days off- a rant

Published

My employer constantly calls me in on my days off, and it's making me want to lose it. I don't mean that they just call and say "can you come in" and I have to say no. I mean, they keep on calling and harassing me and texting and telling me how much they NEED me to come in. It's every freaking time I have a day off, and I'm sick of it. I end up working overtime that I don't want week after week.

Today, inevitably, I called in sick because I am EXHAUSTED and my body can't take this (I'm no spring chicken). Well, my supervisor got a big attitude with me and continued to text me during the day and tell me that she needs me to come in. I finally put my foot down, and she catches an attitude and tells me that I need a doctor's excuse. Unbelievable! The favors I do for these people, and this is how they act.

When I called in sick, I called in with more than enough time for the charge nurse to find a replacement, and guess what she did...she decided that the next shift would "just get by" and she didn't call anyone in. I've seen it happen before on my own shift, and the attitude appalls me.

Our "self scheduling" is a joke, because they change everything that you put in anyway. They don't schedule enough nurses, and then when our patient census goes up by two or three, we're already maxed out on patient assignments and have to call someone in. God forbid they should assign anyone less than a huge patient load.

I love my patients, but this crapola is making me dread going to work.

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Just don't answer. If you're off or you've already called in, you have no obligation.

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Specializes in General Internal Medicine, ICU.

Don't answer your texts or phone calls from work on your days off. Screen your calls and texts.

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Some suggestions:

1) turn off your phone on your days off

2) just ignore any phone calls from work

3) leave your phone in an area you can't hear or see it

4) get a prepaid phone that is only used for work, then turn it off on your days off

5) my phone company allows me to block certain numbers on certain days of the week

6) have a friend or family member answer the phone when work calls then have them tell the manager that you are currently busy or away from your phone for an undetermined amount of time

7) tell your manager that you have important responsibilities on your days off and you would appreciate that they do not call you

I hope any of the above suggestions could give you some ideas. My work texts me all the time for extra shifts but i just ignore it. I think over time, i learned how to not care for overtime opportunities, especially during my "precious days off";-) There are nurses who are more than willing to work as long as they are compensated well for their time. My work should be able to afford that! My mental/physical well-being is more important to me.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Why are you letting yourself get drawn into these conversations? You have the ability to maintain control here. Screen your calls and don't answer on your days off. Don't feed into it by allowing it to continue.

If they leave inappropriate messages, save them and follow-up with your Human Resources (or a lawyer) if appropriate. But I wouldn't do that right away: I would give them a chance to learn that such messages don't work first. I would only report them HR or get an attorney if the messages were persistent and really inappropriate.

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Specializes in OB.

I have never understood why so many nurses complain about this. Screen your calls, people. Screen. Answer if you want OT, don't if you don't.

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Specializes in ICU.
I have never understood why so many nurses complain about this. Screen your calls, people. Screen. Answer if you want OT, don't if you don't.

I would complain because previous jobs always tried to call me while I was asleep, and I'm a light sleeper. Whether I answered the phone or not, I was awake and usually couldn't fall asleep again. I like to leave my phone on in case of family emergencies, and I feel like having to spend extra money on a second phone and phone plan just so work doesn't wake me up is a little extreme. But that's just me.

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Specializes in OB.
I would complain because previous jobs always tried to call me while I was asleep, and I'm a light sleeper. Whether I answered the phone or not, I was awake and usually couldn't fall asleep again. I like to leave my phone on in case of family emergencies, and I feel like having to spend extra money on a second phone and phone plan just so work doesn't wake me up is a little extreme. But that's just me.

I'm so protective of my sleep that I don't keep my phone near my bed, but I understand not everyone feels that way. In that case, I would directly address it with the person who keeps calling me and not cave into their demands.

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i am a new graduate off orientation. i am always being called in. at least 2x a week, so far i have a text message saying they need somebody right now, ironically. why is it that this constantly happens? is staffing not adequate?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I received a text two hours after working a 12-hour night shift asking if I could come in and I am already putting in eight hours of overtime this week! You know what I did?

I ignored the text and went to sleep.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Pediatric Home Care.
My employer constantly calls me in on my days off, and it's making me want to lose it. I don't mean that they just call and say "can you come in" and I have to say no. I mean, they keep on calling and harassing me and texting and telling me how much they NEED me to come in. It's every freaking time I have a day off, and I'm sick of it. I end up working overtime that I don't want week after week.

Tell them you're drunk. Works for me every time. :wacky:

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Specializes in Public Health.
I would complain because previous jobs always tried to call me while I was asleep, and I'm a light sleeper. Whether I answered the phone or not, I was awake and usually couldn't fall asleep again. I like to leave my phone on in case of family emergencies, and I feel like having to spend extra money on a second phone and phone plan just so work doesn't wake me up is a little extreme. But that's just me.

Depending on what kind of phone you have, you can set up do not disturb for certain numbers.

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