Why don't they like part-time nurses?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

How can I convince an ADON in LTC that allowing me to work part-time is to their advantage??? I applied for a job as a 6p to 6a RN in a nursing home. During the interview I told the ADON that I could do two 12-hr nights per week. (They are in dire need of nurses probably because of some bad state inspections they have had. I applied there because they are close to my house. The other nursing home job offer I have is for a place a good 40 minutes away.)

Anyway, she is pushing me to agree to do 3 nights every other week. This would be very hard for me because of family care issues and the fact that I'm taking classes for my BSN two mornings a week.

If they allow me to work 2 nights per week they will get an RN that is rested, has a good attitude, and is highly productive. This prejudice against part-timers has happened to me before...The last nursing home I worked for agreed to hire me part-time (I did 3 eight-hour shifts per week and sometimes filled in for nurses who got sick.) They were very pleased with my work and attendance record and saved money because I received no benefits.) After a year at that nursing home I politely asked the DON if I could be moved to the 3-11 shift when something opened up. She flatly denied my request saying she only hires full-time nurses for the 3-11 shift. (I was not told of this policy when I was hired.) Shortly after that I gave notice and quit. The funny thing is that since I left that NH every want ad they run now says, "RN's & LPN's needed F/T & P/T all shifts available."

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks.

sometimes you plant seeds that you are not aroung to harvest..the first nh that would not hire you for 3-11 part time learned that maybe it would be better to have a couple of part timers you can depend on than a FT that calls in whenever the wind blows...I know that you will be an asset to the next place you go to and you have to set your own priorities...your family and your advancing education are going to be important to you for the rest of your life when you have forgotton how to get to the nh u r working at now

sometimes you plant seeds that you are not aroung to harvest..the first nh that would not hire you for 3-11 part time learned that maybe it would be better to have a couple of part timers you can depend on than a FT that calls in whenever the wind blows...I know that you will be an asset to the next place you go to and you have to set your own priorities...your family and your advancing education are going to be important to you for the rest of your life when you have forgotton how to get to the nh u r working at now

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I was hired as a part-time RN to help our facilty with the increasing paperwork, MAR checks and transcription, chart audits, Incident Report Reviews, etc. I was also to help with our cycle fill meds to make sure they were ordered and processed appropriately, and to oversee all orders were done correctly. And if need be, a few days as a floor nurse for ill nurses. This was fine with me, since I would only be needed maybe one day a month for floor duty, the rest doing my other duties.

Yeah..okay, I am a floor nurse all the time now, and they are booking me 4-5 days straight over weekends (where I was to have every other weekend for my family). They NEVER consulted me or my DON about this..it was just done! Both my DON and I are rather upset about this, because if I can't do my job...she has to and there isn't enough hours in a day for that!

We (the DON and I) used to check MAR's twice, once to the chart going back and reviewing orders, then again when we checked MAR to MAR. Now we are lucky to even get the MAR to MAR done in time! Insident reports are not getting done very quickly or well. Chart audits are not being done at all. Cyclefill is going to heck because no one can check them and report probelms to pharamacy. All of it! And me...I am going crazy!!!!!

My facility will only hire RN's part time due to cost...yet I am working next to full time hours and getting 0 benifits, and they shy me by an hour or so of any overtime! I am getting the royal play...and I am increasing so much in frustration it is hard to be a compassionate nurse some days!

I am rather stuck however, we are trying to have a house built on our property, and in order to secure a loan...I have to be gainfully employed. So I can't quit, or risk loosing my job by complaining as of yet. They need to hire 2 more nurses but no one will work part time...they want full time! EEEKKKKKSSSSS opposite probelm here huh? They turned away 4 nurses in our hour of need because they wanted full time, and I rememinded the administration that due to that, they are continuing a cycle that can harm clients, over extend their very small nursing staff, increase risk of errors, and ALREADY paying a RN full time..me! They reconsidered and said they will hire a nurse full time if necessary...but, too late...no one has applied in 4 weeks now!

So I get to continue doing a job I was not hired for, didn't want, and it is way too much per shift for only one nurse!!!! I am going batty! Last week I sent 5 people to the hospital, and that in paperwork and calls alone screws up the entire day so that I am unable to treat clients, or even tend to lesser acute situations..which is ticking off the residents to no end (if you aren't in their room in 5 minutes of them complaining about their hangnail..they report you to admin! They are extremely spoiled, and that spoiling has lead to them depending on nurses for everything instead of using common sence...not very helpful for clients or staff!!!).

I do believe the staff is not considered very highly in regards to shifts or work demand. You are stuck in a slot for the fact that you are a body that can move, and that some days is better than none! Nurses CAN NOT call in sick because we have NO cover for nursing staff (we only have 6 nurses total...two of which are strictly noc shift, only one swing so I have to balance days and swing, one is the DON, and one day nurse who I have to cover for so she can have a day off!). I fear this ratio is very unsafe..and will backfire big time, I just hope I am not there when it does!

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I was hired as a part-time RN to help our facilty with the increasing paperwork, MAR checks and transcription, chart audits, Incident Report Reviews, etc. I was also to help with our cycle fill meds to make sure they were ordered and processed appropriately, and to oversee all orders were done correctly. And if need be, a few days as a floor nurse for ill nurses. This was fine with me, since I would only be needed maybe one day a month for floor duty, the rest doing my other duties.

