On Friday night, my only night off this week, I was at my niece's birthday party when I got a call from work.
It was the nursing supervisor trying to mandate me to come in on my day off-I could not believe it! She was rude and almost demanding me to leave my family function and come to work, 30 minutes before shift change.
I obviously refused to go to work, and then she informed me that I may be subject to disiplinary action.
Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this, and can my employer legally DEMAND me to come in on my day off on short notice?
There is no disciplinary action they can take. You weren't on call, and they can't mandate you to come in and expect to keep any kind of nurses working there.
We did have a director who got fired for not coming in on a Sunday when the State was doing a surprise inspection due to a patient complaint. But she was way high up and the directors are on 24-hour call. Staff nurses are not.
Anyone in management that you can report this harrasment to?
Thanks for all of the replies. As for caller id, she called me on my cell phone, and the number came up as "private call"--sneaky, huh? They had also called other co-workers, and one of them told her, "You have RN after your name too, don't you?" I guess I have learned not to anwser any private calls in the future.
No union for me either. But I do have caller ID. Never thought of turning off the answering machine thing:) If that would happen again I would kindly ask " ohh and where is it written that I am resposible to come it on my day off. Please show me so that I can be better informed of my lack of rights" Too bad the drinking excuse won't work for me since I'm preggo!
They try this stuff with new employees and new nurses who don't know better. They ask me frequently for my cell phone number too...I just laugh and say 'good try but no deal'.
My private time is my private time. And yes, caller ID and answering machines are our friends. :roll
Specializes in correctional-CCHCP/detox nurse, DOULA-Birth Assist.
The drinking excuse is a good and true excuse but some people just don't understand why you can't still treat a patient while under the influence.....total DUNDERHEADS!!!!!!!
I was out one night with friends and had just gotten home and gone to bed @ about 4AM (in my younger days). The phone rings and its the charge nurse who is telling me to come in to work @ 6AM (I wasn't due on till 2PM) because one of the other nurses had called in to take the day off (no mention of her being sick, just took the day off ...and these 2 were friends). It took me 10 minutes to get it thru her head that NO I am not comming in to work in the nursery because I had been drinking (the truth) and NO I was not comming in and getting a DUI just to prove to her that I was to drunk to work (but not enough to drive....what an idiot). This woman was such an idiot, turns out we had a low census (no laboring pts until noon) but she still felt the need to call people in to cover for her friend, she just couldn't understand why I wouldn't hold a wiggly baby when I had had a few too many drinks.
On Friday night, my only night off this week, I was at my niece's birthday party when I got a call from work.
It was the nursing supervisor trying to mandate me to come in on my day off-I could not believe it! She was rude and almost demanding me to leave my family function and come to work, 30 minutes before shift change.
I obviously refused to go to work, and then she informed me that I may be subject to disiplinary action.
Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this, and can my employer legally DEMAND me to come in on my day off on short notice?
Good for you for refusing! Shoulda told her you had been drinking, and seen what her response would have been.
2 words for you from now on: "answering machine." Oh, 2 more: "screen calls."
Don't ever feel that you can be forced to come in on your day off, regardless of what reason they give you. Staffing is THEIR problem, and one they get paid very well for.
Just say "no-" no excuses, no apologies.
Even in the event of a disaster, when staff is called according to a disaster tree, they are only allowed to ASK if you can come in--not demand that you do.
If they want people to be at their beck and call, then they need to put people ON CALL--and pay them accordingly. I never took call for less than 1/2 my hourly wage, with a 4 hour minimum call-in guaranteed, as well. Now I don't take call at all--my free time is far more valuable than ANY amount of money.
I can't beleieve she tried to bully you by threatening disciplinary action. Don't fall for her threats. Let us know what happens.
i would never give my nm *that* much information (regarding being impaired) or *power* when i'm off for her to use it against me in the near or distant future...after telling him/her no! the shear nerve of this person would've received a disconnection...without any further explanations when i do see them (& no...they can't write you up either!). once the offer was made & my response was given...then *that* should be *that*! no further excuses of why i can't isn't needed or required. it's the nm's job to get someone in or work the shift...they either utilize the pool or agency nurse system...or work the damn shift themselves....period! *that's* what they're being paid all that *extra* money for...not intimidation.
i could just see it....you come-in....work a few hours...make some sort of mistake...& there you are...charges being brought-up on you because you should've known your limits (whether impaired by alcohol or just plain tired after working six days str8!) that's how the board would see it & i'm sure your employer isn't going to back you up either. you'll be the one out in the wind with your license on the line....& that nm'll still be around to call someone else to replace you...ha! the other scenario would be all of a sudden...you're a drunk that have to be monitored by co-workers...next thing...they'll have it out that you're doing drugs & watch-out...you're stealing narcs! ohhhh noooo! don't go down that road ~ ever! trust me...it's not necessary to come-up with a great excuse to paint in order to not come-in on your day off. a simple...no, i don't feel like it will do just fine!
what i would do is contact your sbon...report the person & your facility. let the sbon start an investigation over the tactics this person has turned to. your employer wouldn't dare fire you or set-you up at this point because they're being watched/investigated. your nm will think twice before even trying this tactic with you again....just politely decline & hang-up. this thing about not being able to answer you own damn phone cuz it might be the job is crazy! don't let people make a prisoner out of you in your own home or with your celly. if you nm can't take no for an answer...then advise them that this conversation is being recorded while you have to remind them of your work rights! ten to one...they'll never call you with that crap again. i think matt's mom hit the nail on the head...some nm will try anything on novice nurses to get whatever they want! they *know* better than to pull this crap on seasoned nurses.
I had the same situation happen to me, the nurse manager was new and desperate for help. He told me I was required to come in due to the fact I would be endangering patients if I didn't (since the unit had a high census and three nurses called in) and that he would have to report me to state board if I didn't. He was calling me to come in for the PM shift. I explained to him that not only would I not come in but I was recording this call on my answering machine and would be in the VP of nursings office in the morning. Needless to say he never threatned to call the state board on me again :)
This type of scenario happened to me once. I came in for my scheduled 3-11 shift, the nurse manager came to the med cart and told me that I would be staying for the 11-7 shift as well. I told her that I was unable to do that. She began to lay on the guilt and told me that if I didn't work the extra shift it would be in my performance evaluation....I continued to repeat," I'm unable to do that." When it was time for her to go home, she approached me again and I told her,"do not attempt to ask me this again, I've already told you I am unable to do that.
When I came back for my next shift, she had spread the rumor that I wasn't a team player, that I acted out...etc. I confronted her and she said that she couldn't believe I had told her NO. My reply was,"really, believe this, I'm applying for the position as your supervisor." When I got the promotion, we had a conference at which time she begged me not to hold that against her, she just didn't get it...I didn't have the energy to hold that kind of grudge!
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fab4fan
1,173 Posts
No, but threatening someone is . :stone (crimeny!)