"You can't call off!"

Specialties Geriatric

Published

So here's my scenario:

I'm about ready to go to a new nursing facility. My two weeks was placed last Thursday (despite me not having vacation time or sick time). I have only this week left at my current job place.

Earlier this week I called off due to having a car emergency.

Today I was literally on the brink of going to the hospital today due to my anxiety...which has flared up a lot due to inclement weather and my drive (which is about 40 mins at best).

My family was begging me not to go in and do a double tomorrow.

I gave proper notice to my scheduler and proceeded to call my DON

My DON refused to give me the day off...at first. I proceeded to put my foot down without being rude and finally told her I will need the day off and will not be coming in. Between having 2 inches of ice incoming and being so mentally unwell from verbal abuse from manager and tired I can hardly keep myself awake during work.

She stated I was not caring enough for the residents by not being there...which I feel is inappropriate of her considering I have never called off unless there is an emergency or I'm deadly ill.

I seriously need a mental health break and I fear for my safety.

I was honest with her and my scheduler. I gave them time to fill my spot and I will be finishing my shifts.

Was this the right thing to do? I'm very scared they will fire me and I'll have a bad mark on my history as a nurse.

I'm also worried I will be bullied this last week of finishing my two week notice.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night isn't just for postal workers. As nurses we need to make every effort to get to work. If your anxiety is so high that you are considering going to the hospital, you need to see your PCP. Not healthy to have that much anxiety

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Thanks

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

You're scheduled for a double and an ice storm is coming? Honestly, I'd be upset with you too. I would find it rude and disrespectful of the residents that need care as well as to your coworkers that are now going to be stuck covering your double shift. With that said, if you had been a long time employee of mine, rarely called off and were very ill - well then we'd just all need to pitch in to cover for you, but I don't think this is your case?

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The ice storm did hit and made it unable to travel with frequent bursts of snow in between the three inches we managed to get. So, yes, I would have rather stayed home and been safe other than travel across a river to another city in another state where the closest relative or friend to me is 45 mins away and potential get hurt/get into an accident.

When it comes down to it, my safety and my life are above all else because in the end when I leave my job at the end of a shift that's what I have to deal with. I don't think that its selfish of me to say that either...

I'm a newly married woman who is looking into attempting to have a family someday. I am young and a bit too cautious at times. I am a caring, kind, helpful person however I work to live and not the other way around.

Yes, it wasn't right of me to call off. It wasn't right of the managers to expect me to continue to clean up their messes and expect me to train them. It wasn't right that I stayed for 20 hours every time I did a double because other people were irresponsible and did not show up on time, without punishment or correction.

I am a floor nurse. I want to do my job, make sure it gets done right, and go home within a reasonable time frame.

I am not going to let a few days of scolding and animosity seriously shy me away from doing this.

I worked my two weeks fine without any other issues. I am starting a new job closer to home tomorrow as of the time I am typing this. Hopefully being on a different shift time and a different location will help me in the long run.

I have only been a nurse for two years now and I already know the problems that come with it. I'm ready to face them head on, with the assistance of others for the time being. I'm attempting to become independent, which is why I ask for help and guidance from older nurses on this site.

Thank you for your input and wisdom. If it comes down to it again in the future I'll just do what is best for the situation at the time.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I'm not sure where you live, but 3 inches isn't what I'd call a snowstorm. Three inches is hardly more than a dusting. One winter we had 4 storms with a foot or more each. If everyone stayed home, the residents would probably quite literally die.

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Your circumstances are a bit different from mine I'm sure. Do you go across a bridge into a state where you don't know anyone or can readily get help? I will not pay extra money to go into a motel/hotel when I have a perfectly comfortable bed at home. Sorry if you feel that makes me a worse person or selfish.

I also stated it was ICE with mixes of snow in there. Snow was covering ice situation.

They had managers to work when there are emergency situations, its the managers who aren't willing to work the floor and therefore were attempting to get me to travel in dangerous conditions.

Sorry I want to live and be alive to take care of residents? Or at the very least not get into a car accident with a car I'm still paying off loans for? It was a single day. They managed to get the people they needed that lived much closer and were in a better position to come in.

Also what do you feel commenting something like you did will change the past and/or situation? I'm done with the job that takes me almost an hour to get to and am moving to one that is closer.

Good lord, I come to this site for guidance and I feel like all I get sometimes is trivial stuff like "im not sure where you live but 3 inches is a snowstorm."

Okay but that wasn't the point, I was asking for guidance not judgement.

But now its over and the situation is done and what happened happened. I was worried. It was nothing to worry about and I realize that now. I had the whole weekend to fret over something that wasn't anything.

I won't ever call off again unless it's an emergency. I never did and I won't again.

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Unfortunately you are looking for sympathy from people that are quite unlikely to give it. Personally, I live a distance from work and have always made it in. Leave early, plan ahead. I go to work when travel isn't advised, when there's ice, snow, wind, etc. You are putting an unfair burden on your coworkers by calling off and your excuses are just that...excuses. Everyone has a life outside of work, you are not unique in that.

Nursing is a 24/7 job. You are fully expected to show up and do your share. Weather isn't really an excuse.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

You can't post on a site and expect to get all positive responses.

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My only comment is you seem to have a LOT of anxiety..about what is happening, could happen, did happen, accidents, not being able to get help, etc. As another poster said, you may want to take a closer look at this issue..SOME anxiety is normal of course, but when you are anxious to the point you are considering going to an ER or unable to make it to work or anywhere else over fear of what "may" happen it sounds like you may need some assistance in dealing with the anxiety. Certainly moving closer, a new place can make a difference but it sounds like from your post there is a general anxiety woven through it all. Good luck

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We had an ice storm 8 weeks or so back - over 1/2 inch of ice on every surface. TV meteorologists are always flailing, hyping for ratings, but even non-hysterical public radio announcers stated vehemently "do not leave the house. Under any circumstances." Dude, it was bad.

Here's the thing - I'm an adult. I made sure, as I always do, that I was aware of the upcoming weather. I knew this was a possibility. (It's Maryland, right?) So I packed a bag with underwear, socks, an undershirt, bra, compression stockings, scrubs, deodorant, face soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion and I put it in my locker.

In September...

So when the storm hit in November, I was cool! I called the nurse supervisor for the house near the end of my 13 hour shift, told her I was going to need a room if I was expected to be available for 6:30 am tomorrow, grabbed some clean (?) pillows and sheets and headed to my assigned patient room. I got a shower in the morning, a meal ticket for my breakfast, and had my clean underoos ready for another 13 hr day.

I hate driving in the snow and ice too, but I hate calling off and screwing over my colleagues even more. That's why I plan ahead.

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Specializes in Care Coordination, Care Management.

Yeah, as a nurse in LTC you are considered essential personnel. What would happen to the residents if ALL the employees didn't show up due to inclement weather??? Well, of course, the staff already at the facility would be stuck there. No one WANTS to go out and drive on bad roads.

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