Using prn staff instead of posting day position

That's not unusual if there are day shift nurses out on leave, they can't post permanent position to fill those holes.

I don't think the prn nurses have been "abusing the system" since they aren't the ones that determine when prn staffing will be used vs posting new permanent positions.

But they aren’t on leave. It’s filling positions from employees retiring, going to another unit, and two were terminated. So in the last year we lost 5 or 6 on day shift and there haven’t been any positions posted. So they are hurting bad on day shift. But just rely on using contingent staff instead of posting positions.

I'm not entirely sure why you are angry with contingent nurses This is your nurse manager's attempt to control costs and maintain staff nurses in difficult to fill positions (night shift). Also, although per diem nurses are paid a higher hourly rate, they typically don't receive benefits (insurance, 401K, paid holidays...) and as such, are a big cost savings for the hospital. Fair practice? no. Commonplace practice? Yes, sorry

Honestly I don't really understand exactly what you mean. But bottom line, if you have been waiting 10 years for day shift and some nurses are being given those shifts in front of staff that have been waiting longer, this is a cultural issue on your unit and unlikely to change anytime soon. Who gets which shift is almost entirely a management decision, if you feel this is not being handled fairly your only real options are

A: Become best buddies with the manager who does the schedule

B: Have the manager who does the schedule hate you with a passion- this helped me get night shift once on a very toxic ward were everyone wanted to be away from our manger, but that doesn't really help you

C : resign and apply to a new unit for a day shift position.

From a management point of view there is no problem.

The day shift is being staffed, and they are probably saving money in the unit budget when the contingent staff gets no paid benefits.

16 hours ago, Lifeofanicunurse said:

Day shift is consistently staffed by contingent staff who are technically night shift who work full time hours.

I don't understand this. A lot of contingent staff are "any shift"ers. That's just how they are hired in some places. "We will call you we need you" doesn't technically have anything to do with a particular shift, except that at the time of hire the employer might choose to disclose that currently most of the available hours tend to be on a certain shift, and the potential contingent employee may let the employer know that most of their availability is at a certain time of day/night.

I guess you are saying that these contingent employees pick up their hours on the day shift when you feel they should have to pick up night shift hours.

That isn't for you to worry about, though, and very likely has nothing to do with their actual agreement with their employer anyway.

16 hours ago, Lifeofanicunurse said:

These contingent nurses have been abusing the system and using it as full time hours without the commitment.

What abuse are you talking about and what commitment do you feel they should be upholding?

If you resent your employment commitments, you too can drop your insurance, employer retirement contributions, PTO, seniority, etc., etc. if necessary in order to find a position working the hours you want to work. Or you could just find a FT position elsewhere that has benefits and the hours you want.

There is no band of criminals robbing you of the day shift hours you think you should have. If you are upset with your employer that is one thing, but your attitude toward your coworkers is misplaced frustration.

We have PRN staff who just pick up a few extra shifts, and we have PRN staff who basically work FT.

Working PRN gives extra hourly pay and flexibility. It's great for working with a busy lifestyle, and I've seen a lot of new moms transition to PRN.

On the flip side, working PRN gives up benefits like health insurance, union protection, PTO, and guaranteed hours.

I am tempted to go PRN because I'd love to reduce my weekend and holiday commitment, and I already get my insurance through my husband's employer.

But I can't bring myself to to it because if something goes wrong, I want the union behind me. Plus, there are some PRN nurses who get really shafted when they have multiple shifts cancelled during a pay period. As a FT employee, my contract states that I can go in for my control hours, even if the hospital wants to down-staff me. During lower census times, I've seen PRN nurses beg regular staff to call and ask to be down-staffed, in the hopes that the PRNs won't be cancelled again.

I agree it stinks that your management has chosen a staffing strategy that prevents you from getting a permanent position on the shift you want. I'd be upset if I were in your place, too. The question is what are you willing to do about it? Would you be willing to give up your guaranteed hours, seniority, PTO, and health insurance to work as a contingency nurse on day shift? It's easy to see the benefits of the contingency nurses, but given the cons and well as the pros, would you be willing to switch places with them?

On 1/12/2020 at 5:44 PM, Lifeofanicunurse said:

But they aren’t on leave. It’s filling positions from employees retiring, going to another unit, and two were terminated. So in the last year we lost 5 or 6 on day shift and there haven’t been any positions posted. So they are hurting bad on day shift. But just rely on using contingent staff instead of posting positions.

Administration has found a way to save $$$. That's what administration does. You will not be able to change corporate bs. Move on.

Best wishes.