Contacted multiple times for same empty shift

purplegal · Jun 25, 2017

This sounds like something my nursing job would do. We're chronically short staffed, so they practically have to beg people to come in.

Whenever I see their number ringing on my phone, I just let it go to voicemail. If it has nothing to do with a question or concern on their part, and has to do with staffing, I just delete the voicemail. I don't even bother calling back since they'd try and find a way to convince me to come in. So I would just ignore them the next time they call.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jun 25, 2017

@ PMFB-RN Thank you I have a many people I no longer want contacting me.

Purple_roses · Jun 25, 2017

I'm on vacation. I left a note on the schedule not to call me between date A &B. They called two days into my vacation. I contacted a coworker to put the note BACK on the schedule that someone had removed, because, obviously, they didn't get my point!
Don't ever feel guilty about not calling back, or for not answering when they call. I tell people all the time "This is my job, not my life."
Also, I get mad when people call me in the middle of the day if I'm sleeping; how about I call you in the middle of the night to see if you want to work? OH WAIT, you're already on the schedule, SORRY to wake you!

I don't know if you have an iPhone, but if not I'm sure there's an option to do this on other cell phones:

I almost always have my phone on silent or "do not disturb." If I turn it on the do not disturb option, I can modify it so that certain calls come through (for instance, I'm expecting a call from my mom regarding my grandma's health, so her calls go through). I literally have this on all the time. If it's important, the person will leave a message. If not, they called and I still didn't get woken up/disturbed.

Purple_roses · Jun 25, 2017

Just to be fair and hear the other side of this issue is to recognize that the staffing coord or nsg supervisor is being EXPECTED to make the calls from the higher PTB. So that person has little choice except to make the call. I've been THAT person many times.
Also there is no real effective way to keep track of any previous calls made. So again, calls are made.
And yes, I have made phone calls to folk on vacation. My error and I apologize. But there could be worse things to happen.
Just don't answer the phone or let technology handle the call.

It sounds like this job isn't fun for either party involved. You at least are considerate enough to understand that employees aren't obligated to take the call. It sounds like whoever was calling OP was a bit demanding about a call back.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 25, 2017

Triage your calls. When I am off, I have no obligations to my employer during my unpaid time away from them. I hate mass group texts and never know who the person behind the charge phone manning it is. I simply have become a master of blocking them to go straight to voicemail up until the night before work. I worked for a place that burnt the heck out of everyone mentally and physically. The mass messages would be coming in even while you were at work. Sleeping in on a day off was impossible and very frequently they would start calling and texting to pretty much demand you stay home and come work the night shift instead or vice versa with no disregard whatsoever about your personal or family life. I decided to take action into my own hands and as soon as I'd clock off, I'd set block times. Once they figured it out they would call my spouse, or email. They would also have FB friends monitor your posts etc. Needless to say you could never get away from it. I deleted social media, changed personal emails and turned my phone off entirely to preserve some sanity. Nursing is getting ridiculous!

Emergent, RN · Jun 25, 2017

I've never had any trouble saying no to shifts I don't want to work. Sometimes I'll cite specific reasons such as I'm scheduled at my other job, I'm out of town, I have too much to do at home, a family member is visiting, or I am totally exhausted. Other times I'll just say I have plans. Those plans might just be to stay home and enjoy my life. Sometimes I've said I just drank a beer, sorry. :yes:

What was different in this case was that I just totally ignored the call because I had already been contacted several times by text, through the hospital scheduling email program, and by phone. She left a voicemail, and had the audacity to instruct me to call back whether I was going to work or not.

I usually try to give the courtesy of a return text, which is how my main job contact us. I like people to return my texts. It takes hardly any effort. What I don't like is for someone to get pushy with me. But it's never really been much of a problem.

amoLucia · Jun 25, 2017

In the olden days, we would get a piece of paper, like in a notebook, and write down who we called, when, and response.
I don't understand why you say there is no real effective way to keep track of previously made calls. I'm sure the same method I described could still be done by hand or even on a computer.

