Shift Swap Vent

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I work on a floor where it is difficult to get a shift swap, which I thought was odd when I first started here. I don't mind switching and I often switch when someone asks. Our schedule is different every week, I don't think a weekday for a weekday should be a big deal for people. I have taken on a lot of weekend nights for people even. The one time I asked for a swap, I expected one of these people to swap with me. Several said no. Ok, no more swaps from me then. But tonight takes the cake! Someone BEGGED me for a swap. I gave a firm no since she has burned me before when I needed one, but gave in when she cried and gave some bs sob story. Well, she called out! I got a message from the floor manager saying that I really need to be at work tonight because our "approved swap" fell through when she called off. That is not my fault and I need to know ahead of time to sleep if I am working night shift. Sorry, not coming in. I will be in on Thursday for my end of the swap. UGH. I hate people. I have not called or responded to the voicemail since I got it so late. I know I need to, but I am not going to get railroaded into going in to work.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

Where I work, that wouldn't be on you. You kept your end of the deal, it's not your fault if she called out when she was supposed to be working in your place. Good for your for not going in tonight!

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If the nurse you traded with called in, you are under no obligation to come in. That's ridiculous. If the floor manager said you "have" to come in, she's lying.

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Specializes in Trauma-Surgical, Case Management, Clinic.

The swap was approved, they can't call and demand that you come in to work. I would not have returned the call either.

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Different places have different policies.

Only one hospital that I worked at had that same policy, which is ridiculous.

I learned early on not to swap, after the same thing, working for others only to never have it returned.

"I hate people". I use that phrase quite often.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
"I hate people". I use that phrase quite often.

I say it quite a bit myself...that and "I've completely given up on humanity!"

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Specializes in ER.

Yup. That's pretty much why I don't swap with people. And I even covered Super Bowl and cinco de mayo and lo and behold, no random swap. Well, now I won't ever ever cover for someone again.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I got burned by a swap pretty bad. Ended up costing me my job. Was a regular evening shift nurse. Agreed to work this girl's night shift for her. End of shift comes, end they need to mandate. Who does it go to? Me, of course. I tried to explain that I wasn't used to this shift, and could barely see straight. They didn't care. Turns out, they weren't even ALLOWED to mandate me because I was a 'graduate pending licence' at the time, but no one told me and they all let me take the shift. So by noon, crying at the nurses station. Called in the next day, saying they couldn't keep me on because I neglected my patients that shift. Well, yeah, I was dead on my feet and you illegally kept me on shift! Ugh...

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Specializes in ICU.

Wow what an awful coworker. And management for saying that that shift is your responsibility! SMH.

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I'm always amazed at the people that want you to work their weekends and holidays and can't ever seem to work their shifts but on the occasional shift you need covered, they can't do it. I've gotten to where I won't switch with anybody unless it's actually more convenient for me than my own shift.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

Check your hospital's policy on swapping. I seriously doubt that you have to come in when your swappee flakes out. Glad you told her to jump off a cliff.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Not your problem. I used to be very accommodating for everyone, until I noticed that certain people were always requesting trades, but they would never reciprocate. For those coworkers, I don't trade anymore. When they ask, I just say "No. Can't." And go about my work. I don't care what their reason is, and I don't even want to hear it. They can discuss it with the manager. You need to be firm with certain people, otherwise they take advantage.

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