AHS--Short staffing, call back, and the ever popular OT issue

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2011

Thank you for starting this thread Fiona. As you know, I'm an RN with AHS, but I totally feel your pain. We are grossly overworked. And why can't your unit just offer OT to the LPNs first, before calling the RNs? That's messed up. AHS and their part time/ casual status is ********! I am sooo sick of working short staffed, exacerbated by the fact that 2 RNs have retired, and I work out of a rural facility.

I have no problem picking up shifts, and I have for eight months. Recently however, I have been very vocal with my colleagues that "enough is enough. I need a life too." Not to mention, our HN is aware how short we are, yet she still takes her 3 day weekends while some of us work OT. I am not doing this anymore. I'm exhausted and said to my colleague, "you are going to find yourself even more short when I quit."

Oh, we have a whole list of casuals. But they all have other jobs, or can't or won't work nights, weekends, whatever. So the regular staff end up working OT. I am a .85, yet I figured out based on the amount of shifts I have been working that I am working at 109 percent FTE! No more. I wrote "NA" for not available on all my days off on the schedule. Don't call. The last 3 weeks on my days off, I've had calls to come in and I've been saying no. My life cannot revolve around nursing.

I am not quitting, but I am asserting myself. If they keep it up, I'm calling UNA. Oh...the killer...we hired an LPN, but she is not allowed to work by herself in charge. Stupid! She can work with the RN. So what was the point of that? We only have one RN per shift. Just give her some shifts, I say. We're short! Enough is enough of this. On the next rotation, I am not picking up any more shifts. That is that.

How do others feel? What is your experience?

Fiona59 · Jul 27, 2011

When I worked LTC, an LPN could charge a unit if there was an RN somewhere in the building. Might be worth bringing to the powers that b's attention.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2011

The RNs basically said no to that. She is a very recent grad, and they don't want to be responsible. However, she is good and would be able to work alone, if even to cover a couple of shifts. She also wanted shifts. Now she went somewhere else to find more hours. Stupid.

I called UNA today to inquire about my rights. They said mandated OT is allowed, BUT, the HN should work shifts and mandated OT is not allowed from the same person all the time. So I'm well within my rights to decline and I'm going to keep doing so. Better yet, just not answer the phone. I'm not on call.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2011

I also said to UNA, "Why don't you look at creating more FT positions with AHS? The casuals can't support themselves, so many of them have other jobs. Then they are unavailable when we need them."

It isn't rocket science. His reply, "Yeah we always have problems, especially in rural areas. Nurses don't want to work out there."

Yeah, well they are going to have even bigger problems when their rural nurses quit. There are ways to make it attractive. Relocation bonus is one. Guaranteed hours is another.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jul 27, 2011

The Regularization of the Workforce process is underway as we speak and will deal with some of these issues. I'll explain it in greater detail when I get home.

lilaclover · Jul 28, 2011

Sorry maybe I am missing something here... but if you don't want the shifts why are you accepting them???

I recently moved to Alberta from Vancouver BC and am now working for AHS as a part-time LPN (by choice as I am also taking distance classes). I have not yet nor do I intend on picking up any shifts outside of my regular scheduled hours. They used to call me all the time on my days off in Vancouver too and I just simply didn't answer the phone if I didn't want to work. They are not paying me to be on call...

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I work at a small facility. I have not minded working extra until the last three weeks, when it has become too much and I have said so. When I didn't answer the phone, I had an email. The last few times I have not gone in, but it's the point of even getting routine calls at all. And what I'm noticing is that when you work at a small facility, you get asked constantly, because they have few options.

lilaclover · Jul 28, 2011

I work at a small facility. I have not minded working extra until the last three weeks, when it has become too much and I have said so. When I didn't answer the phone, I had an email. The last few times I have not gone in, but it's the point of even getting routine calls at all. And what I'm noticing is that when you work at a small facility, you get asked constantly, because they have few options.

I do kind of see you point there. Being called non-stop on your supposed days off can be very annoying. BUT I never feel guilty for saying no and don't think anyone else should either...

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

You're absolutely right. However, when you work out of a small facility, they are good at laying on the guilt. I'm not buying into that anymore. The last three weeks, I haven't gone in for extras, and I'm happier. it just feels like it never ends, though. Come the new rotation, I'm not picking up. See, that's the thing that has me really annoyed. I picked up a few to help out, then they were still asking for more. No.

My advice? Don't work at a small facility. When I move on, I've learned a lesson. The UNA rep said this is nothing new for rural. They never have enough staff at the smaller facilities.

Fiona59 · Jul 28, 2011

I work a very specialized unit that has it's own float pool. We just can't get someone sent down from central staffing due to the nature of the job. Our manager won't have "warm bodies" on the floor. She's been known to work on understaffed weekends.

Until you've worked shortstaffed on a very specialized unit, it's very easy to say you'll never be guilted into working more than you want to. The reality is that you do it. I've got coworkers that double shift at least six times a month due to the fact that our floats are all suddenly not able to work due to stats, sunny days, or they just don't plain feel like it. Unfortunately, I have a sense of responsibility and loathe seeing two staff members trying to care for 19 post op patients.

lilaclover · Jul 28, 2011

I work a very specialized unit that has it's own float pool. We just can't get someone sent down from central staffing due to the nature of the job. Our manager won't have "warm bodies" on the floor. She's been known to work on understaffed weekends.
Until you've worked shortstaffed on a very specialized unit, it's very easy to say you'll never be guilted into working more than you want to. The reality is that you do it. I've got coworkers that double shift at least six times a month due to the fact that our floats are all suddenly not able to work due to stats, sunny days, or they just don't plain feel like it. Unfortunately, I have a sense of responsibility and loathe seeing two staff members trying to care for 19 post op patients.

Opposed to me, who obviously has no sense of responsibility at all right?

Unfortunately I also respect myself, my limits, my body, and my mental health... Overworking oneself never helps anyone out in the long run. As long as there are people willing to do it then they will nothing will change. And most importantly overworked nurses are not exactly the most pleasant people to be around.