I guess I should have been more specific - I did keep the list as you described because I was expected to SHOW that I did indeed make calls. For some places, each supervisor had to try to staff ahead and we were req by 'managlement', like just any other task tagged on to my list of other things to do for the shift.

Sometimes we were lucky - at different times, a 'not responding' person did get home and agreed. And just for the record, some staff will respond positively to certain people while not to others. I never 'bullied' anyone; I would apologize for the interruption and "thank you anyway". Sometimes I could barter and negotiate a deal.

All very similar to when I received phone calls from staff when they were calling off. It was just an undesirable part of my job. I didn't like it when people called me; so I just tried to be as UNoffensive as poss.

*** I'm finding it quite interesting that currently there are 3 active threads posting about folk upset with scheduling issues. Hey! It's vacation time! Next flurry will occur late December!

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 25, 2017

About ten years ago I was on vacation in Maine, my mother and I were eating breakfast at a restaurant, and my employer called me about a sudden cancellation on a Must-Staff case, and how soon did I think I might get there to relieve the night shift person? Hahahahahahahahahaha, It would have been a heck of a long commute; if I drove straight through I probably could relieve her in a couple of days!

amoLucia · Jun 25, 2017

NSIME - I did the same call. Only my employee was on the road in Colorado. We two just had a good laugh about it.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 25, 2017

About ten years ago I was on vacation in Maine, my mother and I were eating breakfast at a restaurant, and my employer called me about a sudden cancellation on a Must-Staff case, and how soon did I think I might get there to relieve the night shift person? Hahahahahahahahahaha, It would have been a heck of a long commute; if I drove straight through I probably could relieve her in a couple of days!

NSIME - I did the same call. Only my employee was on the road in Colorado. We two just had a good laugh about it.

Seems to be a theme. I was on a hiking trail 5,000+ miles from home. I answered and "politely" told them where to go.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jun 25, 2017

I don't have trouble saying no. It's only when the caller starts whining and cajoling that I 'make up' a reason:

'I don't think you'd want me to, I'm on my second glass of wine.'

Once someone called my bluff and said she would come get me and drive me to the case.

"You are saying it's okay if I am drunk on the job?"

Most of the time I say no, but I thank them for thinking of me.

When we had a CSR who had been there for years, my phone would ring, the caller ID had the name of my company on it. I picked the phone up and instead of saying hello, I said, "No." We have laughed about that many times.

I don't know anybody in my office, they are all new. It's like working for a different company.

I'll have to get them used to me before I start in on any of my goofy responses.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 25, 2017

I don't have trouble saying no. It's only when the caller starts whining and cajoling that I 'make up' a reason:
'I don't think you'd want me to, I'm on my second glass of wine.'
Once someone called my bluff and said she would come get me and drive me to the case.
"You are saying it's okay if I am drunk on the job?"
Most of the time I say no, but I thank them for thinking of me.
When we had a CSR who had been there for years, my phone would ring, the caller ID had the name of my company on it. I picked the phone up and instead of saying hello, I said, "No." We have laughed about that many times.
I don't know anybody in my office, they are all new. It's like working for a different company.
I'll have to get them used to me before I start in on any of my goofy responses.

I got such call for help yesterday and promptly told that I won't make it for that shift even if I wished to do so because my flight was some 6 hours later, over 2 time zones, plus 100+ miles drive home. Their reaction: can't you just change tickets somehow? (well, if you pay me the appropriate fees, which are WAY more than your measly "compensation" and pick me up in the airport, then I may think about it :sarcastic: )

It didn't touch the worst one, though. The one when I was seriously asked "to maybe speed up a bit somewhere" in order to make 600+ miles in between 2 or 3 hours. Gosh, I really always was dreaming of my own private jet... will you buy me one of I really do it? A gently used Ferrari will go, too - I'm not picky about such things :roflmao: