No call no show due to schedule mix up

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I work 3 12 hour night shifts a week. Each time our schedule for the month comes out, I always xerox off a copy for myself and then I note on my calender the nights that I'm to work. And then when the charge nurses makes up the assignments for the next shift, they go by the schedule in a binder which is a different format than the schedules we get, but everything should be the same. Just that the binder format has more room to pencil in changes like if someone calls in sick or if a switch had been made and approved between two staff members.

Anyways for this week according to the schedule I xeroxed copied, I was to work Monday (which I already did), tonight, and tomorrow night. However last night I received a call saying I was scheduled to work. I even double and triple checked my schedule and it clearly showed that I was off last night, and I know I did not make a switch with any one. But according to the schedule in the binder, I was scheduled to be on. I even had the charge nurse look for the schedule that I xerox copied but it had already been taken down. I was asked if I could go to work anyways but I really could not because I was completely not prepared. No food to bring with me, no clean scrubs, etc. So now I guess I'm a no show. I guess whoever made the schedule made a mistake with mine *rolls eyes*.

Something similar also happened a few years ago. I had my schedule xerox copied and noted on my calender. Everything mapped out. And then one night when I thought I was off, I received a call saying I was supposed to be at work, which surprised me. What apparently happened though was that someone had made a switch in my schedule without letting me know! :angryfire. That time though I was lucky that I already had a lunch packed in the fridge and clean scrubs, so I was able to make it to work. This time though, I wasn't so lucky. Has anything like this happened to any of you? Any advice?

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Make sure that you take your copy of the schedule with you to work for proof. It seems as if who ever wrote down the schedule, wrote it differently in each place. You should be fine as long as you still have your photocopy with you.

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Specializes in High-risk OB.

This happened to me at Christmas time - had Christmas Eve off and was supposed to work Christmas Day. I got a call on Christmas Eve telling me that I was supposed to be at work. My schedule said differently. I didn't go into work because I already had plans and was not going to break them.

I simply made a copy of my schedule, brought it to the nursing supervisor, and spoke with her about it the next day. Apparently, my schedule and the master schedule they had did not match up. The supervisor mentioned that this sometimes happens, but we managed to work it all out.

Definitely bring a copy of your schedule and ask to check their master schedule to make sure that the rest of your schedule is correct, just so that you don't run into another problem such as this one in the time period that you have a schedule for.

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I just called work to double check if I'm working tonight or not. And I was told I was off. And I told this charge nurse the situation with my no show, and she said it happened to other nurses as well. At least 2. I'm not the only one. But yea like everyone said, I have now put my copy of the schedule in my purse ready for tomorrow in case I get asked. And since I'm always at work early, I'll compare the rest of my schedule with the master schedule so that no other mistake like this will be made again.

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I always directly copy my schedule into my pocket calendar just to prevent mixups. (And make a hard copy....) HTH

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I think someone is switching days without telling anyone. See who is on the day you thought you were working, it was most likely one of those people. You really can't make any accusations till you have proof but you can keep and eye out. The fact that other people have this happening to them is what is making me suspicious. How convienent for them. They switch the days then they show up and the persons that they switched on ends up looking bad.

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I think someone is switching days without telling anyone. See who is on the day you thought you were working, it was most likely one of those people. You really can't make any accusations till you have proof but you can keep and eye out. The fact that other people have this happening to them is what is making me suspicious. How convienent for them. They switch the days then they show up and the persons that they switched on ends up looking bad.

I have worked with people that I would not be surprised to find out they were pulling stunts like this. And they are usually the ones that are right up there getting face time with the supervisors.

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

This same thing, just happened to me. Luckily, I too had a copy of the schedule which had been posted. I was able to come into work. They fixed my times for me. This has happened once or twice before, each time I have been home and lucky enough to be able to go in.

Unfortunately, I went through a red light and the police did stop me, but did not ticket me. My lesson learned is always make a copy of my schedule and keep it and NOT to speed and go through red lights; no matter the circumstance.

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Yep I always make a copy of my schedule. But now my lesson learned is to always check it with the master schedule as well.

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Specializes in ER.

I'd be speaking with whomever makes your schedule, as well as your manager. Bring your copies. I'm sure it'll resolve itself.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I had this happen to me when I was a tech. I was supposed to work a night shift but had no idea I was supposed to be there. They called me and I was already enjoying my evening and had been drinking. Obviously, I didn't go in.

Turns out, the copy of the schedule I had was only a "preliminary" copy. I was new to the hospital at the time and I had no idea they put this one in the book so people could do schedule negotiations.

Anyway, I got written up. It never happened again, and I felt really bad about it. Now I double and triple check the work schedule so this won't happen again.

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Specializes in L&D, PP, Nursery.

I had gotten at call from the clinical coordinator at my casual job asking me if I had penciled myself "on call" on Super Bowl Sunday from 3PM to 11PM. I knew I hadn't because I was working my primary job that day from 7AM to 7PM plus I never take call on Sunday at the secondary job. She told me that it had obviously been erased and my name looked like it had been scratched in. We finally figured out that someone apparently didn't want to risk being called in on Super Bowl Sunday so they erased their name and put in mine (since I'm casual I probably wouldn't notice right away). By the way, I live in PITTSBURGH!

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