Getting called off

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 8, 2009

we have been going in streaks of that. most my PTO is gone d/t this, as well as many of my co-workers.

-H-RN

GaMBA · Jun 8, 2009

I'm not an RN, I'm an NCA and I've been called off twice (in the past month), even though I haven't even been here for the six months it would take for me to be eligible to use PTO. I have to admit I do not like this particular aspect of the nursing field. I understand why it's done but I still dont like it. Guess it's just something I'll have to deal with as part of this profession though if I intend to stay in the hospital.

swifty1031 · Jun 8, 2009

The opposite is true at my job! We are very short-handed and are always having to work overtime (whether you want it or not).I am not complaining, I would rather have too much than not enough! We have a lot more indigent clients since UTMB has not reopened fully, so we have been told, and that is why we are so busy. Also, we had a turn-over recently and the director has hired some new grads that have be trained and go through orientation (probably the entire summer), so we will be short-staffed all summer.

RNKPCE · Jun 8, 2009

Hardly ever called off. Either we are short staffed and they are calling for extra help or staffed appropriately. If we are overstaffed there are usually volunteers to take the day off. If no volunteers then per diems cancelled first(rotated amongst per diems) then regular staff nurses (rotated). As I said pretty rare that one is mandated

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 8, 2009

Called off d/t low census is part of summer fun here. Sometimes not too happy about it but everyone gets called off, down the list, so no one nurse is taking too many hits. Same with CNA's, rotate down the list. Fair to all.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2009

I wish I could get called off =(.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 8, 2009

We don't often get called off, but we will "vote someone off the island" if our census is low. We're trying to make it as fair as possible by keeping a posted tally in the nurses station that has the person, the date, and the hours given up. One of our management coordinators (AKA charge nurses) will post a graph each pay period so we can see who has "flexed" the most. We've all tried to take our turn. I don't mind -- I usually have something else I could be doing, and I have 160+ hours of PTO in my bank. Of course, working in the ED, the minute we send someone home, 6 ambulances show up on our doorstop with high-acuity patients.

SoundofMusic · Jun 8, 2009

It has happened once to me. I sort of squawked, though, and they dropped it and let me come in. I really don't want to use PTO as I have been diligently saving it for vacation.

If I would start getting called off, I'd just go find work elsewhere. There seems to be plenty of it in my town. Might not be what I want -- but, whatever. I'd gladly change my status to part time and find another part time RN position.

I think it's awful we have to use our own PTO for it. I'm just now realizing this deal, but I can see from the hospital's standpoint why they'd do it. Still, though, it's not the greatest thing for employees who really count on the paycheck.

One has to wonder if more of this is coming down the pike.

aprilrrupe · Jun 27, 2009

I was pulled to another floor 8 hours sent back to my own floor and sent home for 2 hours called back to work with condition I would not stay but 15 minute past my shift. All in all I worked 10 hours of my 12 and paid the gas to and fro. We are all getting flexed off too much. With no on call pay. I'm full time but only 36 hours a week is full time in their books. The nurse managers are getting 40. It looks like Federal laws cover against this but OT is more their focus. Any ideas?

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Jun 27, 2009

It has happened once to me. I sort of squawked, though, and they dropped it and let me come in. I really don't want to use PTO as I have been diligently saving it for vacation.
If I would start getting called off, I'd just go find work elsewhere. There seems to be plenty of it in my town. Might not be what I want -- but, whatever. I'd gladly change my status to part time and find another part time RN position.
I think it's awful we have to use our own PTO for it. I'm just now realizing this deal, but I can see from the hospital's standpoint why they'd do it. Still, though, it's not the greatest thing for employees who really count on the paycheck.
One has to wonder if more of this is coming down the pike.

I'd have to say, not necessarily. I've been seeing periods come and go of getting called off a lot for the eight years I've been in my position. What's happening now, at least in my area, is nothing I haven't seen before, at some point, over the years. Call off's/OWB's/whatever term you use isn't a new concept.

ChristyRN2009 · Jun 27, 2009

Up until the last two weeks we had plenty of available extra shifts to work. Now that I really need to money there's nothing of course. I guess our census is finally falling off. Such is the nature of nursing at least in this area anyway. People just don't want to get sick and go to the hospital when there's a barbeque to go to. Just sucks because I got punched with some unexpected bills and I was thinking the census had stayed up this long so I could pick up extra shifts-wrong! At least I'm guaranteed two shifts a week (weekender).