feeling overwhelmed...

[yaleli]

I am a new nurse working on onco floor for 7 months now. I love patients, people I work 95 percent of the time great... but hey, nothing is perfect.

Per hospital policies, in order to administer chemo, we are required to take chemo classes at the hospital. Three days ago, it was my third class out of four. The night before, I got a call from charge nurse saying that I am supposed to come in to work (apparently, scheduler put me on schedule even though I told her that I have a class, manager knows I have a class, I have an email proof that she is basically telling me that I do not need to come to work that day. This charge nurse pushed me into coming to work, told me that I should make up the class.

So that night when I was not really supposed to go to work, I did 12 hour shifts. In the morning I explained my situation to the manager. She told me that I should not go to class after 12 hour busy shift. After her talking to professional advancement people, I cannot do make ups for these classes. Pretty much if I did not go to class that morning, I would take those 24 hour classes all over again, I said thanks but no thanks. I went to chemo class after 12 hour shift, at the end of the day, I did not sleep more than 30 hours.

In the class, everybody was telling me, how bad they are feeling me. After so many people condescending, all of the sudden it hit me. I wonder how many of those nurses would have done this? maybe a few.

I am working three days in a row on the weekend and considering calling of tomorrow. I emailed my scheduler and manager about maybe them giving me a day considering what they did. Of course, they did not answer. They are totally ignoring me.

I guess I have to call tomorrow in person and call off.

I find this whole situation not considerate and selfish.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I am sorry you are experiencing this. However I don't think you are going to like what I have to say. I have been a nurse for 34 years....while I usually have gotten off for classes there have been times it isn't possible or something happens and you just need to do what needs to be done. Yes it stinks. No one forced you to go to class that morning for you could have repeated the whole class at the facilities expense. I understand that you are tired.....however you really aren't' "entitled" to an additional time off for what "they" did....and if you call out in lieu of your e-mail I would not be surprised at all if you get reprimanded.

It is never good policy to "threaten" the management that you are entitled to a day off for their mistake and then call out sick if they don't comply with your "demands"......even if the scheduler/whomever made an error. The charge nurse was probably wrong for "making" you come in.....however the patient care and safe staffing takes precedence over the class.

I agree that this hasn't been handled in the best way.....retaliation on your part isn't in your best interest.

I hope it all works out...((HUGS))

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

The charge nurse took the easy way out and manipulated you into working.

He/she most likely did not have the authority to do that. In the future, call supervision to decide if you work or go to class.

You've requested time off, it was (apparently) denied.

I would have retaken the classes in a heartbeat. That kind of material can always use a refresher.( and 2 more shifts off the floor)

Look up your facilities policy regarding a call in after time off denial.

Bet it's not worth it.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you do have to stand up for yourself. It is easier that you think for one person's schedule to fall thru the cracks. We now have a scheduler program and nurses self-schedule, with restrictions built in to the program. That way these issues are less likely to happen. You need time to recover so you can do your job and not destroy your immune system!

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

I learned a long time ago to carefully check my schedule whenever I needed to take a class during the day. Sometimes the people who do the scheduling are day people who don't realize that a nocs person needs to be off the night before a class. They may see that you have class on Monday the 3rd and not think twice about scheduling you on Sunday the 2nd.

Personally, I would not have come in. I would have told the charge nurse to contact the manager who sent you the e-mail saying you were to be off for that shift. If I had to be at the hospital for an 8AM class, I probably would have already taken some Tylenol PM by the time the night shift charge nurse would have called me. I wouldn't have been able to work anyway.

At this point, I would not call in sick. It would look unprofessional and as someone else pointed out you could get into trouble for calling in sick for a shift you requested off. Just know in the future to make sure the schedule reflects any changes made to your work hours and if the schedule hasn't been changed, contact the manager and scheduler about getting it changed.

[all4neuro]

I would definitely call off, if you need too! Being awake 30hours is not healthy, and your scenario is just one reason why nurses have burnout, high BP, and high turn over.

Being a new nurse, I feel you were taken advantage of, and do not ever feel obligated to work when you do not want too, or if the scheduler made a mistake. They'll remember to do a better next time, won't they?

I've been a RN for 16 yrs., I am a team player, which means I RESPECT my co-workers!!

Working back to back, and being worn out catches up to you.

"Think of the patients, they come first", exactly ... without YOU being a martyr &/or putting your health at risk! You probably drove home exhausted ?? not safe. They have a float pull, travelers, and agency staff for a reason, and your example is one of them.

Flight attendants teach passengers to "put their oxygen mask on first, etc. before helping another passenger" .... same thought for being a nurse.

Call in, if you need to rest. Tough if they don't like it. You have sick days for a reason, and as long as you don't abuse them, you cannot be validly reprimanded. Also, your manager knows they "pushed" your endurance.

When I was a charge nurse it was give and take. If you can still come in (even though we messed up), you can have this day off ... or 3 day weekend, etc.

"You called off, after covering our staff error, which included going to your mandatory class, .... sorry but you get a write up." ~UM, NO! that sounds ignorant.

It is a holiday weekend, so you may miss out on time any pay perks for calling in part of the holiday weekend.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Another consideration is whether you are in a union shop or at will.

In my union facility, this would never fly. The charge nurse would have been in the wrong, and you would have been well within your rights to refuse to come in and work. In an at will situation, because you don't really have a "contract", things are more ...ambiguous.

Take that into consideration before you do anything.