define no call no show

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 2, 2009

I wouldn't think that texting another nurse without also calling the facility would meet the burden of notifying the employer of illness or pressing necessity. It definitely wouldn't at my facility. For us it's not enough to talk to the charge nurse, we're also expected to speak to the staffing clerk and the manger on call. We also have very strict rules about mandating someone to stay overtime, and anyone who stays after the end of their scheduled shift, mandated or voluntarily, is paid at OT rates for those subsequent hours.

Nurses who work PRN do so for many reasons, but the over-riding consideration is that they work when they can or whne they want to. If you put them on a rotating call list or force them to work a specified number of hours a month makes them part-time employees, not PRNs. And don't forget that if htey don't work they don't get paid. They have NO paid time off... no vacations, no sick time, no personal days. They also aren't aprt of your benefits package, whatever that may consist of: health care, dental care, disability, pension etc.

The rest of your post isn't really part of the no-call-no-show original topic, is it?

sasha2lady · Mar 2, 2009

no..not really...that last part of my post....it all kinda ties in together in one big ugly package. one big problem is with our mgmt....our boss is from another state and she has done all she can to make our facility like the one in the state she came from and our practice acts are different ..she just doesnt seem to comprehend that part of it. she is under the impression that we should do just like her old state. its been nothing like it used to be since she came....we hardly ever had call ins like we do now .....it used to not be a problem in covering a shift...we got extra pay for it and she took that away from us 2 yrs ago. whatever the corp office will let her do.....she does...she made our 'attendance policy" and it was straight outta her mouth that a nc ns was fired...yet shes never fired one for it. I wouldnt text a nurse either. I just dont have that kind of ignorance in me I dont think . I think its ....unprofessional and appalling to do coworkers like that in any setting. Whats worse is that nothing will be said or done about it per DON. sigh.....

kat7ap · Mar 2, 2009

Personally, I would be putting in my 2 week notice ASAP. They are clearly taking advantage of you and have no regard for your well being or license. It sounds like a potentially dangerous work environment. I thought that paying for OT was the law? It is in my state. Perhaps they will change their policies when they lose all their good employees. In my mind that nurse should have been fired immediately for a no call no show. Texting another nurse does not qualify for calling in if she did not notify the proper people to find coverage for her shift. Sorry you are going through this

lpnflorida · Mar 3, 2009

In this day and age of electronics I say the nurse met the criteria of notifying somone she would not be coming in. What is the difference if it is a text message or a voice message. Either way she did notify someone she would not be coming into work.

As to your other complaints which are numerous. If you can't change things, then quit and find another job. I would not work anywhere which had mandatory overtime for my own personal reasons. Those who accept those jobs knowing it is the current policy all I can say is. You agreed to it. It does not mean I think it is right nor do I think it should not change. It only means it is what you hired on for.

caliotter3 · Mar 3, 2009

The nurse in question was able to contact someone on duty, therefore, not a no call, no show. Your post addresses many other issues. You need to bring these up to your management for resolution or explanation. If you are so displeased by their action/nonaction that it bothers your ability to work efficiently, then it is time to look for another employer.

kat7ap · Mar 3, 2009

Well the OP did say that the nurse in question only texted the other 3rd shift nurse. I don't see how that is giving notice. Plus there is no guarantee that person even received the message.

lpnflorida · Mar 3, 2009

Well the OP did say that the nurse in question only texted the other 3rd shift nurse. I don't see how that is giving notice. Plus there is no guarantee that person even received the message.

she must have received the text messeage as the DON I believe the original poster stated was okay with the fact that this person was not a no show no call therefore was not terminated.

kat7ap · Mar 3, 2009

Well I guess we need more info from the OP. To me it sounds like the nurse calling in only notified the other nurse on her shift and that the 2nd shift was unaware of the call (or text) in. Therefore not given a chance to find a replacement nurse. Places where I've worked have certain procedures of a specific person to call within a certain time frame before your shift (if possible) in order to be giving proper notice.

sasha2lady · Mar 3, 2009

THe only person contacted was the 3rd shift nurse...no one on 2nd was contacted which resulted in a another 2nd shift nurse having to pull a double ...again. For 2nd and 3rd we are supposed to call in 3 to 4 hours prior to our shift and talk to whoever is in charge...which didnt happen. And like I posted prior....since this don has come on board about 2 yrs ago...she has been the one to make so many changes in almost everything. she is soooo intelligent when it comes to some things but man...when it comes to dealing with any type of staff issue she simply cannot do it...she pawns it all off on the nurses....for example...if she comes up with a new thing for 3rd shift to do or check...she never ever tells them....she will either leave a note where most of us dont find it or she'll tell one of us on 2nd to be sure and tell them....then they get all mad and yadayada yada....and it wont get done b/c they didnt hear it directly from her mouth. Communication is very poor ......when something changes or is new....only a few of us know about it while the rest of the staff is in the dark. That mustve been how she did things in her old state which like i said before...she swears by their practices. Ive talked to her at length for over a yr about all the issues that come up but she always dodges doing anything about them. She gets on these whims where she wants to be picky and then in a day or so its over. When you run a facility I dont think that notes and pass it along's are an efficient way to communicate new info to your staff. Our day shift doesnt do anything she asks. I honestly think shes a lil intimidated by them for some reason..they are very cliquish. Now...2nd shift...we all get along really well 9 out of 10 times and our work is always done and we dont pawn anything off on the next shift. It really wasnt always like it is now...things were alot better 2 yrs ago. Ive thought about leaving many many times but I've found it to be more difficult since the birth of my son and my lack of childcare resources around my area. I keep hoping that my boss will retire soon...she is of age and has talked about it off and on for a while ....maybe we'll get someone who gives a d*** about the staff and our residents more. For ex...when I was pregnant...she didn't want me to take my full 6 wks of maternity leave...she said I should be back to work in about a week b/c she knew of other nurses who had done that.....well...I ended up with a c section and just for that remark I stayed out for 8 wks. Other instances with her...she plays god....she will cancel important appts for our rehab pts and cancel referrals ....it boils down to money and budgets...esp with these medicare pts. We have a man with GBS who is to get immunoglobulin txs ...she originally cancelled these tx's and said he could not go. However,......we talked to our md and the other md....he's getting his tx's. Another pt is a severe diabetic..our md wanted her to go to a specialist...things were good....then the boss said no..and got the family to sign a release stating she was refusing to go which wasn't true. she hoo dood that family....boils down to....shes medicaid not medicare or pvt insurance and she thought that the facility would have to pick up a tab. the list goes on and on.......wouldnt wanna be in her shoes when it catches up to her.

Equinox_93 · Mar 6, 2009

I would find out the whole story... If she were stuck in the snow without a decent charge to her phone- a txt might have been all the phone could handle. When mine is about to die, I can get off a txt or two but it won't dial out or receive. Now- chances are that's *not* the case- but still- do find out the whole story- just to be sure...

caliotter3 · Mar 6, 2009

Or, she might have been trying to reach the facility and had connection problems. Quite possible. Whatever the circumstances the DON was satisfied with her method of notification, so not an issue.