I have a job that is forever short staffed and scrambling to 'plug holes' in the nursing schedule. On a daily basis, either through a phone call, text, or email, someone is appealing for a volunteer to come in early (or on a day off), or to stay over. Yes, I understand that nursing is 24/7, 365, and that 'things happen'-i.e. unforseen circumstances. However, though I consider myself a dedicated employee, I am more into my work/life balance than making extra $$. Frankly, I would like to figure out a way to work less not more. I feel like by not agreeing to these requests, it casts us in the light of not being team players or willing to 'help out' and I honestly, I am growing a little weary of it all! Any suggestions appreciated
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
21 hours ago, buttercup9 said:
My NM in the ED would often come in and help out when we got overwhelmed. The union found out and told her that she couldn't do that per the contract.
Makes no sense to me.
When there are union members who want to pick up overtime shifts they might not be happy about salaried management aceing them out of the overtime. If that happened anywhere in the hospital system that might explain why it found its way into the contract.
If that is no longer the case, and it causes hardship when NMs aren't allowed to help out, then during the next round of contract negotiations that part should be taken out. It might be something to discuss with your rep and see if this is an issue on other units as well.
You cannot win this. Don't try. Turn off the phone if it's a call--and you don't want to work OT--or simply have a great canned excuse at the ready.
When the nosy nellies start with the "I need to know everything about you" at a facility---I like disinformation. Nothing horrible, like having 12 kids under the age of 10 years old---but I do plant some information that makes it easier to get out of this sort of blackmail and extortion.
Oh...I have a live-in relative that the caregiver leaves at _______ so I need to be home.
Oh...I have to get my kids off to school and there isn't anyone else to do it (single parent).
Oh...I am taking my uncle to the airport this morning. (reuse with caution)
You cannot win. If you stay, they will expect you to do this routinely---it's a test. If you go, you will be accused of not being a "team player"--how about the person who called in for the 50th time this year? Or how about the RN Mgr who simply didn't schedule enough for the shift?
You teach people how to treat you. You make sure you have written documentation of your reviews and get copies of any letters written about you by patients/families/other employees---and you keep them in a file. When the subject of you not being a team player comes up---because you simply want to have a life outside of work, you can refer to them.
Did this, done this, been there---and I'm all ok with working my contracted hours and going home to sleep. This is my job, not my identity---and if the RN Mgr gets enough "NO THANKS", they may consider the idea that hey---this work won't get done if the staffing is so short. When you get burned out, or broken---see how loyal your employer will be when you have needs.
Here's a unique idea---how about RN Mgr staying those few hours of OT and passing those meds? Not like it's a clinical skill thing, like doing procedures.
Have a good, canned response---find something that nobody can refute or try and make you feel guilty over (I haven't slept in 2 days and have a migraine....but you can BREATHE, can't you?? surely you can hold on for just another hour?) A hard and fast commitment that makes it so you simply cannot do it.
No argument except that passing meds correctly is crucial. You likely didn't mean to make it sound like it can be done by a trained monkey or that it takes less skill and intelligence than doing procedures.
Oh, and also, just say "no". No need to give excuses. The problem comes, though, when no one arrives to relieve you. To take report, to count, to assume care of your patients.
Passing meds is a different skillset--yes---however---are you seriously going to tell me that somehow doing CRRT is the equivalent of passing the 0700 docusate and life saving tylenol to bed 2?
Yeah, no. meant what I said. A Nurse Manager hasn't lost all of her wits that she can't read a MAR and apply the 5 rights. I would stay over my daggone self if my patient needed CRRT and the only person between that procedure getting done and my patient dying is an RN Mgr who has a. never done CRRT or b. hasn't done it in 18 years.
Passing meds is not "easy", by any standards, but there is zero equivalency here between difficult and technical procedures and giving tylenol.
I had one nurse manager offer to babysit my three year old in her office if I’d come in to work.
This one made me scratch my head. So she would watch your munchkin (unable to do her managerial work because she would be babysitting), but she wouldnt just work the floor to fill the gap? Ok.
thank you-good advice! I also agree that mutual reciprocity goes a long way and I do, on occasion, stay past my shift to help out. What I object to however, is the badgering, heavy sighing, and looks of disgust when I don't buckle under to these constant requests.
Yeah, obviously that is not the most pleasant situation to be in, but after a few rounds of really trying to stay calm inside and not taking their reactions personally (as opposed to feeling really anxious/uncomfortable d/t subconsciously believing their reactions are your fault), you realize that life goes on. For them - and for you, too.
