is that our few registry staff are actually listed on our schedule. They aren't called up as needed. They say when they can work and fill out their own schedule... just like the regular staff. What I've seen is that if the census is short they are taking turns with regular staff for low census. Their jobs do not appear to be up for grabs... they aren't listed in the available positions on our unit meeting printouts. They've all been working like this for a long time and I haven't seen anyone be replaced with a regular staff. I think probably this is because 2 of these people are only working weekends... so maybe she isn't going to replace them as they only work a couple days here and there. One of them works full time though. This person told me she is not the first one called of for low census and she takes turns. I guess if no one is complaining about it then no one notices this. It probably is supposed to work the way you guys are saying and not the way that it is happening. Well thanks anyways!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 8, 2007

I know what you guys are saying... that is how registry is supposed to work. But what I've seen is that our few registry staff are actually listed on our schedule. They aren't called up as needed. They say when they can work and fill out their own schedule... just like the regular staff. What I've seen is that if the census is short they are taking turns with regular staff for low census. Their jobs do not appear to be up for grabs... they aren't listed in the available positions on our unit meeting printouts. They've all been working like this for a long time and I haven't seen anyone be replaced with a regular staff. I think probably this is because 2 of these people are only working weekends... so maybe she isn't going to replace them as they only work a couple days here and there. One of them works full time though. This person told me she is not the first one called of for low census and she takes turns. I guess if no one is complaining about it then no one notices this. It probably is supposed to work the way you guys are saying and not the way that it is happening. Well thanks anyways!

Our registry nurses are on the schedule too. We let the scheduler know when we want to work and, if we are needed, we get the shifts/hours we want. But if full-time people want those hours, they get them. It isn't about anyone's job being "up for grabs" because we are not full-time employees. The nurse manager decides how many full-time positions need to be listed and it may not be one for each registry (PRN/per diem) staff member. I have worked full-time as a registry staff member. If, as you say, a registry member just works a few shifts here an there, that person does not need to be replaced with a full-time staff member. Yet, if a full-time staff member changes to registry, then that position will likely be listed.