ALWAYS called to work on days off?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a new grad working on a high acuity cardiac/icu step down floor. It's very overwhelming at times and I **cherish** my days off. I am full time and my usual is to work three 12-hr shifts. So, when I am not working I am literally called and asked to work everyday. The floor is always short (they don't seem to keep nurses long on this floor)....

So short at times the nurse manager charges and the usual charge nurse takes patients. I feel so guilty when I don't answer my phone and work. Does this happen alot where you work? I've went in a few times when asked on my days off, but I always end up tired and regretting it.

Should I feel bad about not going in more? Does this make me look bad as a new grad and new hire?

Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
I totally agree with what everyone has written however I get sick of the people that won't ever come in and help out and frankly if they are the one calling me to help them out I'm not so inclined. We definitely can't work all the time but every once in a while won't kill anyone, imo. On the plus side in addition to helping out my buds I make a lot of money by by picking up extra work. :up:

Why should others be pressured to come in on their days off ?

They may have full and active lives outside of nursing ... have families, other jobs, interests, other obligations

Your coworkers are not bad coworkers for not coming in.

Your facility is remiss for not hiring enough staff to cover for illness and vacation.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Why should others be pressured to come in on their days off ?

They may have full and active lives outside of nursing ... have families, other jobs, interests, other obligations

Your coworkers are not bad coworkers for not coming in.

Your facility is remiss for not hiring enough staff to cover for illness and vacation.

I'm not sure where you work but even with prn staffing it isn't always enough to cover unexpected absences. Sorry if I feel that it wouldn't kill you to put aside your full and active life to come in every once in a while to help your coworkers. :rolleyes:

I'm not sure where you work but even with prn staffing it isn't always enough to cover unexpected absences. Sorry if I feel that it wouldn't kill you to put aside your full and active life to come in every once in a while to help your coworkers. :rolleyes:

That's not my problem. I am sick of having to stay or come in. hire more nurses! It is my life and am offended that I should put it aside for a job that at the end of the day does not care about any of it's employees or it would hire more staff.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Jules, once in a while yes. But we are talking consistent short staffing and daily calls to work. I go in once in awhile, but I refuse to exhaust myself.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych, Tele, ICU.

I made up my mind 19 years ago, that I wasn't going to be the one always coming in when a particular shift was short. I worked nights in a small hospital, and had just gotten off from a really miserable shift-12 patients a piece without a CNA in sight. Was nodding off when the phone rang...it was my NM. She was desperate for help on days and begged me to come back. And I did go-was promised I was there til noon. Closer to noon, we had multiple discharges and someone needed to go home. A day shift nurse had requested first call off and the charge nurse was sending her packing. I raised hell...and was looked at like I had three heads. I told that moron that I had worked 7pm-7am, and only came back to help out because they were busy, if anyone was leaving it was me!

I don't feel guilty about telling anyone "no". My time with my family is far more important. I have even had supervisors reply to my "I'm at a BBQ and had a few beers" with "ok, so stop now and you will be ok to come in at 7pm". Fools....

Specializes in LTC, Acute care.

Funny thing about guilt is that the only time I feel it is when I answer the phone and say I'm sorry but can't come in, on the other hand I feel no iota of guilt when I see the call and don't answer it. Nobody should feel guilty about not going in to work on their days off!

Feel guilty only when you've done something wrong.

Calling in sick when you aren't, yes you should feel guilty. Not working on your scheduled day off, no you should not feel guilty.

Hospitals will always have short staffing. Work when you are scheduled. Don't come in when you are sick. That's all that is required.

The same thing happens at my job. The same people who are so lovingly asking you to come in, will be the first ones to put your neck on the chopping block if you make a mistake due to being overworked. I never give up my days off to "come in and help my fellow nurses." If I mess up, my fellow nurses will not be standing in front of the BON with me.

Nursing is extremely taxing on the mind and body. I need my days off to recuperate. I don't get a bad wrap for not being a team player, because when I am at work I give 100% to my patients and help the other nurses as best I can.

I have seen nurses who come in extra and try to do 5 twelve hour shifts in a row. By the fifth day they were making mistakes, missing orders and were a lot more crabby and hard to deal with. The extra money is nice but I don't think it's worth it.

I used to feel guilty when they called me on my days off, but after a while I stopped caring. I don't bother answering and just let it go straight to voicemail. I listen to it and it's always them begging me to come in, and I just delete it. If they call me 4-5 times after that like crazy, then I know something is wrong and I do answer. I've asked them to give me another day to come in to work, that I didn't need so many days off and they ignored me. But somehow when it's time for me to be off, they call me like crazy. They have no idea how to manage the schedules, they know I will only work one particular shift, I told them this when I was interviews that I was only able to do that shift. I'll only come in when I need the days, or for certain supervisors who have been good to me and I repay them by helping them out. Otherwise, they can call someone else. And when you do agree to come in, they give you the worst floor and assignment and then you realize why no one wanted to come in.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

zombie thread!

Wow I feel like I wrote this myself, I have been having the same issue with ICU and IMCU both and I've felt guilty about not answering because this week they called me 4 times alone... I can never feel at ease on my days off because of staffing. I have been with this hospital for almost 2 years and I have seen this pretty much every winter when the census gets higher (it doubles). Reading all the comments has helped me understand that nothing will be done unless the problem is fixed and comming in extra is like putting a bandaid on a much bigger issue. :)

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