Firm Boundaries/Days off

Published

I work four tens and have varying days on/off, never the same. Our weekly team IDC meetings OFTEN happen to fall on my day off. Our "mandatory" blah-blah worthless meetings are frequently on my days off. I do not answer or return calls on my day off.

Because of these things, and the fact that I am extremely consistent in my habits and completing my charting, etc I think I have earned some respect and am seldom bothered about many of the trivial things my fellow nurses are bugged about by management (not that I am exempt or don't make mistakes). I also think it's caused some of my coworkers who bend over backwards for meetings and such to sneer at me, and I don't care.

At first, I would still receive calls and was questioned about my absences from meetings, but now I think it's understood that I simply will not be working on my day off. (I would be entirely more motiviate if I was an hourly employee, gotta tell ya an extra $40 for a meeting would lure me in on my day off!

Just wanted to encourage some of you who feel burned out and/or used and abused to try and establish some boundaries for yourself. By law your employer doesn't own you, and cannot require you to show up to anything on your day off or hold it against you on a performance evaluation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Seems like you have an employer who shows respect for you. It would be nice if other employers acted like this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg/tele/LTC/geriatrics.

I understand what you mean I work 12hours shifts on a medical floor. 30minutes is taken out of our paychecks for lunch, but I have had up to five phone calls during my lunch hour. Some days I take the battery out and enjoy my lunch (boundries). If it is absoulutely impertive that I leave my lunch break, time starts over. No wonder we are so burned out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

when I worked on a med/surg floor, I NEVER got a lunch. i would have my lunch and grab a bite between calls, but we got 30 minutes docked everyday for a lunch that we didnt get. I would be in the bathroom and hear over the call system.."chenoaspirit, where are you..." grrrrr. At least now, with homehealth, I can stop somewhere and get something to eat and go sit at the park and enjoy my lunch. If my phone rings, I let it ring...they can leave me a message and I'll call them back once Im finished. On my days off, my phone is turned off.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
when I worked on a med/surg floor, I NEVER got a lunch. i would have my lunch and grab a bite between calls, but we got 30 minutes docked everyday for a lunch that we didnt get. I would be in the bathroom and hear over the call system.."chenoaspirit, where are you..." grrrrr. At least now, with homehealth, I can stop somewhere and get something to eat and go sit at the park and enjoy my lunch. If my phone rings, I let it ring...they can leave me a message and I'll call them back once Im finished. On my days off, my phone is turned off.

:up::up::up: :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

boundaries are easier to set when you're not on salary, employers don't seem to want to pay for mind numbing meetings and other crapola when they have to pay for it.

few salaried nursing positions are worth a shart.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, L&D, ICU, LTC, HH.

I am always running in Home health. I end up eating in my car grr. I drove over 800 miles this week.

~Willow

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But I AM salaried and my boundaries work for me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion