A day off

Daisy · Jun 21, 2000

Originally posted by LAS:
I agree that we must take care of ourselves and avoid burn out. But I also see it from the other side. I am a clinical manager and it is very frustrating when you have the schedule covered and three people call in sick and there you are stuck. No matter what you do. The staff members that you call to see if they are availible give you nothing but attitude, when a polite no thank you would do. And the staff that is left to work short is unhappy because now one can come in. As far as managers not making sacrifices. Staff nurses do not realize how many 10-12 hours we already put in. The ton of paperwork we take hope because there is not enough time to do it at work. I am salaried 40 hours/week even if I work 50. What would your solution be?

As a former 2 units Med/Surg Manager all I can say is that some day you will realize that all the hours and all the work you are putting in don't mean anything to anyone.Administration is all the same, work, work, work 10-12 hour days. They don't care you are there that long, they are there just as long and it's expected. You want to be in management and that's the way the job is today. Staffing is a ***** and administration knows you'll get the job done one way or other. Its time administration actually came up with solutions to these problems instead of just talking about it or waiting for the problem to go away. Every time our hospital thought they had all the positions filled, somebody left again. It's not easy giving up a management position. Once you are in it, its difficult to step down. I have been lucky, I stayed at the same institution and I have some great friends who welcomed me with open arms. As far as staff attitude, the staff nurses are tired and sick of being asked to work extra. They have chosen to work a certain amount of time and that is all. Yes , the extra money is nice but there has to be a better solution then killing your own staff. As far as burn out, you sound burned out already. I pray for you.

belinda · Jun 25, 2000

Staffing. It is an issue in nursing in every institution. I am a DON in a LTC facility. I do not expect my staff to come in on their days off. However, I am going to call the employees and at least try. If someone does not want to come in and work, that is ok...just let me know you are not available to work. My facility is fully staffed, yet call ins are always an issue. It is a recurrent theme throughout these letters that it is management versus direct care staff. This is not true. It is an issue that deserves teamwork from both sides. If my staff call ins I do work the floor. Please remember though...jsut because I am a manager, does not mean that I do not deserve a private life also. I think that every direct care giver should be an active participant in their staff recruitment and retention meeting. Your opinions and suggestions are invaluable. Also, when you are working "short", look to your coworkers that constantly call in. It is they who put you in that situation...not management. Also, do you really believe that by not coming in, you will make management hire people? I know that in my facility I work diligently to keep the floor staffed. However, I am not a miracle worker. I cannot make people come to work. Alot of times, I hire someone and they come to general orientation and never return. Or II hire someone and they never show for orientation. It is extremely frustrating for everyone involved. I just want everyone to try to see this issue from a different standpoint. If I call someone on their day off, it is usually because I have had 4 out of 6 people call in and I can only cover so many open positions. If you cannot come in, it is ok. Just let me know that. There are alot of managers that are not very good. However, there are managers that are very good and do help. Please give them the credit they do deserve. I urge you to continue to let your answering machine pick up if you don't want to come in. I also encourage you to pick up the phone and tell your manager you cannot come in. This will alleviate a third and fourth call. Believe me, all managers hold some amount of hope that you will come in and work unless they hear you say that you cannot come in.

Roach · Jun 26, 2000

Hi krbrn2b, I am sooo sorry that happened to you, I almost started crying when I read your post. One of the most important times in my life was the time I spent w/my mother before she died of Lung Ca. I certainly hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else w/something so important. Please take time for yourselves!!! Sleep when you can, buy comfortable shoes, don't do overtime,(not unless you REALLY have to), and keep your family time to yourselves. If not you will spend all your time off thinking about work, sick or stressed about things at home that haven't been done. I rarely do O.T. They can just forget it!!!! I am one of the rare smiling nurses at work.

