Can the DON make you stay for OT if the next shift doesn't show or is called off?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Specializes in MED/SURG STROKE UNIT, LTC SUPER., IMU.

I work in a long term care facility as the evening supervisor. I just took this position a couple of months ago, but have noticed that we have A LOT of call offs. The DON told me on Tuesday that if the 11-7 nurse calls off then it is the responsiblity of the 3-11 nurse to stay until relief is found. She told me that the 3-11 shift needs to stay at least 4 hours and then the unit manager can take the other 4 hours of the shift. Okay.....so what if no one can stay? They have other jobs, have to get home and sleep to take care of their little ones, or have a ride waiting for them outside. Last night I had a nurse call off AFTER she was suppost to be there. Called around to try to get someone and asked everyone in the building if they could do a double or at least another 4 hours, but no one could stay. I called the unit manager at that point, who poor thing had just gone to bed an hour earlier, and she came in. Obviously the nurse that called off will get in trouble for not following procedure, but where does that leave everyone else? Can the DON MAKE someone work 1/2 a shift of OT or is it the unit manager's responsablilty to fill the shift? My husband leaves at 5am in the morning, so if I ever have to stay the full shift, he will not be able to go to work on time himself, since we have 3 kids at home that he couldn't just leave. By the way this has happend twice this week. I don't know if this is a trend or if it's just a bad week, but I am concerned.:uhoh3:

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Specializes in LTC.

At our facility they do. And actually, they can/do make you stay the entire shift. Leaving would be "abandonment."

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I have one thing to say.

Unionize

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Check your board of labor in your state.

If something like that happens to *us* at my place of work, our supervisors that are scheduled to do administrative / JHACO items will take patients if absolutely needed, or the patient load gets split if nothing else.

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Specializes in MED/SURG STROKE UNIT, LTC SUPER., IMU.

That is what the DON said was that if they didn't stay the 4 hours at least, that it would be abandonment. This really stinks! They moved this particular nurse to night shift this week, even though she has a long history of showing up late or calling off for pretty much every single shift. I would have never moved her shift to such a critical one with her history. If someone calls off for the day shift, at least you have all of the department heads there who could take over if need be. If someone doesn't show up or calls out for the 11-7 shift, then there is no one else but the staff nurses and me. I think I may just go back on the cart if this is the way it is going to be.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I have been stuck a number of times, when my relief either called off or was a no call/no show. On every occasion I was stuck with a double shift. I worked swings, and at least twice a month I wound up covering the night shift as well.

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Extremely difficult situation. Of course you cannot leave the patients. I hope your DON and unit manager are not cavalier about this situation! There is no need to accept that you will be forced into overtime twice a week. If this was a fluke, ok, if it continues you need to let them know you are not OK with it. They need to hire a responsible nurse for the night shift!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

You can't leave your patients without handing over to another nurse; however AFAIK there is no mandate that you have to stay 4 hours or half the shift...you only have to stay until you've reported to and handed off care to a replacement nurse.

Check with your state BON to see exactly what your options are. And if this is a constant problem at your facility, consider looking for a new place of employment.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, GP Office.

Our nursing dept. heads, who rotate being "on call", cover the shift if someone calls in, unless we can get someone else to stay over or come in. We don't have many call ins, thank goodness. We have nurses who ask to work if someone calls in, they like the OT. Plus, we have several PRN nurses who are really dependable when needed. We get a $25 bonus every 6 months for perfect attendance. Our DON wouldn't and hasn't made anyone stay over to work.

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Specializes in MED/SURG STROKE UNIT, LTC SUPER., IMU.

The way they work it during the week is that the Unit Managers are responsible if someone calls out, BUT I was told this week that if someone calls out for 11-7, I have to get one of the nurses that was on 3-11 to stay for 4 hours until the Unit Manager can get there at 4am. We really don't have a PRN staff anymore and they rotate on the weekends, but during the week it is all on the Unit Manager and apparently on ME. I have told them that I can't work the 11-7 shift, but I guess if it happends again they expect me to stay until 4am if I can't get anyone else. The whole problem could have been prevented if they didn't schedule this particular nurse for this shift or addressed her non-attendence preveously. I guess that is what is really bugging me and the fact that I think that I may get yelled at when I come in tonight for my shift for not jumping up to take the extra 4 hours. Honestly, if I did that, then I would not be able to be up to get my kids off to school. Thanks for the comments everyone. I just needed to vent and get other views on this.

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I have one thing to say.

Unionize

That has nothing to do with patient abandonment.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

how does a union prevent people from calling in? how does a union prevent you from leaving if patient safety is at risk? The problem is deeper than that. Frequent call-ins are indicative of other issues.

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