Working for 2 agencies at the same time

[tktjRN]

I work for a HH agency that pays us per visit. We are very slow this time of year. I interviewed at another HH agency for part time to supplement my income. Word got out, that I applied for another agency and my boss told me I'm not able to do that. Anyone ever work for 2 agencies at one time? I would be working the weekends I have off from my current job, so it wouldn't interfere at all.

[tktjRN]

Nurse's should be afraid to do this. State board of nursing has disciplined nurses for "taking" their home health patients with them to other home healths when they quit or get fired. It's called solicitation, and even though it is the patients choice to follow the nurse, a nurse does NOT want to have to prove that she didn't initiate or encourage the patient to change home healths.

If state board investigates whether or not the nurse solicited the patient, one of the questions they ask the patient is "how did you find out the nurse was working for a new home health?" If they found out by the nurse telling them, that could be a problem.

back on topic: best to not even tell your employer where you work for your second job, or that you even have one. just let them know when you are available or not available to work.

Information appreciated! Thanks!

[St_Claire, ADN, RN]

How would you tell a long time patient you are leaving? What if that patient truly wants to stay with a particular nurse after she moves to a different company?

[AnnemRN]

I worked full time for one agency and prn for another. I saw 5-10 patients for the prn gig. I didn't tell anyone so as not to **** them off. Just be careful not to mix up the paperwork. That would be a dead giveaway. Lol!

It doesn't always work even if you don't tell anyone.

I worked part time for one agency and then was hired per diem for another. I didn't tell anyone unfortunately, one of the per diem aides saw me at a facility where she worked and told my part time employer. My part time employer then informed me that they don't allow their employees to work for a competing agency. Now, I don't know if that's legal but, I ended up quitting the per diem position.

[WOUND LVN2]

St_Claire said:

How would you tell a long time patient you are leaving? What if that patient truly wants to stay with a particular nurse after she moves to a different company?

If you had the patients for a long time, they know your personal number, and if they called and asked where you were? and wanted to go to the new company to have you as the nurse,   I don't see how the board would discipline you over that?  The patient has the right to go anywhere they choose 

[AnnemRN]

I totally agree. You aren't stealing patients, it's their decision if they want to change agencies. As long as you're not asking them to switch agencies I see no problem.