On call status

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm a certified nursing assistant and when I'm not scheduled to work my boss always calls to get me to work. It should be noted that I've only called in sick one day in the last year and I personally went up there to her office to show I really was sick. I do not get paid extra to be on call and it is not in my job description. I never cover shifts last minute because it seems that someone is calling in sick all the time. I do my job when I am there and do it good. Should I feel guilty for not going in when she calls looking for someone? It just seems that if you start doing this they never stop expecting it from you.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

Do not feel guilty, if you don't have caller ID, get it, screen those calls, it is their staffing problem, not yours, don't take personal responsibility, you sound like a consciencous employee who cares, keep that virtue, some employees will always try to get whatever they can from you !

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Specializes in ER.

JUST SAY NO.

And don't answer the phone if you can't refuse without guilt.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
It just seems that if you start doing this they never stop expecting it from you.
You are exactly right!

And no, don't feel guilty. If working extra is of benefit to you, then do it. If not, don't. You need to take care of yourself, and that includes taking time off and doing other things.

If it's a true emergency, then that's one thing. Those happen: people are in accidents, have deaths in the family, have to have emergency surgery, and so forth. However, there should not be a daily emergency!

As someone else said, don't answer the phone if you don't want to work!

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this is common: if floors have a call in they say 'call so and so they always come in' if you start saying 'no' they will call someone else

you don't have to give an excuse to decline a extra shift

probably best that you don't, just decline, if pushed say that you are in need of time off

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Specializes in ED/trauma.

Are you labeled as "on call" (and everyone else, so that you all get a fair share) or do they just randomly call you in because they know you'll come.

If it's the latter, then you should not feel bad at all!

If it's the former, then that's a different situation altogether - and I actually wish my unit would do this. It would help a ton when we're short-staffed!

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No, the only on call CNA's we have are the ones they want to let go without actually firing. They really do not get called in. I'm in nursing school so i cannot wait to actually get started with my clinicals and start something more challenging. As a Cna it has defenitly given me an advantage for my future nursing career and an Immense respect for the aides that do alot of the dirty work. Thank you all for your input.

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When I was a CNA my first job was at an LTC. I was full time. I learned very quickly that every single solitary cotton-pickin' day I was off I would get a call asking if I could cover a shift. I turned off the phone in my room and asked my mom to tell the caller I wasn't available. (She was always up early, so the phone didn't wake her up.) Just say no and don't feel guilty.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
When I was a CNA my first job was at an LTC. I was full time. I learned very quickly that every single solitary cotton-pickin' day I was off I would get a call asking if I could cover a shift. I turned off the phone in my room and asked my mom to tell the caller I wasn't available. (She was always up early, so the phone didn't wake her up.) Just say no and don't feel guilty.

:chuckleYou too, huh?! My mother did the same for me. What a great mom she is.

(On an off-topic note, that smiley looks like Stan from South Park.)

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I have caller ID. I do not answer the phone if I do not want to go in. I am in NS, and that is my priority. Once I am done, I'll be more willing to help out and come in extra.

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Specializes in OR, transplants,GYN oncology.

Learn this phrase. It changed my life by helping me let go of unwarranted guilt.

"I'm sorry. I can't help you this time."

Offer no excuses. If they start to badger you, simply repeat that empowering phrase, calmly yet sternly.

Good luck. Linda

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