Dont know if I will ever volunteer to do overtime agarin!!!

caliotter3 · Jul 18, 2007

One time I stayed over and later got lamblasted because they wanted my signature on things I didn't do when the agreement was that I was only doing one med pass.

If you were that put out by the experience and don't want to repeat it, just make certain you have prior plans for your days off and stick to your guns. If you are at home, do what everyone has always suggested, use caller id and don't answer the phone when you see it is your employer.

rn/writer, RN · Jul 18, 2007

One time I stayed over and later got lamblasted because they wanted my signature on things I didn't do when the agreement was that I was only doing one med pass.
If you were that put out by the experience and don't want to repeat it, just make certain you have prior plans for your days off and stick to your guns. If you are at home, do what everyone has always suggested, use caller id and don't answer the phone when you see it is your employer.

Agree with this, except, don't feel that you have to have plans to say no. If you don't want to go in, don't go in. Don't answer your phone. If you do, just say, "Sorry, I can't come in." Don't try to justify it, or you telegraph the message that you feel guilty. They will only exploit that.

It really stinks that doing someone a favor can backfire so badly. I'd wait a long time before giving them a chance to do that again.

Noryn · Jul 18, 2007

Ahh new nurse learning the ropes. Rule number 1--The more you do the more likely you are to get in trouble.

caliotter3 · Jul 18, 2007

I've done OT for lots of employers and it always seems to turn out that I end up feeling like I got taken advantage of. I don't look for a thank you, but I don't want to be put down when I'm trying to help out. The only times that I've found appreciation for going out of my way has been when I've done things for my home care clients. At least (most of the time) they know enough not to make their nursing personnel feel like less than 2 cents for doing something nice. So when an employer is looking for me to do OT, I do it because I want to and usually for the added income.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Jul 19, 2007

Is this common in other areas to have vent pts on a surgical floor with a 9:1 ratio and on DAY shift? Holy You know WHAT! I have never heard of such a thing in my area. Vents strictly in the ICU. Typically a 2:1 ratio, very rarely a 3:1 with less acute patients.

Scary scary stuff!

meandragonbrett · Jul 19, 2007

Is this common in other areas to have vent pts on a surgical floor with a 9:1 ratio and on DAY shift? Holy You know WHAT! I have never heard of such a thing in my area. Vents strictly in the ICU. Typically a 2:1 ratio, very rarely a 3:1 with less acute patients.
Scary scary stuff!

A lot of hospitals allow long term vents to be on step-down/intermediate floors. The area you are in does not have vents on step downs.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Jul 19, 2007

A lot of hospitals allow long term vents to be on step-down/intermediate floors. The area you are in does not have vents on step downs.

I am in the same area as you - have you ever seen a vent outside an ICU? And if they are allowed in a step down...still should they be having 9 patients with this level of acuity?

Diary/Dairy, RN · Jul 19, 2007

If you want to do OT or need extra money, I have found that a PRN job is much easier....

Also agree with one of the previous posters, STICK to your guns. Either do not answer the phone, or just say, I cannot come in!!

You have to take care of yourself first!

hlfpnt, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2007

Like most everybody, I've done the OT thing, too. Same scenerio...I got taken advantage of & had a really bad day! Once they find out you'll come in, they'll keep calling! Yeah, the money looks great in my paycheck, but the exhaustion & aggravation just isn't worth it. I agree with all the previous posts & I no longer answer my phone. Yes, I do feel guilty everytime because I know first hand what a strain it puts on the staff that's there. I'm more than reliable to be there when I'm scheduled, but not when I'm off...not even for a bonus.

pie123 · Jul 19, 2007

My NM bugged me all day yesterday to come in today to work overtime.. well I had some personal things that I had already planned to take care of, so I told her I would be able to do a few hours ( 7-2).
Needlesss to say I came in and was given 8 pts! (2 vents, one in restraints). I mentioned again that I was leaving at 2 and I dont think I could get everthing done. Was told dont worry we will split your team at 12:30 among the other two nuses. (Surgical Floor 27 pts 3 Nurses- No float or any other nurse coming in until 7p) I never took lunch, still didn't get to give report until 1:40, didnt get to do my 2 meds. still had notes and orders to pick up. One nurse says "well you are leaving early the "least" you could have done was your 2 o'clock meds. I am very bothered by this, and NM did not even support the fact that if I wasn't there how much more chaotic it would have been.
Don't think I want to work O/T again! I am off orientation for only 6 weeks. Was I in the wrong???

I NEVER do overtime! But I just need to learn the 'don't answer the phone' thing. Once staffing called me and when I told them that I couldn't come in, the guilt-trip story started. I don't feel bad. I'm there when I need to be. There's generally someone else with much better coping skills that's ready and willing to volunteer.

rn/writer, RN · Jul 19, 2007

Like most everybody, I've done the OT thing, too. Same scenerio...I got taken advantage of & had a really bad day! Once they find out you'll come in, they'll keep calling! Yeah, the money looks great in my paycheck, but the exhaustion & aggravation just isn't worth it. I agree with all the previous posts & I no longer answer my phone. Yes, I do feel guilty everytime because I know first hand what a strain it puts on the staff that's there. I'm more than reliable to be there when I'm scheduled, but not when I'm off...not even for a bonus.

You shouldn't feel guilty because you aren't. Whoever is in charge of hiring/staffing should feel guilty if this happens regularly. Every place has occasional holes, but when calling people to come in extra is considered part of everyday staffing, something is wrong. If you frequently find yourself picking up those extra shifts (especially if it's against your wishes), you are actually helping to perpetuate the problem.

Just to be clear--picking up occasional extra shifts when it fits your needs is fine. Being guilted into picking up shifts is not. Management that consistently understaffs and counts on people to cave and come in is also not a good thing. They need to hire more people or use internal or external pool, rather than burn out their regular staff.