Or, you could always inject some (private) humor by asking what kind of bonus (on top of OT, if applicable) is being offered, or state that you can stay for ___% bonus +OT. ? Put the ball back in their court.
I go with my gut. If it's isn't a joyful yes, then it's a definite no. Chronically filling in extra shifts only elevates the problem in the short term. Hospitals need to wake up and figure out how to hire more nurses rather than give CEOs multimillion dollar packages. My life and time are valuable.
Co worker of mine had a couple glasses of wine on her day off. Supervisor calls asking her if she can come in. She tells her, “Sorry, but it’s my day off and I’ve already had a couple of drinks since I wasn’t planning on coming in to work”. The nurse manager then says, “How about in a couple hours so it will have time to wear off”. That one actually surprised me.
Happened to a nurse I used to work with a couple of years ago. She was known to sit at a particular local bar to watch the football game. Our DON at the time had the nerve to actually call the bar knowing she was probably there and proceeded to ask her to stop drinking so she could come in after the game. Needless to say that was a hard no and I'm pretty sure was the catalyst for her getting a different job.
If you pick up shifts often and ask for a scheduling favor admins standard line is "that was your choice and we compensated for it", so this team player notion is all a bunch of garbage.
What ruins it are the ones that love to pick up OT until they don't. I developed real thick skin and great avoidance of the "can you help out for a few hrs?" when I was part-time. Now that I'm full time, I just get pulled to the open shifts. Makes it real difficult to get my real work done.
As a union facility (LPNs, CNA, Dietary and Housekeeping) we have a hard time attracting new employees because our starting rate is ridiculously low for those positions due to the contract.
How about pay a fair rate to start with? We already have flexible scheduling and a decent working environment, but when you are working short due to call offs....no one except that one nurse wants to pick up.
BTW, DON picks up tons of shifts (gets a bonus) and I will fill in. Its just insane.
Passing meds is a different skillset--yes---however---are you seriously going to tell me that somehow doing CRRT is the equivalent of passing the 0700 docusate and life saving tylenol to bed 2?
Yeah, no. meant what I said. A Nurse Manager hasn't lost all of her wits that she can't read a MAR and apply the 5 rights. I would stay over my daggone self if my patient needed CRRT and the only person between that procedure getting done and my patient dying is an RN Mgr who has a. never done CRRT or b. hasn't done it in 18 years.
Passing meds is not "easy", by any standards, but there is zero equivalency here between difficult and technical procedures and giving tylenol.
You do realize that there are many meds more than Tylenol and Docusate, right?
What ruins it are the ones that love to pick up OT until they don't. I developed real thick skin and great avoidance of the "can you help out for a few hrs?" when I was part-time. Now that I'm full time, I just get pulled to the open shifts. Makes it real difficult to get my real work done.
As a union facility (LPNs, CNA, Dietary and Housekeeping) we have a hard time attracting new employees because our starting rate is ridiculously low for those positions due to the contract.
How about pay a fair rate to start with? We already have flexible scheduling and a decent working environment, but when you are working short due to call offs....no one except that one nurse wants to pick up.
BTW, DON picks up tons of shifts (gets a bonus) and I will fill in. Its just insane.
In agreement with you. I work in a SNF and staffing for both CNA's and nurses is an issue almost daily. CNA's, dietary, housekeeping and activities are union. RN's and LPN's are not. At least when the CNA's are stuck with mandatory OT they are being compensated for it. Nurses get nothing, nada, zip. There is no incentive to pick up a shift or two unless you just want the straight time. The only time we are even paid OT is if we get over 40 hours a week and not a single nurse is actually scheduled 40 hours a week so any time either picked up or mandated is paid at straight time for at least part of a shift. Mandates are simply a fact of life for us. While I am in no means belittling the staffing issues the hospital nurses complain about at least they have the ability to pull from another floor, we don't. There is no other floor, it's just the staff in the building so when the next shift has a hole if it's not filled by a volunteer somebody has to stay.
Of course we do have that one nurse that picks up all the time, works doubles just about every time she is on the schedule and picks up on her days off. Until we didn't. When she quit recently we figured they'd need to hire at least two and probably three nurses just to cover the hours she was working.
Management will fill in when there is absolutely no other option. At least in the case of our DON I sure don't begrudge her a bonus if she's getting one since she is the most willing to help when needed and she is salary so if she's not getting a bonus she's essentially working those extra hours for free.
DowntheRiver
983 Posts
I have told a crappy manager, "your failure to plan does not constitute an emergency on my part" and walked away.