Getting called to work an extra day because of short staffing...

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been an RN for 6 months now. I work 12 hour shifts. This weekend I'm going to work a three 12 hour shifts in a row. I'm working 5 days this week all in all. I just got back from working 2 days in a row so far this week. Now I get this call for the first time in my nursing career, and the charge rn left a message to see if I am willing to work tonite because they are short staff since people called in sick.

Anyways, my delimma is how should I go about this? I want to help out because I know how difficult it is to be assigned with so many patients, and there are not enough nurses. Then again, you know, I'm tired, I only got 4 hours of sleep so far today, and I'm working again this weekend for 3 days. How do you folks handle this situation when u get called in to to work extra day because of short staffing? I'm new to this kind of situation, and I jus want to hear your take on it.

Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

no means no

unless you want the $$$$$

How funny is it that just as I was reading this thread, I got a call asking me to come in tommorrow!

I usually will come in (if I can arrange child care and have no other plans) even if I don't need the extra money, but there are times when I just can't...I have a life outside of the hospital.

The guilt is still felt when I say no because I know what it is like on the floor when there are not enough nurses.

Just a few weeks ago I got mandated to stay for 4 hours because the night shift was short. Me having to stay only solved their dilemma for a few hours, and I don't think they ever got anyone to cover the remainder of the shift anyway.

If you can physically do it and want to, go ahead. If you can't, just say no and they will have to understand.

Specializes in ER.

Just say NO! Where I work we are union so the nursing office has to make the phone calls. Sometimes I go in usually tell them for only 4 hours and sometimes I say No, I can't. In one three day stretch the nursing office called me 5 times! They heard NO every time. I work 12 hour days too and sometimes you need to think of yourself first. Your family too. You aren't much use to your patients if you are exhausted.

Good luck to you!

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma.

Base your decision on whether to go in on what's right for you; if you want/need the extra money, then go in. Otherwise, don't answer the phone. I'm the person making those calls when we are short staffed, and while it makes my job easier to find someone who says yes, I don't think negatively towards those who can't come in or don't answer the phone-everyone has a life outside the hospital.

Specializes in NICU.

Interesting reading this thread, I'm in the middle of seven nights off, and I put myself down to work an extra one tonight. I can either take the extra shift pay (base plus $21 and some change, plus weekend and night diffs) or regular OT pay, which is almost as much, but the hours count for our vacation pay and also towards my retirement.

It looks good that we work extra, but we are not pressured into it. I had phone calls to work other nights this week, but said "no". I don't mind sometimes, but I do have a life outside the hospital!

Don't feel bad if you don't do it. On the other hand, if you feel like working extra, call and offer. You might make someone's day!

I get called into work extra EVERY single day that I am off and it gets annoying because when I am scheduled for 12 hr nights I work my butt off. I never answer the phone when they are calling. Do not feel guilty about it or you will burn out really fast!!

Specializes in Med/Surge, ER.

i love my job, and i work a lot of overtime, but my advice to you is don't get "burnt out". you should not have to plan your life around your job. staffing is never going to be how we all would like it because there just aren't enough nurses, so working short is what most of us are used to and surely none of your co-workers will hold it against you if you don't come in extra to help out.

Specializes in Med/Surg.
Oh my! If you get tagged as someone who has an easy-to-push guilt button, you will be working your tail off.

AAAAAAAAAAAAA-MEN!

That describes me. In my transition for my former job in the hospital to my new job in the hospital, I've taken extra shifts tons of times. Including working several nights when I work days normally.

Management thinks I'm swell, but I've found that I'm the "go to" guy that will step up when needed. That's all well and good, but I'm running myself ragged. I'm slowly growing a spine and learning to say "I just can't do it."

Classic example: During my summer break from my final year of nursing school, I worked 40 hours (M-F) a week in my old job, and worked two 12's on weekends as an extern. I worked 72 days straight without a day off, averaging 64 hours a week. NEVER AGAIN. I was impressed with what I could pull off, and it made an impression on management. The impression that I'm a robot that can function with very little rest. Consequently, I'm number one on the sucker list.

Take what you can handle, but do not risk burning yourself out so soon. If you need proof of the damage this can cause, I'll have my fiancee contact you and describe what I was like during that time.

Best of luck, and keep fighting the good fight. Within reason, of course.

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