Yeah..okay, I am a floor nurse all the time now, and they are booking me 4-5 days straight over weekends (where I was to have every other weekend for my family). They NEVER consulted me or my DON about this..it was just done! Both my DON and I are rather upset about this, because if I can't do my job...she has to and there isn't enough hours in a day for that!

We (the DON and I) used to check MAR's twice, once to the chart going back and reviewing orders, then again when we checked MAR to MAR. Now we are lucky to even get the MAR to MAR done in time! Insident reports are not getting done very quickly or well. Chart audits are not being done at all. Cyclefill is going to heck because no one can check them and report probelms to pharamacy. All of it! And me...I am going crazy!!!!!

My facility will only hire RN's part time due to cost...yet I am working next to full time hours and getting 0 benifits, and they shy me by an hour or so of any overtime! I am getting the royal play...and I am increasing so much in frustration it is hard to be a compassionate nurse some days!

I am rather stuck however, we are trying to have a house built on our property, and in order to secure a loan...I have to be gainfully employed. So I can't quit, or risk loosing my job by complaining as of yet. They need to hire 2 more nurses but no one will work part time...they want full time! EEEKKKKKSSSSS opposite probelm here huh? They turned away 4 nurses in our hour of need because they wanted full time, and I rememinded the administration that due to that, they are continuing a cycle that can harm clients, over extend their very small nursing staff, increase risk of errors, and ALREADY paying a RN full time..me! They reconsidered and said they will hire a nurse full time if necessary...but, too late...no one has applied in 4 weeks now!

So I get to continue doing a job I was not hired for, didn't want, and it is way too much per shift for only one nurse!!!! I am going batty! Last week I sent 5 people to the hospital, and that in paperwork and calls alone screws up the entire day so that I am unable to treat clients, or even tend to lesser acute situations..which is ticking off the residents to no end (if you aren't in their room in 5 minutes of them complaining about their hangnail..they report you to admin! They are extremely spoiled, and that spoiling has lead to them depending on nurses for everything instead of using common sence...not very helpful for clients or staff!!!).

I do believe the staff is not considered very highly in regards to shifts or work demand. You are stuck in a slot for the fact that you are a body that can move, and that some days is better than none! Nurses CAN NOT call in sick because we have NO cover for nursing staff (we only have 6 nurses total...two of which are strictly noc shift, only one swing so I have to balance days and swing, one is the DON, and one day nurse who I have to cover for so she can have a day off!). I fear this ratio is very unsafe..and will backfire big time, I just hope I am not there when it does!

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

It makes no sense to not hire you part-time. It may be, though, that hiring policies are a "corporate" thing and the DON has her hands tied. Personally, I agree with the poster who preferred a couple of reliable part-timers over a full-timer who only shows up when she or he has nothing better to do.

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

It makes no sense to not hire you part-time. It may be, though, that hiring policies are a "corporate" thing and the DON has her hands tied. Personally, I agree with the poster who preferred a couple of reliable part-timers over a full-timer who only shows up when she or he has nothing better to do.

I would hire you for whenever you could work! Good help is hard to find! I would say that two thirds of my 3-11 professionals are pool staff and :balloons: I LOVE THEM!:balloons:

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Man...I have been told I need to get out of Oregon and move to a state that needs and appreciates nurses..LOL! Hey DONMOMFONINE, maybe I should move to PA! LOL!

Naaaa..my roots are too deep here, but I wished I could work for or with half the folks I meet on here!!!!!!!! :) :) I think I would be much happier!

It makes no sense to not hire you part-time. It may be, though, that hiring policies are a "corporate" thing and the DON has her hands tied. Personally, I agree with the poster who preferred a couple of reliable part-timers over a full-timer who only shows up when she or he has nothing better to do.

Ditto that!!! ok..so it's easier to schedule with fulltime..a 'slot' is filled , instead of a partial slot...but, if you have a "full time" person who calls in ALL the time guess what? it's even harder to fill those last minute slots...grrrrr :( I'm thinking of going back to a reduced schedule myself..I can feel myself getting soooo burned out...if and when "I" decide to do this , it will be MY decision..not someone else's....I wish you the best of luck..good nurses are in great need..do what works for YOU (((hugzzzzz)))

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

We have full time slots, part time slots, per diems, baylors....you name it, we have it or can usually make it for a good nurse...especially if you are willing to do 2 12 hour shifts.

I know what you mean. I used to work PT on a ortho floor. My manager saw me as an asset because I would work my 3 8's, if they were swamped I would come in early for an extra hour (no OT for them), occ fill in for the vactioning FT nurse whom I relieved of charge when she was off. But we got a new CEO and he set the word that he would only take care of FT staff. I spent a lot of time talking with my manager about where I fit in and that if I was going to be getting it from the top down then they could PAY me the "pool rate" which was more and I would gladly float and not have a home floor.

Sometimes the higher ups don't realize that PT can be a good thing for all ends. After all happy nurses stay, unhappy nurses complete their contracts, collect their bonuses then move on for the next bonus.

One reason I have seen that LTC doesn't like part timers is because it is hard to keep them up to date on inservices. For instance, if an inservice falls on your day off you may not feel motivated to come in.

That aside, I would seriously reconsider wanting to work there for any reason (location or any other). Bad state surveys, not wanting good staff simply because they are part time......Hmmmmmmmmm Doesn't sound like any place I would want to work

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