I love you boss ... BUT!!...

[mindlor]

Please stop calling me in the middle of the day on my days off begging me to come in.....

Its called a schedule for a reason. I am new and already overwhelmed just working my scheduled time. I need my down time. I need to reacquaint myself with the friends and family that I ignored while I was in school.

I get that we are a for profit organization. However, it is not my fault that we have too many LPN and not enough RN so that we can save a few dollars here and there.

You are going to have to hire more RNs and staff up. You run around worrying about patient satisfaction and Press Gainey and yet the company lets accountants control the floor.

You are smart boss, you know what you need to do and you certainly dont need to hear it from a newb like me.

I hate telling you no, but I am going to continue to do so. If I do not, my health will suffer and my patients will be at serious risk secondary to my exhaustion.

I will be there when I am scheduled. It will be a cold day in Hades when I call off. I promise that.

But more than my three 12's which are actually more like 18's when you factor in travel time and charting and meetings......???

NO NO NO.....I am sorry, but NO

////VENT OFF/////

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

Just say no politely and be done with it. Or, screen your calls. No need to feel guilty. The boss is just doing his/her job to try and cover the unit.

[mindlor]

So true Nascar. Your wisdom is irefutable as always : ) I just hate saying no to her because she is such a wonderful person. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for her to have to manage the facility with one arm and one leg tied behind her back.

Bottom line is this, the word profit, and the word healthcare ahould never be used in the same sentence.

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

I don't answer. I check my voicemail. Although at the current time I'd love the extra hours if available.

[mindlor]

I hear ya lol. The money would be awesome. If I were younger I would be all over it.....but I am new nurse and approaching 50.......Long hours are for young people lol.

That said, once I am feeling more fluid and more confident, I will begin to say yes as much as I can.......

What they need to do is change the model of care....let the LPNS do the meds and patient care. Give them 6 or 7 each. Then have a few RNs circulating for assessment and the odd procedures that only an RN can performs......give these RNs say 12 each.......RNs will also be responsible for monitoring labs, orders and what not........

I think that would rock....

What they do now is treat RN and LPN the same with the exception that occasionally the RN has to go behind the LPN and do an RN assessment.....yup, at our place they have LPN doing assessment......but I digress.......

[DeeAngel]

Every nurse who has been at it for awhile knows that getting caller ID is an absolute necessity. I screen my calls because I get called all the time to come in and work extra. I work my scheduled shifts and have never in 5 years come in on a day off. You could get a brand new boss, but the phone calls will continue.

Screen your calls, it will make your life easier and less stressful.

[butterfliesrus]

Personal vent: A friend was working a double and asked to stay for a triple so that another worker wouldn't be paid overtime. Ridiculous! She said no and I covered the shift; I got paid the over-time. Make sense to anyone? Nope.

Another story: Calling me to not come in to work, I was 4 minutes away from being there, because they were over-staffed and then calling me 30 minutes later saying there was a mistake and I needed to come in (so that a co-worker wouldn't be paid overtime) is completely ridiculous. Went in, despite storm weather. Did I get noticed, told to leave early as a thank you, or even thanked for extraordinary loyalty? Nope. I didn't answer my phone anymore. I checked my voicemail and called her back if I wanted the extra shift, which was hardly ever. Did I quit? Yep, 3 weeks later. Did they call me asking me to work even after I quit? You bet. Did I go in? Never again.

Management needs to understand that there is no way that workers are responsible for coming in on their time off.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

And non-management people need to understand that we do the best we can to fill the shifts, especially if someone calls out. You would be one of the first to complain if you had to work short.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I'm lucky to work for large county so screening my calls or saying "no" is very easy. I learned a very long time ago that they will use you until you have nothing left and then kick you to the curb. I now take care of me so I can be my best taking care of others.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

i do not screen calls. I usually answer and say no or call back and say no. I do work ot sometimes 4-5 12s a week. it isnt appreciated and i bring up all the ot i do do everytime i am mandated. I enjoy the extra money and thats why i do it for the most part. I have been in charge many times having to make these pathetic calls . waste of time for the most part. someone will say yes to comming in probably 1/75 calls.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

i do not screen calls. I usually answer and say no or call back and say no. I do work ot sometimes 4-5 12s a week. it isnt appreciated and i bring up all the ot i do do everytime i am mandated. I enjoy the extra money and thats why i do it for the most part. I have been in charge many times having to make these pathetic calls . waste of time for the most part. someone will say yes to comming in probably 1/75 calls.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I pick up when I can. Hate to see the others work short, and the extra money is nice. Balance is the key. We have some that will never, ever pick up, and they work half time or less.