I work in a long term care facility as the evening supervisor. I just took this position a couple of months ago, but have noticed that we have A LOT of call offs. The DON told me on Tuesday that if the 11-7 nurse calls off then it is the responsiblity of the 3-11 nurse to stay until relief is found. She told me that the 3-11 shift needs to stay at least 4 hours and then the unit manager can take the other 4 hours of the shift. Okay.....so what if no one can stay? They have other jobs, have to get home and sleep to take care of their little ones, or have a ride waiting for them outside. Last night I had a nurse call off AFTER she was suppost to be there. Called around to try to get someone and asked everyone in the building if they could do a double or at least another 4 hours, but no one could stay. I called the unit manager at that point, who poor thing had just gone to bed an hour earlier, and she came in. Obviously the nurse that called off will get in trouble for not following procedure, but where does that leave everyone else? Can the DON MAKE someone work 1/2 a shift of OT or is it the unit manager's responsablilty to fill the shift? My husband leaves at 5am in the morning, so if I ever have to stay the full shift, he will not be able to go to work on time himself, since we have 3 kids at home that he couldn't just leave. By the way this has happend twice this week. I don't know if this is a trend or if it's just a bad week, but I am concerned.
