extra shifts

[wiley6coyote]

Do you feel obligated to work extra shifts on your days off due to management not having the foresight to fill shifts due to vacations, LOA's etc. I work part-time of my own choice but get calls every day because of shortages. I feel for my co-workers- I have worked short too but the hours I choose are enough for myself and family- why must I feel like i have to explain myself - like I'm doing right now???

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I hope you don't tell your boss or coworkers that your husband makes good money and that you don't need to work. Your circumstances could change and people will gloat over your reversal of fortune. Better to let people at work think you work a 2nd job elsewhere and have the same money struggles they do so they're not jealous of you.

I worked a peds job, where the census dropped a LOT in the summer- so we had to rotate days off (it was a fair schedule for all, but I ended up losing an entire month of hours- even had my nurse manager talk to a med-surg floor about picking up hours there, and she NEVER returned my messages)....the other nurses had husbands and didn't understand why I was so upset about losing that much time.... did not endear them to me :)

[Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Not a bit...especially if I am tired and have other obligations. Obviously your family is important to you and you know what is best. So enjoy your time with them if the hours are not needed!

[cbcle]

I don't feel obligated but I pick up an extra one or two shifts a week anyway. I know this isn't actually the case, but I kinda feel like it gives me brownie points so if I ever need to call in sick or request time off and someone gives me a hard time, I can pull some leverage and point out that I've picked up 50-80 extra shifts in the last year.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I don't feel obligated but I pick up an extra one or two shifts a week anyway. I know this isn't actually the case, but I kinda feel like it gives me brownie points so if I ever need to call in sick or request time off and someone gives me a hard time, I can pull some leverage and point out that I've picked up 50-80 extra shifts in the last year.

I hope it works that way for you, but don't be disappointed when the nursing office just tells you that you were scheduled, and it still counts against any call-in policy. Some places are better than others- but most (unfortunately) don't care about anything but getting butts in the door ! :) Look at the extra money- that is likely to be a more consistent perk !

[SweetheartRN]

When I was young I worked at the ticket counter for a major airline. This was in the pre-caller ID days. You learned really fast not to answer the phone on your days off. If they talked to you you had 1 hour to report or your were fired. As long as they didn't talk to you, you were not responsible to get a message. Manditory OT stinks!!![/quote']

Yikes!!!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Why would I feel obligated, or feel like I need to explain myself?