How to deal with constant calls to come into work?!

Nurses General Nursing

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I work as a CNA/HHA in LTC facility. I also go to school full time, and work another job. I have finally figured out my schedule to where it is some-what tolerable, but still get CONSTANT calls to pick up shifts or to come in to work early. I am talking almost every day. If not every day, at least every other. It stresses me out! I want to like the job (I've only been there about 2 months), but seriously want to scream each time the phone rings. I can't even enjoy my little time off. I am seriously considering quitting, but don't want it to look bad on my resume, or not have any experience when trying to find a nursing job. How do I deal with the constant calls? What do I say (I am running out of excuses already)? It just seems like no one wants to work!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Simple solution. Don't answer the phone when you see it is them. Don't return their calls. If you have to, turn the phone off when you really don't want to be disturbed, like when you want to sleep or eat a meal without interruption.

OttawaRPN

451 Posts

Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.

Caller ID = don't answer the phone.

magn1jes

74 Posts

Thanks caliotter, but I feel guilty. I feel like I should at least return their calls! Should I just not worry about it, and realize it is not my problem?

sunnycalifRN

902 Posts

Thanks caliotter, but I feel guilty. I feel like I should at least return their calls! Should I just not worry about it, and realize it is not my problem?

Exactly . . . you were hired for 40 hrs/week, if full time. You have no obligation to solve their staffing problems. Do not answer the phone . . . if they ask you, you were not at home, tell them you were fly fishing on the Snake River in Idaho or that you were surfing at Mavericks!!

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Yes. They are disturbing your peace of mind. If you intend to come in, then call them and tell them you are going to come in. Otherwise, go on with your life. You are not on call nor being paid for being on call. They only own you 24 hours a day if you let them disturb your life outside of your scheduled hours.

HeartsOpenWide, RN

1 Article; 2,889 Posts

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Screen your calls. Period.

NewTexasRN

331 Posts

Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.

Wow, what a crazy world are living in today. Someone is literally whining about getting phone calls to come in to work when some people can't even find ANY job. Listen, quit your whining and don't answer your phone. Simple solution. Problem solved. Are you going to school for nursing? How will handle bigger stress? Sigh....

RedRubCatheter

15 Posts

I work in a "relief pool", which basically means I have a full time job but no home, so I can be sent to a different unit each shift, sometimes. So that means I get calls from multiple areas of the hospital to come in for overtime.

I never answer the phone when work calls. I listen to my voicemail and if I am interested, I call them back. Simple, and no need to say no.

RedRubCatheter

15 Posts

if they ask you, you were not at home, tell them you were fly fishing on the Snake River in Idaho or that you were surfing at Mavericks!!

Or don't tell them anything. A simple "I was busy" should suffice.

ebear, BSN, RN

934 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

TURN. OFF. THE. PHONE. As the others have said, you only owe them your allotted time. You don't need to give them an explaination. PERIOD. *wine

magn1jes

74 Posts

Wow, what a crazy world are living in today. Someone is literally whining about getting phone calls to come in to work when some people can't even find ANY job. Listen, quit your whining and don't answer your phone. Simple solution. Problem solved. Are you going to school for nursing? How will handle bigger stress? Sigh....

When you find those people that can't find any job, send them my way and they can have MINE. I'm not whining, I am simply asking how to avoid/stop/not let the constant calls bother me. I would like to work my scheduled hours and go home, not have to feel like I should pick up everyone else's slack that doesn't seem to want to come in for their shift. I have enough on my plate, and didn't need the negative response.

Thank you everyone else for your responses.

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