Cancelled shifts can be frustrating. We understand this and are diligently working to reduce the number of cancellations. However, they do still occur due to several reasons. Below we will share the reasons your shift may have been cancelled and some common questions you may have as well as some tips to help you avoid cancellations in the future.
Reasons for Shift Cancellation
There are three main factors contributing to shift cancellations:
Facilities Own Employees Picks Up: Sometimes, the facility’s own employees might pick up the shift, leading to its cancellation.
Census Changes: Changes in the census data can also lead to shift cancellations.
Another Agency Fills the Slots First: If another agency fills the slots before you do, the shift might get cancelled. It’s important to pick up shifts as soon as you see them in the ShiftMed App!
What does ShiftMed do if I’m cancelled?
Generally, if you are cancelled you are welcome to go in and claim another shift. When viewing your shift feed, facilities that are less likely to cancel are indicated by a “Low Cancel Rate” badge.
The Shift Details screen will also display this information.
Our Rebook feature will also assist you with finding another shift. If your shift is cancelled by the facility and the shift starts in 45 minutes or more, we will search for shifts similar to the shift that was cancelled.
If a matching shift is found, we will send you an SMS message with the cancellation details which will also have a link in it, like below.
If you decide that you want to pick up a new shift you can tap on this link, and you will be brought to a specially curated page based on the previous shift's details. You will see a max of 3 shifts that you can claim from just as you would see them in your shift feed.
From here you can claim the shift by tapping “Claim” beside the shift you want and following the steps in the following screens.
What if I’m Cancelled Right Before a Shift Starts or When I’m on My Way to the Facility?
When a shift is cancelled, and that shift starts in less than 2 hours you will be paid for your time.
If you are in the state of Massachusetts, you will be paid for 3 hours at the shift rate.
If you are in the state of California, you will be paid for half of the shift, up to a max of 4 hours. For example, if it was a 12 hour shift, you will be paid for 4 hours.
If you are in any other state, you will be paid for 2 hours at the shift rate. This cancellation pay will be included in your paycheck for that pay period.
What if I was already at the facility and they sent me home?
You can go into the app and mark that you are being sent home. All you need to do is tap “More Options” and then “I'm Being Sent Home Early”, after that follow the steps on the screen to update our system. Don’t forget to get the nursing supervisor’s signature so we can verify that you were sent home!
When I Cancel Constantly I Get in Trouble, What About the Facilities?
While we cannot provide details, we can say that our facility partners are charged for every late cancellation.