Do you answer your phone on your day off?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

It seems like whenever i have a scheduled day off...my phone is ringing. "Can you come in and help out..."

"We are kind of in a bind today, need someone for PM shift.." I really just wish for a day, where i can relax and not be bothered by work!! So I am curious what others do, Do you answer your phone on your day off? I tend to feel guilty when i see who's calling, and don't answer!

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No, I don't.

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I was given a work cell phone and my cell phone rings after end of my workday or on days off. I don't ever answer. I am off the clock and Home time is my own time. :p

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No. Not unless I want to. Otherwise, how do you get a day off? Now, if you need the money, that is a different story: the phone gets watched, with hopes that it rings with the employer on the other end.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I check the caller ID and if it is work I let the answering machine pick up.I listen to the message and then think carefully about my answer.I find if I pick up and talk to them I find myself saying yes to a shift I don't really want.

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Specializes in LTC.
I check the caller ID and if it is work I let the answering machine pick up.I listen to the message and then think carefully about my answer.I find if I pick up and talk to them I find myself saying yes to a shift I don't really want.

My family has been educated not to answer the phone anymore.

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This problem has existed since the beginning of time. Why employer's with their stellar chiefs are unable to address this beats me.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

I'm a tell it how it is type of guy, so I used to pick up and simply state "No" if I didn't want to go in. For some reason though, this is highly resented. Seems they prefer the passive aggressive approach of not answering the call at all if you don't want to go in.

When I worked in restaurants it seemed they appreciated the definite "No", as opposed to wondering if you got the message or not. Not so in nursing.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

Voice-mail all the way. I call back if I feel like it. :clown:

I actually picked up during the Super Bowl this past winter, when I had already knocked back a few...Lol. Didnt go in, but was funny none the less.

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Specializes in ICU.

Nope, not even maybe. It comes up as unavailable number so I know its them. I let voicmail get it, then think about it and if I want to pick up then ill call back.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Nurses always want to help and feel guilty saying no, it seems. Take care of your self first or you wont be able to help others. There's a special place in heaven for the inventor of caller ID, IMHO.

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I once had an employer that thought they were fooling everyone by using blocked numbers. I definitely knew which calls not to take when I saw that giveaway on my caller ID!

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