Do you have to be so greedy?!

[ooserrn]

I have to say that I am both ashamed and appalled by nurses who harrass new staff and co-workers who are willing to work without incurring OT.

No I do NOT mean the double shifts to replace sick calls, but rather the instances where the schedule has open hours and the more senior (and costlier) staff bully the less senior staff into not taking the shifts so that the manager is forced to offer the shift at premium time, even double time. Now, they are trying to get the union contract changed to allow the more costly nurses to be asked first, even with allready full-time hours, thus creating 12 and 16 hour shifts, 7 days a week sometimes.

The small rural hospital I work at does everything possible to recruit nurses and if necessary, brings in traveler's to cover open positions. They work hard to provide comparable benefits to all employees and I believe it is a progressive, reasonable nursing administration.

Despite that, there are several nurses who feel entitled to the double-time and absolutely consider that ANY person who does not enable them to receive their coveted OT is the enemy. We have lost staff to these bullies, and of course, the union protects them. They have been disciplined for their behavior but I have to say that quite a few are afraid to say anything to managers, at all, because of the repercussions. Inevitably they leave which just creates more shortages.

Wake up folks, the money train is going to end. Perhaps other large facilities can better afford the extra money but this is not a contest to see who makes the most money.

Nor is it safe for you to work back-to back double-shifts. The fact that you do not recognize how tired you are scares me to death. If you were a truck driver, you would get ticketed, fined, or worse for trying to work the kind of hours you are doing. You are so tired you can't pull your weight with the team and I am afraid you are going to make mistakes so I am nervous just having you on shift.

I am sure this will be an unpopular post, but quite frankly I am fed up. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to make the money I make, but I did not get into nursing for the money. I try to help out when I can with extra hours, I do not care what the bullies think of me, but I am an old dog, been around more then 25 years as an RN, so not much intimidates ME...but pay attention to what you are doing to your younger colleagues, there IS already a shortage-no need for you to ADD to it!

[grandee3]

#1 on your side! You go girl!

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

Devils advocate if they paid us what we were worth most of the nurses that were going after all that OT so eagerly probably wouldn't so much. But as it is generally though those are also the people that tend to be most active in the union as well, hence they write the rule you, they play by. I worked a a large hospital like that and guess what, there is no way you are going to change things so either you sadly go with the flow or go elsewhere.

Rj

[nyapa, RN]

A bit off topic

It is not an unpopular post. One or two nurses can make life hell for the rest of us. And if the culture is entrenched in a particular ward then hell is not the word! I have had to leave a ward due to bullying.

It should not be accepted, it should be actively discouraged by management, and there should be workshops as part of orientation to the hospital, with avenues for staff who are victims of bullying to seek help when required. You know, not an accusatory meeting, but a mediation method between the staff members and a non biased senior.

Bullying is an occupational health and safety issue. It should be recognised as such...

[CHATSDALE]

i have seen nurses like this but they are not the norm, usually they are their own worse enemy and they get themselves out of a job

tell your newer nurses to hang in there, learn a lot and be an asset to the professon

[oramar]

I have to say that I am both ashamed and appalled by nurses who harrass new staff and co-workers who are willing to work without incurring OT.

Despite that, there are several nurses who feel entitled to the double-time and absolutely consider that ANY person who does not enable them to receive their coveted OT is the enemy. We have lost staff to these bullies, and of course, the union protects them. They have been disciplined for their behavior but I have to say that quite a few are afraid to say anything to managers, at all, because of the repercussions. Inevitably they leave which just creates more shortages.

Wake up folks, the money train is going to end. Perhaps other large facilities can better afford the extra money but this is not a contest to see who makes the most money.

Nor is it safe for you to work back-to back double-shifts. The fact that you do not recognize how tired you are scares me to death. If you were a truck driver, you would get ticketed, fined, or worse for trying to work the kind of hours you are doing. You are so tired you can't pull your weight with the team and I am afraid you are going to make mistakes so I am nervous just having you on shift.

:

I have NEVER personally witnessed this behavior but I can see how it could happen. Everyplace I have ever worked there were more extra shifts than could be filled and everyone had a belly full of overtime and then some. I have however had to work with people that put themselves in for to much overtime and who became useless and dangerous as a result of it. I blame managment for it because it was more often because the employee gave into managment's demands than the employee's greed. They got a big fat paycheck and I get a broken back and a bad case of exhaustion trying to carry the load they can't carry because they are on their third double this week.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

I hate bullies!!!! :angryfire (Can you tell we have a superb-tch in my unit as well?!)

DeLana

P.S. I think your situation will resolve itself fairly soon, as cost-conscious as hospital have become (OT is a dirty word, all is done to avoid it). The old battle axes will just have to get over it.

[JBudd, MSN]

Bullying for any reason is totally unacceptable.

If you pick up extra shifts, you should ge paid extra. Period. By seeming to be undermining those who stand up for themselves and demand what is due, animosity is sure to arise. (I agree with you that doubles are dangerous)

Negotiation, compromise, sticking together and mutual support is what is called for, not aggression or horizontal violence. I think the issue of overtime is being masked by the aggression you are describing, which I think is really unfortunate.

[wjf00]

Bullying should not be accepted anywhere. But if the news is correct, many people are either losing their homes or are on the brink.. I am sympathetic to Nurses who need OT in these tough times. I don't need the extra hours right now so I refuse to work any extra straight time when my co-workers are needing OT. I don't ask why they need the OT, I am just grateful that I can get by fine with the pay the union has gotten me.

[walk6miles]

I have to say (happily) that there is not one person in our unit who does this nasty trick.

We all know who wants the OT and it is generally first come, first serve...however, if someone else wants the spot they have taken, they are amenable to trade/barter.

It works out.

[forrester]

Another name for bullying is horizontal violence,

It is a characteristic of oppressed groups.

Nurses take it out on each other because:

1) Nobody else to take it out on

2) we are the victims of bullying as a field

3) Incompetent nursing midlevel management:nono:

4) Incompetent upper level nursing management:nono:

4) A natural tendency of nurses to clique

My recommendation would be to appeal to HR if you get no relief from upper nursing management. At least they have rules (or should anyway) to deal with bullying.

Good luck

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I'm in a non-clinical spot in my hospital and asked the DON, who really likes me, if I could pick up a shift or two a month to keep my clinical skills. The answer? They'd have to pay me OT. Well, quit complaining that you're short.