When to say no...new grad burn out

Airidis · May 14, 2011

I wish we were in a union:( The retirement home is owned by a franchise so it is more focused on sales than the employees. There is a union in Canada willing to come in if 51% of nursing staff vote on it, but I'm not sure my co-workers would vote for one. I'm thinking if I speak up would I be punished for it?

Call the Ministry of Labour hun. Im Canadian they're abusing the hell out of you, make the call tell them your story let them take it from there.

KarmaWiseRaven · May 14, 2011

You really need to say No and for your overtime call your rep or someone who will listen they are trying to jack you over if you agree to work those ours or not they still have to pay you. I don't know the overtime laws there but here in the states they wouldn't get away with it.

Stand up and say something. ( IT'S MY MONEY AND I NEED IT NOW) Really don't take that crap they are trying to get you to work for nothing. And Re-read your handbook Employers love to beat the employees over the head with it. So if you read it and trust me i have been in a somewhat same boat and the DON asked if i read the handbook thinking i didn't and i would just take her word for it ( Not).

I said yeap what page i can tell it to you. Good Luck To You i hope you get your money and Just say No they are not doing you any favors trust me. And sad thing you would be the first to go if it came down to it. Because it seems the ones that are there for the company and work hard get's the boot and the ones that mess around and don't do crap get to stay watch your back and get your money Good Luck ... Anthony

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 14, 2011

i'm just wondering what the groups thoughts are on when to say no to working. i'm full-time, 75 hours bi-weekly, but i am always asked to cover addition shifts, or sick calls. i'm starting to feel burnt out. my last bi-weekly schedule i worked 94 hours, and my manager paid me "regular hours" because i "agreed to those shifts ahead of time". ahead of time seems to be when i come in for my night shift at 11pm to find out the 3-11pm shift for the next day isn't covered. i go home at 7am, sleep a few hours and go back in. this is starting to become more common (i'd say roughly a couple times a month since i've started 6 months ago). i'm starting to dread getting calls because my voicemail has at least 2 calls a week asking me to cover a shift on my scheduled days off or part of a shift because "no one else can".
as a new grad when can you say no? i know making a great impression to my team is great, but when you just work and sleep it takes all the fun out of my personal life.

with a nod to nancy, "just say no." if you're starting to feel burnt out, quit working the extra hours. no need to explain, just say "sorry, no." or if that's too blunt for you say "i have other plans" even if those other plans are nothing more than a hot bath and a trashy novel.

if you agree to work extra, establish up front whether or not there will be overtime pay. best to do it via e-mail if that's possible -- so you have a written record. i've also picked up the phone while my answering machine was still answering, giving me an audio recording of the call. (i'm not sure if that's still the case since i never answer the phone anymore unless i already know who is calling and i actually want to talk to them.) if they won't agree to pay you overtime, don't agree to work. when the "free" overtime dries up, they'll pay it or they won't be able to cover the shift.

it is not your responsibility to staff the unit, and believe me if you make a mistake because you're tired from all the extra shifts, it's not going to make a damn bit of difference that it was the extra shifts that caused you to make the mistake. not to you, not to your manager, the physician or the patient.

you only get one go 'round, and no one lying on their death bed has ever wished they'd worked more hours.

llg, PhD, RN · May 14, 2011

As others have said, say no but I add be firm and don't feel you have to make up excuses...."thank you for asking but no, I need my time off this week" and then walk away...

I like that way of handling. There is no need for a big explanation. Just say "No" ... or perhaps ... "No, but thanks for offering me the opportunity."

Other options:

No, I have other plans.

No, I can't do it this week.

No, I'm afraid I've got other things to take care of.

Politically, it is sometimes wise to work a little extra on ocassion. That's OK. But think it through ahead of time. Decide how much and when you can reasonably give a little more time ... and then stick with that plan.

joanna73, BSN, RN · May 14, 2011

I'm Canadian too, and we still have labour laws. Call the labour board. They have to pay overtime, and they know it. You are owed back pay. I would also just start saying no. You aren't obligated to cover shifts.

itsmejuli · May 14, 2011

Learn your rights as an employee :)

Look for another job, now.

If they're abusing your generosity of covering shifts and they're not paying you accordingly then I can only imagine what else they're doing to cut costs.

DroogieRN · May 15, 2011

You are obligated to work your schedule, nothing more. My unit has been critically understaffed for months and it so hellatious, no one would pick up shifts. They began offering double time pay if you pick up a shift, and now we have no holes in the schedule. Fancy that! If you would be willing to work extra for double time, tell them that. Otherwise, let your phone go to voice mail. I do and feel no guilt. :nurse:

canigraduate · May 15, 2011

Here, I'll practice with you...

"No, thank you for calling." CLICK!

"No, I'm not available." CLICK!

"No, thank you, I can't help you." CLICK!

My personal favorite:

"You have the wrong number." CLICK!

nfdfiremedic, BSN, RN · May 15, 2011

Wait a minute. they DIDN'T give you overtime because you agreed to take those shifts in advance??

My department pays overtime for anything over 40 hours per week, AND we give you a $150 bonus for every 8 hours of time you pick up above and beyond your scheduled time. We put out a big list of open shifts at the beginning of each schedule and anything you sign up for on the sheet is bonus eligible, even if it's a month in advance.

Are they very well staffed there or something? I've never heard of such a thing!

TickyRN · May 15, 2011

Just say no

Tvickn · May 15, 2011

when you say regular time you mean you are not getting time and a half gor your overtime? That is illegal and you need to contact the proper state agency and report your employer

I agree!!! Any time over 40 hrs is overtime no matter what they say u agreed to! I was the same way as far as working all these hours a week. I did get burned out and actually went down to 1 weekend a month. I went full time working as health and safety manager for my dads business, but realized that nursing wasnt so bad after all! So now im back in school getting bsn and then applying to crna school! All i can say is hang in there, dont ever feel like they own u, and stand up for yourself! If not u will hate ur job!

AOx1 · May 15, 2011

I would let them know that since you weren't paid properly, no more overtime. A team shows respect to all members, and they voided that by not paying you what you earned. I would only work my scheduled hours unless it suited MY needs.