No Call/No Show at Work?

[CNA2RN2014]

I am a full time nursing student (about to graduate in May, God willing) and I work at the local hospital PRN as a CNA. They are fully aware that I am a nursing student (RN) and that I normally pick up shifts on Friday evenings and weekends when I am able. I called the staffing person earlier this week to pick up a shift for Friday 2nd shift (which I normally do) and she said that she put me down for it. Somewhere in the confusion, she put me down for Wednesday 2nd shift instead of Friday. I had no idea that this happened until they called me an hour after I was supposedly scheduled to ask why I wasn't at work. They also had me down for another floor on Thursday evening which I didn't know anything about. I get a call asking why I wasn't at work from the staffing person. I told her that I did not say Wednesday, that I said Friday 2nd shift and that I am not able to work during the week because of school! She kind of got snotty with me and she said that I said Wednesday. The charge nurse on the floor called me to ask if I knew I had to work today. I explained it to her that I had already talked to the staffing person and there was a misunderstanding with scheduling. I apologized whole-heartedly for this misunderstanding in scheduling. She didn't really say anything except that she had to call somebody on how to handle this. Either way, I did not go in today so they put me down as a call out on the online schedule. I have a good rapport at this facility, never called in sick, I am NEVER late (I am usually the first CNA there on my scheduled days), and I am a hard worker. A lot of nurses have told me that I am the best CNA that the floor has. I just hope that this incident doesn't come back and bite me in the butt because I really want to work there as an RN when I graduate this year. How should I deal with this situation?

PS- I have 2 witnesses that were with me when I initially spoke with the staffing person when I picked up the shift and they both said that I said FRIDAY and that I never mentioned working on WEDNESDAY.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

All of our scheduling changes are in writing and everyone involved has a copy w/ NM having final say. I get copies of everything.

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

I had that happen once...the NM asked the nursing sup to call me to come in and she never did but she put me on the schedule. My phone rang at 2345 asking me why I wasn't at work. They then tried to mark me "no call no show" when I wouldn't agree to come in because I'd been up all day and had a few beers. (I think it was an intimidation tactic). At any rate it went away as soon as I talked to the NM. I was pretty floored though that they would be that way.

[sbostonRN]

Since you mention that you have an online scheduling program, I suggest that you check it more closely in the future to CYA. Check after you sign up for any shifts to make sure it was recorded correctly that way you can prevent any mishaps before the workday.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I worked for a place that would do that often. Everytime I worked and picked up I would call and request they send me up a new copy of my schedule. Seeing as you could not do that, and do not normally work Wed or on a different floor for that Thurs, I would think most would look at it and see it as a 'mix up'. I don't think I would be too concerned because it normally doesn't happen but you know to handle that person in staffing a little differently next time hey.

It's hard enough towards the end of nursing school and to have to deal with staffing mix ups can be stressful! Good luck to you in your final year of school :)

[caliotter3]

How about this one: our facility was in a period of strife, everyone had been verbally warned to get up to snuff because people were going to be losing their jobs. So, a CNA calls off one evening. The note indicating this and posted at the appropriate schedule window said something like this, "So and so called off her shift because her boyfriend is sick." I always wondered if someone was naive enough to think an excuse like that would fly, or if the person taking the call wrote a lie.

I would definitely make certain that all communications regarding your schedule be done in some form of writing and that you keep a strict record. I would also have a speakerphone going during the backup call, and have a witness to that conversation. No amount of overkill, if it keeps you from further troubles when it comes to the schedule.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Send an email with your availability. If you can only do Friday evenings, then indicate that. I would also ask for an email back with your scheduled dates. cc your supervisor, so that everyone is in the loop.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Imagine if the OP had misspelled a word. The Ruby Vee Posse would have been looking for a rope.

Ya know, I like reading your posts. You offer lots of great advice, no doubt from your years of experience. Your point with this post is well taken. However, it's posts like this that really rub people that wrong way. Everyone knew what she meant when she said she was in an RN program- a program that will hopefully lead to her being an RN, as opposed to an NP or LPN program. Pointing out that you need to pass NCLEX to become an RN has nothing to do with the purpose of this thread, and the sarcasm just adds to the bad taste this post will leave with many people.