Fake call outs irritate me

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

When I was first a nurse I had a wonderful boss and didn't even know it. I never called in sick because I knew my boss tried as hard as he could to give me the time off I needed. It wasn't possible every time but I knew he tried and could usually make it happen. We also had very predictable schedules. I was very dedicated to that until and hospital and often went above and beyond for them. I was very annoyed with co-workers who would call in sick then they obviously were not sick.

Now however my perspective has changed completely. If management makes no attempt to accommodate their staff then I will make no attempt to accommodate the unit. I worked for a boss who wouldn't bother to make sure I had the day off when I gave 6 MONTHs notification that I NEEDED that day off. In addition the job that was supposed to be every other weekend, I accepted the job based on that schedule, turned into two weekend in a row on then two off, totally making a mess of my personal life and other commitments.

Now I feel exactly as obligated to the hospital and unit as they are obligated to me. Do your best for me and I will do my best for them. Treat me with consideration and respect and I will return that treatment. Disrespect me and my life, make no attempt to work with me on my schedule and guess what? I will be calling in whenever I need to. I have 400+ hours of sick time and I am not afraid to use them.

heron, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

i don't disagree with any of this. For me, the holiday call-in isn't about management - it's about my co-workers. We're all in this together, why would I want to throw them under the bus on a day when we all want to be home celebrating whatever?

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

What bugs me is when someone calls in sick when they have already asked everyone to switch or pick up the shift. Do they think that someone can miraculously be available after they have already asked.

Oddly enough I am not all that bothered by this. If that nurse has already tried to cover the shift themselves that means management didn't work with her [or him] tp get the time off for something that is important enough that the time off is required. Besides, we have a no fault call in policy so as long as the nurse, CNA or whatever calls in there is nothing that can or will be done about it as long as the call ins aren't so frequent that it violates policy for missed time.

Wrench Party · Sep 3, 2014

This is why most hospitals have a float pool, or per diem staff. Get coverage for the holidays. If the hospital

chooses not to use these obvious solutions, that's not your issue.

I.C.UNurse · Sep 3, 2014

So.... We know you cant keep float pool staffed like a regular floor or else low census would be given like crazy and nobody would make any money. You can have 4 float nurses and now 3 nurses called in on the medical floor that requires 11 nurses and 3 decided to call in sick? Now you have only one float nurse for oh lets see, the OB, tele, PCU, Surgical, SPU, etc? Staffing isn't abvious, it's a very touchy scale and requires PEOPLE to fill those holes! And if people make a habit of calling in sick even 3 times a year, times 11 nurses, then you missing staff for 33 days, no way to plug those holes! Think about how you feel when your short staffed because I know alot of nurses complain about this but then turn around and call in sick because it's my best friend's 2nd cousin twice removed birthday party.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 3, 2014

I rarely call in sick (the times I have, I was hospitalized or just worked over 60+ in a week and was sick with exhaustion). People really need to be careful about misusing sick time. What happens if you (general you) become sick for real and have used up too many occurrences to cover the illness? And end up getting written up? I actually work with an aide who has been written up and is now at risk for losing her job because she kept calling off because she was "mad" at the scheduler or just didn't feel like coming into work. Having too many call-offs can also hurt one's annual performance review and may end up being passed up for raises...no bueno!

smartnurse1982 · Sep 3, 2014

Exactly the reason i cannot stand Unions!

They enable lazy workers!

duskyjewel · Sep 3, 2014

Exactly the reason i cannot stand Unions!
They enable lazy workers!

I hope you've got a hardened bunker over there, because you are about to take some serious artillery. I don't disagree, just warning you.

*ducks head and runs out*

dudette10, MSN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

Call in all you want, guys. I'm float pool, and momma's got bills to pay!!

Step_981 · Sep 3, 2014

So, Labor Day weekend is over. We had a couple of obvious fake sick calls, leaving the day shift short. Both of them were by people annoyed with management, nurses who constantly, self righteously proclaim their dedication to patient care and safety, and deride the hospital for understaffing.
I believe that we have a moral obligation to come to work if we are able. We signed up for nursing, knowing that we will have to work on weekends and holidays. How can anyone hold their head up and say they are dedicated to patient safety, when they leave their co-workers short because they want to play?

I start by saying that i don't know the US nursing work reality, but your post shows that the world is the same wherever you go...unfortunately we aren't all equal, there is not much one can do about it...

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

Exactly the reason i cannot stand Unions!
They enable lazy workers!

Maybe, although that certainly hasn't been my experience. After many years of working without a union and now working with a union I haven't noticed any increase of lazy nurses as compared to the years I spend working with too many lazy nurses in non union, right to work states.

duskyjewel · Sep 3, 2014

Call in all you want, guys. I'm float pool, and momma's got bills to pay!!

And when they lose their jobs for calling off too much, even more shifts for you while they hire someone!