Should I feel bad for not picking up shifts?

Nurses General Nursing

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I started a per diem position at a brain & spinal cord injury rehab a couple months ago. This company has 3 different locations in town, but I was only trained for 6 days at "Location A". On the last day of my training, they tell me last minute that "Location B" needs coverage the next day. Management tells me to finish my training over there (which at this point there's 2 hours left on the shift). I think to myself, I've trained for 6 days, and it's the same company, so it should be ok right? Wrong.

For the two days that I picked up at Location B, my life was hell. 2 hours was not enough to prepare me for the havoc. Nurses are always quitting at this location, calling in, and running around like you wouldn't imagine. I can see why people are always quitting. I thought I had seen crazy, but this place is something else. They even had an LVN (with no CNA certification) pick up a CNA shift one day. When I was there, I got my head ripped off by a family member because I didn't do things how she wanted them done. She made a big scene and talked bad about me to EVERYONE. Then all the other patients & families were extremely rude to me. I know my worth as a nurse, but boy did I feel pathetic those days.

I'm more than willing to pick up shifts at the other locations. Unfortunately, the other locations are the ones that are fully staffed with no days available. Location B keeps calling me asking me to pick up shifts. Out of 19 available shifts that they have for June, I've only picked up 2. I am also taking summer classes which are demanding. So I keep rejecting these shifts because they interfere with school, or because I just don't feel comfortable going back. Even nurses with years of experience leave almost in tears.

Is it wrong for me to feel guilty for not picking up at Location B? Sometimes I feel obligated but then I think about my license and my sanity.

LovingLife123

1,592 Posts

First, stop with the I worry about my license. That's wrong. Unless you are grossly negligent or divert drugs, that's not going to be an issue.

Second, an LVN does not need a CNA certificate. She already licensed to do the job. We all as LVN/LPN and RN have the ability to be a CNA. It's in our scope of practice.

If you don't like the job, then don't pick up. I pick up maybe once a month on my unit. It's not that I don't like it, but I have kids and a life outside the hospital. When I'm off, im not just sitting on the couch. But even if I was, so what? My time is my time.

Sour Lemon

5,016 Posts

I never work extra shifts unless I want to. Location B's staffing issues will never improve if everyone refuses to work there, though.

dream'n, BSN, RN

1,162 Posts

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Why feel guilty? The problems at Location B are not under your control, you can't fix them. Why take more stress upon yourself (we have enough as it is) for things that you aren't responsible for. Take care of you.

On another note, at another employer from my past, I would on occasion be assigned as a sitter (not a bad gig at RN wages)

Guest219794

2,453 Posts

I strongly suggest you- and every nurse worried about losing a license- peruse the state BON site and read up on who lost one and why. Then don't do what they did.

As far as feeling bad, or guilty? Entirely up to you. Some people choose to feel guilty, though I am not sure why. Work is a business arrangement.

I have one job that treats me well, and I like the job, and have good relationships with co-workers. In that job, I am part of the team, and try to help out when I can, while maintaining boundaries. The other job is pretty much the work equivalent of a booty call. When it works for both of us- great. Occasionally, they try to pressure me as though we have a real relationship, but I know they have no commitment to me. Consequently, I owe them nothing, and never feel guilty. Or bad. I am quite sure the manager over there doesn't lose any sleep when the schedule is not optimized for my convenience.

And- as far as places with constant staffing problems? Entirely a result of their business decisions. Next time you get a frantic or high pressure call, refer them here: Nine Ways To Keep Your Company's Most Valuable Asset -- Its Employees "Many studies on retention agree on what influences employees to stay: meaningful, challenging work ... a chance to grow and learn ... a good work environment ... recognition and respect. Notice how many of these fall under the umbrella of "psychological ownership."

The truth is, even if they really suck, they could just pay a lot of money, and somebody would take the shift. But they choose to badger you instead. You can choose whether to answer the phone. Then choose whether to feel guilty.

JKL33

6,777 Posts

I would probably reconsider the whole relationship. You didn't even make it through orientation before they were forced to show their hand, which is that they need help in the H-hole and not the place where you oriented.

"Bye."

****

Although, if you can get your bearings and see the big picture enough to learn to handle it and the money is good, work when you want and don't when you don't.

kp2016

490 Posts

No!! You should not feel bad about not picking up shifts in a badly staffed location to which you did not apply to work and were not appropriately orientated.

Location B is short staff because it is a terrible place to work. If you are foolish (please don't take that as a personal insult, I really am trying to help you here) enough to volunteer for shifts there they will not only keep asking you but will find ways to cancel your shifts at location A to correct the shortage at location B. As they have several locations that are not short staffed obviously your fellow RNs are wise enough to refuse any shifts at B, you should do yourself a massive favor and follow their lead.

allnurses Guide

Nurse SMS, MSN, RN

6,843 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Personally I would bluntly tell them I am not willing to do any shifts at Location B and then let them react however they will. Sounds like you'd be better off finding a better employer anyway.

allnurses Guide

Nurse SMS, MSN, RN

6,843 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Oh...and no, you should not feel bad. Do they feel bad when they lay people off or send them home early for low census? Nope. You do not owe them anything. As mentioned above, it is business.

Specializes in Informatics / Trauma / Hospice / Immunology.

Why do so many hospitals use threats and guilt trips to try and control staff. Restaurants seem to behave the same. Recognize it is a partnership based on what you agreed to when you accepted the job. You don't owe them anything. Working more is just enabling bad management making you part of the problem not the solution. For lack of a better analogy, maybe you need to let them hit their bottom. Most hospitals understand the risk of understafing is often paying at least overtime if not double or even more if they have to reach out to travelers or registries. This is the cost of doing business.

Specializes in ICU.

No. You should not feel bad. This is life and business.

Specializes in Critical Care.

Just curious what is different about location B? Is it a different patient population or higher staffing ratio's. Just wondering why that is the problem place, why are they ok at the other spots but not there. What are they doing wrong?

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