Does your work call you at 0530?

puggymae · Dec 7, 2006

Not only did I get called at all hours of the day or night, once when I was sitting in the dentist chair having a root canal done the receptionist brought me the portable phone and said it was an emergency - the emergency was someone had called in for 3-11. Could I possibly come in when the dentist was finished? NO. Well if I didn't feel like working the floor, could I help the ward clerk for a couple of hours? NO. How did they know I was at the dentist? Well I wasn't home, so they called my elderly parents house and my dad told them I was gone to the dentist. Daddy didn't know the name of the dentist so they called around until they found me!

Agnus · Dec 7, 2006

I've been working 50 hours a week lately and today was my day off. I stayed up late last night hanging out with my husband. This morning at 0530 my phone started ringing loudly and I thought someone had died or something (I didn't really know what time it was at all). It was work calling to see if I could come in at 0700 because they were short staffed. I said "no, I stayed up very late last night." So then I had trouble getting back to sleep.
They call me ALL the time during my days off, but this was a first. I don't want to just turn off my phone because I'm worried about a real family emergency. I'm thinking of emailing my manager and politely asking her to not ever have me called at that hour.

Making this request of your nurse manager seems very appropriate. However, in my case I do not answer the phone at 0530 because the only one that calls at that hour is work.

As far as family emergency at 0530. My family are adults that can manage their own emergencies. There is nothing I can do for them at that hour that dialing 911, calling a plumber, tow truck, or someother professional can not do. Infact I can not do what these profesional services can do. SO if it is an emergency they know to call the right service.

Yes, someone may be dying or sick or have thier car strandded or their apartment flooding. I do not have the power to change any of that. My being notified at a civil hour will not change the outcome of any of these events. Sounds cruel perhaps. Yet, since my family knows this, they do not call at indecient times to expect me to solve thier problems. Of course I want to know if you are in an accident or what ever but notifying me a little later is not unreasonable.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 7, 2006

Eight letters can solve this problem: CALLER ID

Agnus · Dec 7, 2006

Not only did I get called at all hours of the day or night, once when I was sitting in the dentist chair having a root canal done the receptionist brought me the portable phone and said it was an emergency - the emergency was someone had called in for 3-11. Could I possibly come in when the dentist was finished? NO. Well if I didn't feel like working the floor, could I help the ward clerk for a couple of hours? NO. How did they know I was at the dentist? Well I wasn't home, so they called my elderly parents house and my dad told them I was gone to the dentist. Daddy didn't know the name of the dentist so they called around until they found me!

That takes gall on their part.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 7, 2006

Not only did I get called at all hours of the day or night, once when I was sitting in the dentist chair having a root canal done the receptionist brought me the portable phone and said it was an emergency - the emergency was someone had called in for 3-11. Could I possibly come in when the dentist was finished? NO. Well if I didn't feel like working the floor, could I help the ward clerk for a couple of hours? NO. How did they know I was at the dentist? Well I wasn't home, so they called my elderly parents house and my dad told them I was gone to the dentist. Daddy didn't know the name of the dentist so they called around until they found me!

My word....they harassed your elderly parents and stalked you.... :devil: :angryfire :angryfire I'm getting madder by the moment...

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 7, 2006

ever though of calling the nm at home on a weekend at 0100 just to ask able coming in. might prove a point

That is a cool idea...call her at 3:30am, and ask her "Are you going to call me to come to work? or Can I come to work...PLEASE????" And if they say no, say "WHY???" and make them come up with an answer.

tlhubbard · Dec 7, 2006

My solution is to turn down the ringers, turn on the answering machine and caller ID. If I have a sick family member or there is an emergency at the kids school, I have a cell phone that work does not have the number for. I keep that bedside and it will only ring when absolutely necessary.

I had a job that called me back in for initials on a rape kit (I missed 1 set of initials, there are like 6). So I drove the hour back to my job and then an hour back home (mind you I had kids in Headstart and elementary school, so I was getting broken sleep anyway). When I got back into work that night the rape kit was still in the frig. no one had even come to pick it up yet. Talk about ticked. They eventually ran the kit, but it had become less of a priority, as the minor girl had taken a few days trip with an older boyfriend and consented to all activities come to find out. We did the rape kit because she was afraid her dad would be mad if he knew the truth. :uhoh3:

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2006

Not only did I get called at all hours of the day or night, once when I was sitting in the dentist chair having a root canal done the receptionist brought me the portable phone and said it was an emergency - the emergency was someone had called in for 3-11. Could I possibly come in when the dentist was finished? NO. Well if I didn't feel like working the floor, could I help the ward clerk for a couple of hours? NO. How did they know I was at the dentist? Well I wasn't home, so they called my elderly parents house and my dad told them I was gone to the dentist. Daddy didn't know the name of the dentist so they called around until they found me!

That one takes the cake!

SuperFlyRN · Dec 7, 2006

Yup. We are in a union and they are required to call everyone. (otherwise it can be grieved). I work permanent nights and it irritates me to get called on my day off-especially at that unGodly hour!

clemmm78, RN · Dec 8, 2006

as a former night supervisor, I can tell you we don't like making those calls any more than you like receiving them. However, do you have a better solution? What are they supposed to do when they get sick calls and have to find replacements? They can't wait any later if the shift starts at 7:30.

Rnandsoccermom · Dec 8, 2006

as a former night supervisor, I can tell you we don't like making those calls any more than you like receiving them. However, do you have a better solution? What are they supposed to do when they get sick calls and have to find replacements? They can't wait any later if the shift starts at 7:30.

I have to agree, let's be fair.

Would you rather the sup. tell you that you will be working short because she didn't want to bother anyone? It's a no win situation for the sup. They get it from the staff at work, the staff at home, and the bosses.

I am a sup. and I get called to work staff too (we are hourly). I look at the caller I.D., say a few choice words and don't answer the phone!

storm06 · Dec 8, 2006

I learnt this from an old boyfriend who used to get work calling him anywhere between 0100 and 0500.

Phone rings - pick it up but dont say anything.

Usually the caller will say "hello? um hello???"

You say "what time is it?"

While they are saying "it's 0500, sorry to call so early but,,,,"

you just hang up.

I only tried it once and felt really guilty,,, lol

But I have a really low ring tone on my mobile for work so most of the time I don't hear it. I refuse to give out my home number any more.

I understand it must be a nightmare for the roster office/nm, and I am sure they don't enjoy calling people at all hours of the day or night. But when I have split days off and have worked 8 nights in a row I dont want a guilt trip for enjoying my day off!