Cruel, or appropriate?

Nurses General Nursing

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I recently asked for a day off 2 days in advance because my doctor had scheduled me for a CT scan. I work 12 hour night shifts in LTC. The scan was for the middle of the afternoon, and being anxious, I knew that I would get no sleep. My DNS told me that it wasn't an emergency and to reschedule it for my next day off because no one else could work for me!

I rescheduled it, I also spoke + cried with the adminisrator, who then spoke to the DNS who then apologized to me, but also stated that she still didn't see why I couldn't have worked that night.

It is truly annoying that things are always scheduled for the day folks and nothing at night. However, if they did schedule things at night who would cover my patients so I could go, unless they did the inservice right on the unit.

I like working nights but I hate the inequities that exist.

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It is truly annoying that things are always scheduled for the day folks and nothing at night. However, if they did schedule things at night who would cover my patients so I could go, unless they did the inservice right on the unit.

I like working nights but I hate the inequities that exist.

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Specializes in telemetry, cardiac stepdown.
Originally posted by majic65:

I once needed to see someone in Human Resources--but of xcourse, they are NEVER there at 7P or 7A. Finally called the HR manager,left a voice mail. He called me back--wondered why I couldn't just "come in during the day--you don't sleep ALL day, do you?" I replied"Do you sleep all night?" Apparently he got the message, because from then on there was always somebody in HR at 7AM!!

Folks just have no clue about those 12 hour nites!!!!

Or even eight hour nights. I have worked a few places that would hold inservices during the night shift, but then if you were busy and didn't show up, the manager would get all pissy. Apparently they thought nothing ever happened at night, so it was impossible for us to be too busy too attend :eek:

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Specializes in telemetry, cardiac stepdown.
Originally posted by majic65:

I once needed to see someone in Human Resources--but of xcourse, they are NEVER there at 7P or 7A. Finally called the HR manager,left a voice mail. He called me back--wondered why I couldn't just "come in during the day--you don't sleep ALL day, do you?" I replied"Do you sleep all night?" Apparently he got the message, because from then on there was always somebody in HR at 7AM!!

Folks just have no clue about those 12 hour nites!!!!

Or even eight hour nights. I have worked a few places that would hold inservices during the night shift, but then if you were busy and didn't show up, the manager would get all pissy. Apparently they thought nothing ever happened at night, so it was impossible for us to be too busy too attend :eek:

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I work night in home care and told my scheduel person I needed 1 night off 2 months in advance and was told the DAY nurse was going to be off for at least a month (day nurses is part time I am full time, I don't cover days..........ever) After I spoke with the supervisor a couple of time I got my time off (for day surgery). Work often calls during the day and are suprised that I am asleep.

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I work night in home care and told my scheduel person I needed 1 night off 2 months in advance and was told the DAY nurse was going to be off for at least a month (day nurses is part time I am full time, I don't cover days..........ever) After I spoke with the supervisor a couple of time I got my time off (for day surgery). Work often calls during the day and are suprised that I am asleep.

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

I'm a night nurse also, and get really upset that the hospital doesn't understand that nights can be and are as busy as the day or evening shifts. I also find it interesting that nurses who work straight days or evenings think that nights are slow and we just sit around all night talking or something! If we are lucky enough to be able to eat some food that we bring in (after all, the cafeteria isn't open on nights, not enough people used it at night, so they dropped that service!); we have to eat in the patient care areas because you can't leave your patients alone long enough to go to the lounge to eat. And patients are so much needier at night emotionally; not to mention more often confused on nights than days also. I don't think anyone would attend an inservice on night shift, but it would be nice if they would offer them at either the beginning or end of nights so we could attend.

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

I'm a night nurse also, and get really upset that the hospital doesn't understand that nights can be and are as busy as the day or evening shifts. I also find it interesting that nurses who work straight days or evenings think that nights are slow and we just sit around all night talking or something! If we are lucky enough to be able to eat some food that we bring in (after all, the cafeteria isn't open on nights, not enough people used it at night, so they dropped that service!); we have to eat in the patient care areas because you can't leave your patients alone long enough to go to the lounge to eat. And patients are so much needier at night emotionally; not to mention more often confused on nights than days also. I don't think anyone would attend an inservice on night shift, but it would be nice if they would offer them at either the beginning or end of nights so we could attend.

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Ok, I guess I just have a different way of looking at things..Joybug, My manager would have said the same thing too, but YOU are the CUSTOMER! Your DOC, should understand you would be anxious and get you a STAT CT Scan, and all this could have been avoided.... (believe me I am not sticking up for the insensitivity of some managers, because I have felt that, but your Doc. is just that YOURS and if she or he doesn't understand: then Dumb THEM ! and find a caring Doc.)......imaRN

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Ok, I guess I just have a different way of looking at things..Joybug, My manager would have said the same thing too, but YOU are the CUSTOMER! Your DOC, should understand you would be anxious and get you a STAT CT Scan, and all this could have been avoided.... (believe me I am not sticking up for the insensitivity of some managers, because I have felt that, but your Doc. is just that YOURS and if she or he doesn't understand: then Dumb THEM ! and find a caring Doc.)......imaRN

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Hi. It sounds to me that management feels that working nights is inferior to working days. I experienced that as well when I worked nights in a hospital.

It is also erroneously assumed that patients sleep all night. Depending on what area you work, you may have to contend with agitated, confused, or depressed patients all night. You get no relief from this because the patient is in the room all shift long. During the day, most patients are off the floor for a period of time for testing.

Joybug, as previous posters have written, don't feel guilty about needing to take off for a health problem. I'm sure your DNS would not think twice about coming to work if he/she had to have a test for a health problem. Calling in sick is a good idea if you can afford to. I hope you are satisfied with the results of your CT scan.

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Hi. It sounds to me that management feels that working nights is inferior to working days. I experienced that as well when I worked nights in a hospital.

It is also erroneously assumed that patients sleep all night. Depending on what area you work, you may have to contend with agitated, confused, or depressed patients all night. You get no relief from this because the patient is in the room all shift long. During the day, most patients are off the floor for a period of time for testing.

Joybug, as previous posters have written, don't feel guilty about needing to take off for a health problem. I'm sure your DNS would not think twice about coming to work if he/she had to have a test for a health problem. Calling in sick is a good idea if you can afford to. I hope you are satisfied with the results of your CT scan.

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