I have seen several threads about this, but my situation seems to be a little different. I am a unit manager in a nursing facility, and I work Monday through Friday.
In the past several months, the med nurses/ floor nurses have begun to call out more and more due to the fact that they know their shift will be covered by myself or another reliable nurse that is a unit manager. It has come down to where the nurses that are on call are refusing to come in, so they never have to fulfill their on-call duties.
I don't mind covering every now and then except for the fact that I have been called in so much lately that I am falling behind in my actual job duties. And I am not doing it for the money because for every shift that I work, I have to take that much time off later in the week to avoid making overtime.
If I was being called and ASKED if I could come in, I would not be so concerned. But I recieve calls/messages that say, "We need a shift covered. Everyone I have called has said no, so you have to cover it."
Really? I HAVE to? Why did everyone else that was contacted not HAVE to cover the shift?
I'm basically not being given a choice of whether or not I cover these shifts. And when I have had a legitimate reason for not being able to work, I've been put on a guilt trip by my supervisors. I need time off and a personal life, but that excuse is not going to be accepted.
I'm feeling taken advantage of, and I guess my question is...if you were in my place, what would you say next time you got a call such as this? I'm just tired of being the only person being told that they HAVE to come in, yet none of the other nurses who are contacted are being held accountable.
I know that managers can often be reached 24/7, but NOT to fill in all shifts when someone calls out!
Am I reading it right that you worked your management job 9 to 5 one day to then be told to work a patient care shift from 7p to 7a? Essentially you worked 24 hours straight with no sleep?
Girl, you need to get a new job. Management is taking advantage of you, the nurses are taking advantage of you, and if you don't do something NOW, I'm worried about the baby. This is just insane.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I found a GREAT app! it's called "Mr. Number". It allows yout to quickly and easily block any number you want, and un block them just as east. Also blocks texts from the numbers. It's free.
If you are told, OP that you are on call 24/7 due to your position, is this in writing? If you are not on the on call rotation, and the nurses calling out are in fact not part of your unit, this makes little sense.
Does everyone float? I am not understanding why a unit manager from a completely different unit can be called in to cover.
In any event, I would ask to have a leadership meeting. Present would be the Union reps, if you are union. Discuss alternatives. Does it make more sense to have sign-ups for potential call ins? If someone is on call every 6-8 weeks, that can be hard to keep track of. However, if they know about this going into the position, then by all means they need to be spoken to about it. If this was just thrust upon them as a cost cutting measure, then I can see the resentment. (If a nurse signs up for call, then declines, that is cause for immediate discipline in most facilities--) Being able to sign up gives some sense of control.
Additionally, would leadership consider per diem staff? Specific to weekends? Would they consider going to the nurses and saying "hey, who wants to work just weekends, then 2 8 hour shifts during the week?"
Good luck with this. Sounds like a nightmare company....but unfortunetely the norm....
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
OP, when do you go out on maternity leave? While you're out, I would recommend looking for a new job, if your management is not willing to discipline the nurses who are not taking their call-in.
BTW, why *is* there so much of a need for call-ins? The nurses who do get called in, do *they* get paid time and a half? That's not a very good staffing tactic. That speaks to poor leadership and planning. Another reason why it would behoove you to look for a place that's run a little better.
I found a GREAT app! it's called "Mr. Number". It allows yout to quickly and easily block any number you want, and un block them just as east. Also blocks texts from the numbers. It's free.
First, quit answering the phone when they call. That goes without saying. Next I'd tell them you just finished a glass of wine and it wouldn't be safe for you to come in =)
OP, you're part of the problem, not the solution. If you're a manager, then why are you letting those under you get away with not taking call as it appears to be required of them. You let your own guilt make you come in, grow a spine! With the nurse you are a manager over and those who call you because they know you are weak and will come in. And not only that, you'll do it without demanding fair compensation!!!
I agree with a previous poster, why are you hanging onto dead weight of nurses who won't do what's expected of them when there would be nurses beating down your door to take that job? My sympathy level runs low for you, I'm sorry to be so blunt....
I answer the phone when I want to. I told all my bosses that if I don't, that is an implied no thank you. one place just today asked me if I wanted to be taken off the call list ( I am prn). I told them that was up to them.....
I never, ever answer the phone when my work number shows up on the caller ID. They are notorious for calling on a nurses' first off day after three in a row and asking her to come back for another shift. No way. And if they don't leave a message, then it must not have been that important. Bottom line: I live 1.5 hours away and it's not worth it for me to waste the gas money commuting for a 4 hour shift because the hospital won't pay OT.
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
attempting to force someone to do anything is akin to slavery..last I checked that was outlawed
No, it's absolutely not anything akin to slavery...unless you have an employer that imprisons you, shackles you, whips you, denies you any basic human rights, or legal recourse.
dudette10, MSN, RN
3,530 Posts
I know that managers can often be reached 24/7, but NOT to fill in all shifts when someone calls out!
Am I reading it right that you worked your management job 9 to 5 one day to then be told to work a patient care shift from 7p to 7a? Essentially you worked 24 hours straight with no sleep?
Girl, you need to get a new job. Management is taking advantage of you, the nurses are taking advantage of you, and if you don't do something NOW, I'm worried about the baby. This is just insane.