Called in on days off...what to do?!?

Until you and all of the other nurses stop "sucking it up," the understaffing will never be addressed. I understand your reluctance due to your supervisory position, but again, as long as crisis is averted, realistic staffing will never happen.

Are you salaried or do you at least get paid when you pick up? I've never heard of a role like this. You have your own patient assignment and deal with issues that arrise? Are you essentially a charge nurse?

Until you and all of the other nurses stop "sucking it up," the understaffing will never be addressed. I understand your reluctance due to your supervisory position, but again, as long as crisis is averted, realistic staffing will never happen.

Agree. If you continue to fill the holes, why would they bother to hire? If you like the OT pay great, if you don't want to, then don't do it. They need to hire and fill the "holes". They have no incentive to hire if you continue to help when you don't want to.

Yes I am basically a charge nurse though my official title is house supervisor. It can be challenging to have my patients and also have to deal with issues in another department am hourly so I do get paid for extra shifts.

So you're not just a supervisor of that unit, you're a house supervisor, but with a patient assignment too. Fun. How many beds is this place?

To answer your original question, I would pick up occasionally if it worked out with my schedule, but would in no way feel obligated to work more than my scheduled shifts. You don't need to be one more burnt out person.

So you're not just a supervisor of that unit, you're a house supervisor, but with a patient assignment too. Fun. How many beds is this place?

To answer your original question, I would pick up occasionally if it worked out with my schedule, but would in no way feel obligated to work more than my scheduled shifts. You don't need to be one more burnt out person.

What on earth is wrong with management folks that they just do.not.get this basic reality?? OP, this is a global problem, not just a problem at your facility.

I'd pick up when it suited me, but otherwise would JUST SAY NO. You can tell them that you have made other plans; they don't need to know that you'd plan to veg out in front of "House of Cards" with your SO.

What on earth is wrong with management folks that they just do.not.get this basic reality?? OP, this is a global problem, not just a problem at your facility.

I'm convinced that they do get it, they just don't care and we aren't applying any pressure to make them start "caring". As long as nurses keep accepting overtime shifts (a.k.a. filling the holes) instead of demanding that the employer come up with a viable longterm solution, management will just keep doing what they're currently doing.

You can say, "OH, so sorry, I have plans" or "I wish I could help but I can't" or, "Sorry, I had a beer already."

I used to feel guilty about not helping out because I've been the staff on duty when short and wouldn't want my coworkers to suffer. Then one day I woke up and realized it is NOT my problem.

Administration's answer was to have critical staffing bonus and other incentives. It is working. People are picking up extra shifts every other week and at the end of the campaign's term, they get a hefty extra check.

My time off is more valuable to me right now than the extra money, but if I could do it, I would. My self-care is most important...which, again, is why I no longer feel guilty turning down extra shifts.

They do this at my facility as well. I wait until the critical bonus shifts and then may pick up one, here and there. It's not regular, and I never feel guilty for not doing it. My time is my time. What I chose to do with it is my choice. If I want to earn a few extra bucks, they better make it worth my while. And honestly, that's how it should be.

Their failure to hire and staff is not my issue. But I do like earning a big paycheck sometimes. I do my have to, but extra money now, is more retirement money later!!

I would pick up occasionally if it suited me. Aside from that, I would avoid their calls and not answer the phone. You are not obligated to an employer on your scheduled days off.