Asking you to work an extra shift.....

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · May 22, 2008

I'm an almost new grad (pinning in 24 days lol) but once I'm licensed you can bet I will because the hospital I'll be working for makes it worth your while to pick up a shift, if you aren't the designated on call and you pick up a shift it's 125$ bonus just to walk through the door and clock in plus time and a half if it's weekends or night, if it's days during the week you get 20% differential, even as a unit clerk I get the 20% diff if I come in and pick up a day that I wasn't schedueled for

That's pretty neat.

Believe you me when I say that some of us are so incredibly tired at the end of the week that even that incentive would have to pass on my list. You will see when you graduate and start working

swee2000 · May 23, 2008

All I have to say is "Thank God for caller ID & voicemail"!!!

Seriously, in my first year at the hospital and particularly during the winter season when we were constantly on "Emergency Bed Status" & short-staffed, I picked up LOTS & LOTS of extra shifts. At one point, I believe that I worked 80+ hours in a ONE week timeframe. Yes, I knew how excessive & extreme it was & I definitely learned how exhausting & taxing it was on/to my body. But because I was new and wanted to show I was a team player who cared about her job, the unit's ability to function, & more importantly, the patients, I kept on agreeing to work extra shifts every time they asked me. Plus, the extra $$$$ from overtime, extra-shift bonuses, shift differentials, etc was so tempting, even if Uncle Sam would end up with some of it.

Now, 4 years later, they would practically have to beg me to work beyond my scheduled 8/shift or 32/week. Especially when in the past, they've ripped employees off by not paying out the extra-shift bonuses come paycheck time or when they've ONLY offered double-bonuses(on top of the extra-shift bonus) to the RNs, while leaving the LPNs, CNAs, & NIs hanging out to dry with the pizza that management ordered in. (The funny thing is I hardly ever got any pizza because I was too busy trying to get my work done & caring for patients that I never made it to the breakroom in time!!)

gt4everpn, BSN, RN · May 23, 2008

I used to help my job out a lot but I'm in school so I can't yet they call me anyway I stopped picking up the phone and when the supervisor saw me next day at work she asked me why I don't pick up my phone. they're so desperate where I work the supervisors will call the person who called in sick and beg them to come I had the stomach flu once and the supervisor told me to take two tylenol and come in I refused staffing in LTC really is a nightmare I'm dying to work in a hospital

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 23, 2008

Very much depends on circumstance.

If I'm fed up because I've been overworked too many days in a row, well then they can expect a big fat NO from me. Or, if the notice is short and they're not offering a bonus, probably a "no" also. I never cancel plans for an extra shift, no matter WHAT they're offering as an incentive. To the new grad who's excited at the premium pay for extra shifts, I can tell you I was once there, too...but after awhile, believe me, there will be days they CANNOT pay you enough to walk through that door. Honest. There have been days when they honestly could have offered me $300 to walk through that door and I would not have done that shift.

But if I've been having a good week, have no plans and am not tired, well, I'll pull an extra. Or if I have enough notice so that I can plan for that extra shift, same thing.

So the answer is: maybe!!

Perpetual Student · May 23, 2008

I go in unless I have solid plans or am dangerously exhausted. Being at work isn't really worse than being at home other than not being able to sleep. Nursing beats housework. :lol2:

nelcoy4 · May 24, 2008

I don't answer the phone. My ringer is usually turned off in the daytime anyway because I work night (7p-7a) and they love to call at 11am or 2pm. My job also knows I never check my voicemail either, so I get texts sometimes if they are really desparete. I don't come into work for a extra shift, but I stay sometimes in the morning if they are short on days. I'll leave at 11am, when the 11a-11p shift comes in.

nicurn001 · May 24, 2008

This is what answering machines are for .

Screen message as it is being recorded , if interested in doing shift pick up call and accept shift , if uninterested , let the recorder take the call .

This has the advantage , that if as earlier poster noted , if employer is keeping record of how many times you are not accepting shifts , you will not be dinged as you never refused a shift .

missjennmb · May 24, 2008

I go in unless I have solid plans or am dangerously exhausted. Being at work isn't really worse than being at home other than not being able to sleep. Nursing beats housework.

Its terrible but one reason I wanted to go back to school and get into nursing is so that I can afford to have someone else clean my house for me. :lol2: There's just something great about coming home to a clean house that I didnt have to clean. Just wish I could convince my family to do it for me and save me the cash! This isnt my 1st career, but of all the jobs I've had, NONE have made me as miserable as having to clean my house, lol. Sometimes I wish we lived in a hotel.

I'm not working yet so this is just a grain of salt kinda thing... but my plan is to take any extra time I can if my husband is working and turn down any extra if it interferes with family time. So any extra m-f stuff would be ok w/ me as long as I am not dead on my feet, but if I'm lucky enough to have a weekend or holiday free, I'm not going to sacrifice the family time for my job. I figure we will loose enough time together from my scheduled weekend/holiday hours.

Sabby_NC · May 24, 2008

For our organization I would certainly help where I could :)

nicurn001 · May 24, 2008

Remember that you are only a RESOURCE ( Human Resource Dept.)to the hospital . they are a resource to you ( source of income), Where there is more than one healthcare provider in your area ,be available to both for extra shifts , go to the one who offers most when possible .

Before somebody brings up loyalty to employer , you only need to reciprocate the level of loyalty that your employer showa to you . In the case of most corporate employers ,that is none .

barefootlady, ADN, RN · May 24, 2008

I let the answering machine take the call and do not call back. OT is a trap. The money looks good but the body feels bad. I feel lucky to complete a shift on a understaffed, overworked, underpaid, underappreciated unit as it is. Do not expect me to stand in line for further punishment.

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · May 24, 2008

I always take home a the scheduling sheet, and look to see who's working the nights that I'm off. Some folks, there's not money enough in the world to work with when there's a choice. If it's good nurses, and I've been off the prior day, I would probably go.