what do you do about phone calls if you could come to work extra on your day off

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in General Medicine.

Hi everyone,

I am a new RN and am still getting to know my unit's rules etc. I am working on my Master's so I only work part time. When I had my job interview, my manager and I discussed working extra when they need me and I am able to. I thought though that I will be asked in advance, for instance, when someone takes vacation time or is sick for a few days... Instead I often get 4 am calls on my days off asking if I could come. I would like to work some extra time to save more money and help my coworkers out, but often I have already some plans for a day: doctor's appointment, study group, out of town etc... My questions is: do they call everyone? does this somehow reflect on the preformace review, etc? I am just worried because I am a new RN and want to establish a good relationship with everyone, yet at the same time I want to have a life with some sort of predictability so I can plan my study time etc and often when I come for an extra 8 hr shift, I am asked to stay 12 etc... Also I am not paid extra when I work extra because I am a part time employee, which is fine anyway... Do you get phone calls on your days off? Do you keep your cell phone on at night? Do I have to keep it one?

Thank you!!! :redpinkhe

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Two Words ..... CALL DISPLAY

I get called almost every day, sometimes several times a day ..... I check my call display and let the machine get it. If its something I WANT to do then I call back, if not ... well then I don't call.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Acute Dialysis.

In my experience that is normal practice. I cannot count how many times I've been called at the last minute as they are scrambling to find staff because the census has changed! When I worked night shift it was nothing for them to call me at 5pm asking me to work 7p-7a when I had been awake all day:no: Are you required to keep your cell on? No! You are not required to answer. Now I take call at least one night a week and that is a whole different story:D

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

You don't have to take shifts on your day off unless you want to. It shouldn't count against you on your performance review as long as you don't say no all the time. As far as keeping your phone on when you're not working--unless you're officially "on call" you don't have to have it on or answer it! Your time is your time!

If you're not getting paid for the hours you work over, that's not fair unless you're salaried. I don't think it's legal either, part time or not.

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Specializes in Pediatric Heme/Onc/BMT.

I never answer when I see it's the hospital. Whether they have a question, discrepancy, clarification, want me to work - I want to know what the phone call is about before I talk to someone.

They actually haven't called me yet to see if I'll pick up an extra shift. I sign up for open shifts at the beginning of the month, but that's it. We had an extremely low census for a few weeks, so they'd call and see if I wanted to take an LOA day or be on call but I always declined.

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My workplace has my cell number and I simply added my work number to my address book and selected 'no ring' as a ringtone for that specific caller - so they can call all they want, it won't bother me and I still receive all of my wanted calls under their regular ringtones/settings

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I think the OP meant that she didn't get paid at overtime rates when she said she didn't get paid "extra"

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Turn off the ringer and ignore the phone

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Specializes in General Medicine.

Thnks for your replies, everyone! I am sorry, I ment I get paid my base hourly salary when I come extra, no overtime rates... :-)

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Specializes in CTICU, Interventional Cardiology, CCU.

CALLER ID AND AN ANS. MACHINE so you can hear them leave a message asking what they want from you. I also have digital voice mail from telephone service provider, but never set it up b/c I want to hear what work is saying insted of having to dial a # to hear the message, based the ans. machine message I can hear from my bedroom, I'll pick up the phone or avoid it like the plague.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

You have no obligation to keep your cell phone on, or to answer your home phone for that matter.

However........it's a courtesy to call back as soon as you become aware that your facility has called you and say "No, I can't come in". I've been the person on the other end who's scrambling to find coverage for a shift, and nothing is more frustrating than having no one call back even to refuse. So you keep calling and calling in the hope that SOMEONE will answer their phone at some point, which means you don't get your own stuff done.........it's a royal PITA.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

We have a computerized system,..the manager on duty enters the need and the computer calls everyone. I get calls several times a week,.often several times a day. Like everyone elese said,,screen your calls and go in when you want/can. At least where I work no one looks down on you for not coming in every time your asked.

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