I am a new nurse, graduated in March, NCLEX in April and started work end of May. Having been on my own only a few weeks at night. Anyway, I work on a med surg floor. Every night with only one or two exceptions, my phone rings anywhere from 830pm to 1045 pm from staffing asking me if I can cover tonight.
My dilemma is two fold. My guilt is overpowering. ONE: I am not experienced and have a lot of stress as it is. I work only two, three or four days a week because I work 12 hour shifts, 60 hour pay periods. Its enough money for now and I like the fewer hours. I signed up for 60. Am I wrong to say no cause I dont NEED to go in and dont feel qualified to be working so much?? TWO: If I say yes more often, our unit which is apparently VERY short handed and has a reputation of no one WANTING to work there, wont get better will it???
However, I also dont want to work short if someone is needed to work and no one will come in. My NTL's tell me to JUST SAY NO till I am comfortable. I cant even say yes to taking seven patients yet at night. Six stresses me out enough. Am I slow, selfish and stoopid, or really taking care of myself and my other patients??? This is not only a problem for me, others have complained too. Whats a girl to do??
My employer has a 6 - 12 hr shift limit and then you're supposed to take at least one day off. But, that's up to 'their' discretion, meaning: if they need me to work, it's ok to break that rule; if I need the work, it's the rule.
Case in point: I just got through working 5 - 12's in a row. Last Friday, my night off, they called to see if I would work. I was called off my OT shift from the Tue before, so I picked up the shift. Sat/Sun/Mon - my regular 3 shifts. Yesterday, Tue, called to see if I would work: census has been screwy so I agreed in order to make sure I get OT if we get slow later in the week.
So, 5 shifts in a row. Tomorrow: Thur - reg shift, then, Fri - OT (scheduled) shift coming up.
So, If I work tonight, it would be 8 shifts in a row. Guess who called at 4pm?
And guess, what? It's 2130 Central time and I'm chatting on the computer. I need my downtime, too. And I'm just not afraid to say no. I've been called the last 3 nights I've been off. 2 I worked - because I had good reason to.
When I wanted off, I see no problem claiming what is already mine.
ZASHAGALKA, RN
3,322 Posts
My employer has a 6 - 12 hr shift limit and then you're supposed to take at least one day off. But, that's up to 'their' discretion, meaning: if they need me to work, it's ok to break that rule; if I need the work, it's the rule.
Case in point: I just got through working 5 - 12's in a row. Last Friday, my night off, they called to see if I would work. I was called off my OT shift from the Tue before, so I picked up the shift. Sat/Sun/Mon - my regular 3 shifts. Yesterday, Tue, called to see if I would work: census has been screwy so I agreed in order to make sure I get OT if we get slow later in the week.
So, 5 shifts in a row. Tomorrow: Thur - reg shift, then, Fri - OT (scheduled) shift coming up.
So, If I work tonight, it would be 8 shifts in a row. Guess who called at 4pm?
And guess, what? It's 2130 Central time and I'm chatting on the computer. I need my downtime, too. And I'm just not afraid to say no. I've been called the last 3 nights I've been off. 2 I worked - because I had good reason to.
When I wanted off, I see no problem claiming what is already mine.
~faith,
Timothy.