too much overtime!!

[spookygirl]

I am a new grad nurse. I got my license in Oct 2006. I work in a small rural hospital. My hospital is suffering some financial difficulties lately. We have been short staffed recently with no new prospects on the horizion. We have just enough people to cover the week, so if someone calls off, someone has to work overtime to cover. Lately I have been working 1 extra day per week for a total of 4 days (12 hr shifts). I hate working overtime due to responsibilites at home. I just have NO extra time, but I'm new to the unit & I want to look good for my unit director & I also want to do my part. We have had a rash of call-off's lately & like i said i've had 4 days the past couple of weeks. I have been feeling so tired of it lately. well I worked last night & to make a long story short boss asked if I could come in at 4pm today instead of 7 (I work 7p-7a). so 12+hours wed night 6 hrs sleep & back for a 4pm-7am (plus report time) shift. I originally said yes but when I left boss heard me grumbling to the tech & it went something like this.

boss: you know you didn't have to say yes if you didn't want to do it.

me: I don't want to be the bad guy & leave you guys hanging

boss: I could have asked jon (lpn that worked with me last night & tonight)

me: well I don't want to put it on him then he'll only get 6 hrs sleep.

boss: never mind I'll call someone else. I just start with who's here.

now here I am feeling like a big fat jerk. should I call her to apologize, should I call & say I'll just come in? I am not sure what to do.

Sorry if this is disorganized I'm just tired.

p.s. other RN's in the hospital make a bonus if they come in on their day off but our unit (psych) doesn't offer the bonus due to budget. but EVERYONE else gets it. This hasn't bothered me before but I keep thinking about it

so I thought I'd throw that in. :stone

Thanks,

spooky

[nservice]

Yep, agree to disagree. Sounds good... :cheers:

Are those beer mugs? It is Friday ya know!!!! :beer:

[Wave]

I originally said yes but when I left boss heard me grumbling to the tech & it went something like this.

Say what you mean; mean what you say.

If you said yes to the hours, then work them without complaining about the OT. Remember, you agreed. Now, if you want to complain about the lack of staff, I guess that's O.K. to a point. If you don't want the hours or are too tired or have other commitments than stand up for yourself. You've already proven that you're a team player, but only you know what your limits are O.K., so you're a new nurse; don't let that be the reason you forgot that you're are part of a team. Doesn't matter if you're a super duper star quarterback, if there's nobody else on the field you won't make any headway. Nobody said you had to take this all on by yourself.

boss: you know you didn't have to say yes if you didn't want to do it.

Sounds like your boss was trying to give you an out.

me: I don't want to be the bad guy & leave you guys hanging

(see above comments)

boss: I could have asked jon (lpn that worked with me last night & tonight)

me: well I don't want to put it on him then he'll only get 6 hrs sleep.

I see, so Jon needs more that 6 hrs, but you don't? How do you know how much sleep he needs? let jon take care of jon, and you take care of yourself.

(Oh, by the way, nice process recording!)

Sorry if this is disorganized I'm just tired.

Again, if you're tired enough to have problems putting together a post for this bulletin board, but you would have been perrrfectly fine to do assessments, hand out meds, perform treatments, etc without worrying about a mistake? You feel guilty about not taking the OT -how would you have felt if were so tired that you had a med error? Made a pt worse (or even responsible for their death -say by overdose)? It's about balance and (again) knowing yourself and your limits: physical, mental, emotional.

p.s. other RN's in the hospital make a bonus if they come in on their day off but our unit (psych) doesn't offer the bonus due to budget. but EVERYONE else gets it. This hasn't bothered me before but I keep thinking about it...

Sounds like if you're thinking about it that it does bother you.

You have obviously demonstrated already your commitment to your job. If it is starting to affect your health, then you have to think about number one first and have a rest for a little while from the extra work, and begin working out of hours when you are refreshed and happy to do so.

Agree wholeheartedly!

Why was your boss "listening around corners" to a private conversation?

Sounds like the boss overheard, and not eavesdropping. Maybe the OP was upset and gesturing or overheard the tone of voice. You can't blame the manager if the OP was not in a private setting. Also, it sounds like she was approached after the conversation was over. Perhaps the OP could clarify?

You are allowed to have your own personal gripes,

Absolutely, just do it in private, please.

and it's none of her business to interrupt and comment.

If she overheard the OP complaining and it involves a work related matter, yes it is her business.

If you weren't rude to her, then there is no need to apologize.

Disagree. OP was wishy-washy, don't say what you don't mean.

If anything she should be apologizing to you.

What for, for doing her job and simply asking? It's not like she was twisting her arm.

[bjp260]

this topic is so controversial. it needs to be addressed on a nation wide basis.