LAS · Jun 26, 2000

I must agree with Belinda's post. Just because I am a manager does not that I do not deliver actual patient care. What staff needs to realize that managers have other responiblities. And managers also deserve a life. I must ask Daisy, what are your solutions to staffing problems? We as nurses must stop only complaining and stop acting like victims. We must become empowered and work on solutions as a "profession."

poohnurse · Jun 29, 2000

As a hospital nurse who already works 12+ hour nights I have to wonder about staffing. It's like the ER pt. who says they've had this pain for 5 days. So what made it an emergency @ 3 am? Why can't shifts with known shortages be covered before I leave in the morning instead of 2 hours after I fall asleep? I'm already working 20-35 hours of OT every 2 weeks but I still get called frequently. I too have a life, although I'm sure some people would like to see the end of nurses have off hours just as truckers do.

Nancy1 · Jun 29, 2000

I have to say thank you to Belinda. i have been writing on this board for some time now and I hear ADMINISTRATION. Well, my facility covers the shifts, but the weather is nice, I think I will call in sick, and that leaves the floor short. It is true that many people are getting burned out and do not want to hear someone asking him/her to come in for an extra shift.

Well, we now have a system which does not count the absence if you find your own replacement. The policy in our facility is very strict about call-ins. I think that at some point we have to look at the TEAM approach. If you have a headache take something and come to work, don't call me at 7am for a headache and say you won't be in for your 3pm shift. I don't want to hear it and neither do your co-workers.

I have taken on the mantra: If you would spend less time complaining you could get more work done. NA (I know this will not make me popular, but I am honest.

Iam46yearsold · Dec 22, 2008

A day off is always mine. They can call. They can beg. I have responded to some Mass Casualty Incidents, not drills.

rngolfer53 · Dec 23, 2008

Has this every happened to you? You actually have two days in a row off from work. You have no plans in particular, but have a few things to do that you've been putting off all week because you were too tired from work. You go out, get the oil changed (you've pushed it to 4000 miles this time), buy some cat food for your cat (who's been eating left over human food for the past week) stop by the post office to get some stamps so you can finally mail the now belated birthday card to your brother. When you return home, you find not one, but three guilt provoking messages from work asking if you could come in. What do you do?

It's the job of the hospital and unit managers to have enough people hired to cover the unit. Now, if there was a flu epidemic making its way around, or something similar, it's understandable that they would call people on their days off. But not as an ongoing routine.

BTW, I work nights and although I rarely ever hear from work during the day, I have all the ringers on my phones turned off. When I get up, I check for messages. I'm not important enough that the world will stop w/o my input for a few hours. :chuckle

Batman24 · Dec 23, 2008

Say no. It's as simple as that if you don't want to work on a day off. And if you are exhausted I'd suggest not going into work as it's not worth putting your license on the line. In order to provide quality care to others we need to take care of ourselves first.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Dec 23, 2008

:heartbeatyour day off is just that.....a day off ! don't feel guilty. just don't answer the phone.

you owe them no explanations. best of luck !

praiser

SDS_RN, RN · Dec 23, 2008

1) This post is old but still applies to the current world of nursing. :stone

2) We all hate to leave cowokers hangin but know that your probably not the only one who is saying NO!

3) I learned this the hard way when I picked up many shifts in a row probably more than was safe for myself & my pts and I vowed not to do it again. :no:

4) We have to take care of ourselves also or that will make staffing short too if we get rundown.

5) I now know how to say NO!

Lovely_RN, MSN · Dec 23, 2008

My facility has been very short of staff for the last two weeks. I have been scheduled to work double shifts and still they call asking me to work. Um, duh I can't work 24 hours and I refuse to work back to back to back doubles...it's too draining and dangerous. They called today but I need to finish my X-mas shopping so I just looked at the caller ID and let it ring. I won't even answer because I don't feel like dealing with the begging or the attempt to make me feel guilty. Btw, I don't feel guilty, maybe if they treated their nurses better they would have enough staff but I digress.