Vacations and Hospitalizations

[smartnurse1982]

Do you lose your shifts when you go on vacations,or if the pt goes in the hospital?

Do you go back to working the same shifts after your vacation,or when the pt comes back home?

I want to take a month off to have some "work" done.

Also,what are your agency's rules about pt contact while they are in the hospital?

I've had nurses on my case that called the pt's mom to ask about his condition,and others that visited him in the hospital. They had the mom's cell phone number for the longest,as mom woiuld ask me for mine,and tell me to save her number,but trying to be professional,I never did it.

He was in hospital for 2 months,and the other nurses knew when he was coming home;I didn't as I didn't get any updates from his staffing coordinater(she was supposed to though). This agency asks about shifts through emails.

Before I responded,one of the other nurses who knew he was coming out took the shift. The staffinf coordinator didnt ask me if I wanted it back.

As a result,I lost the Tuesday afternoons to one of the nurses who knew he was coming home.

I work there Saturday night,and mon asked me why I didn't call or visit.

I told her it is against agency rules,but she wouldn't listen and maybe she thought I was "uncaring".

The staff coordinator doesn't know about the other nurses visiting him.

Another nurses on another case said don't report them. Should I?

[Elle23]

Goodness...I can't imagine my patient being in the hospital and never visiting him or getting updates. This is a baby I have been with night after night for 8 months.

I have accepted that PDN is just different. Relationships are different. There is a closeness there that you simply cannot avoid.

I would not report a nurse for getting updates or visiting because I would be doing it too (I don't think it is against company rules not to, as far as I know).

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I had a patient hospitalized for nearly 5 months in the next state. I had permission to go visit the family (the agency has a rep that visits families in the hospital and brings gifts, etc) I've been with this child for nearly 2 years full time. Would I have gone in the first few months , probably not. Both agencies request you let the office or clinical supervisor know if you are going for a visit.

When this child came home after each hospitalization (there have bed several) I've been requested to be the first shift to restart care.

Some families have my cell, others do not. The ones that do keep communication limited to what is needed to do work not texting me on my day off or complaining about other staff. The families that do not have my cell are the ones that bug you in your time off for silly things or inappropriate communication.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Do you mean are you permanently replaced when you take an extended absence? Yes that is likely especially if you are not frequently on a case or long term on a case as most children need continuity of care.

I'm now under contract employment with one agency so if I follow proper protocol I would only be replaced temporarily not permanently. I do fill in with a second agency.

Did you follow up with the scheduler? I checked in at least weekly with the office for patient updates as although mom has my number I didn't expect her to prioritize updating me over family.

[caliotter3]

Now you know what your agency thinks of you. The staffing coordinator was well aware that this was "your" shift and had no business giving it to the backstabbing co-worker. Yes, this type of miscommunication/non-communication happens frequently in agencies that have a less than respectful attitude toward their employees. Based upon this employer behavior, I would reevaluate how much energy you want to give to this agency going forward.

I was recently removed from my shifts on a case, as was the other nurse, in order to give all of the hours to a nurse who came off another case because she could "not respect boundaries". Imagine that. Losing work to a nurse being rewarded for being unprofessional. Am I surprised that this agency no longer gives me work at all? I did nothing to deserve this type of treatment and don't see myself returning, not that they intend to call me. However, this puts me in a bad position to request unemployment.

It is up to you whether you make a complaint about the behavior of the other nurses. I probably would not. The only thing that would come of that is that the agency would then have evidence to justify their negative attitude toward you. Believe me, they do not care that the other nurses are not following the rules. In fact, they probably have commended them for "caring".

[smartnurse1982]

I've been with this kid for 3 years,going on 4 in January.

I did ask the coordinator for mom's phone number,and she said "we aren't supposed to give that information out".

I was just following agency rules....when I first signed on with this agency,they had us sign a contract stating that we are not to give out our phone number

And that we aren't to ask parents for phone numbers either.

There is a clinical liason who goes and visits,and updates the agency on the pt's condition.

As far as vacation,ii can return to those days;anything over 6 weeks becomes a problem

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

I was off for just over 3 weeks in October/November for knee replacement. I filed FMLA paperwork & was told that would guarantee me getting the same schedule with my patient when I came back. I've been with him almost 6 years now & would hate to lose my hours as I work full time with him. If "the work" you're having done is something medical, see if you are eligible for FMLA.

As far as visiting when my patient is in the hospital, it wouldn't be possible. We are in the Chicago suburbs but he gets all his care at Cincinnati Children's. If it's an emergency, he's hospitalized in Chicago but that's only happened twice.

[smartnurse1982]

Well,its medical but elective plastic surgery.

I'm not telling them that part haha.