Having a hard time saying 'no' to working overtime

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 1, 2014

I have zero sympathy for any nurse who finds it difficult to say no to OT when they really don't want it. If you didn't want OT why did you answer the phone? It's 2014! It's not like the old days when you never knew who might be calling and HAD to answer the phone or risk missing an emergency call from your kids school.

Get the free app "Mr.Number" It allows you to block and unblock calls and texts from any number very easily. Not in the mood to do OT? Block the work number. Need some extra money and willing to do OT? Unblock them.

Guests · Sep 1, 2014

I have zero sympathy for any nurse who finds it difficult to say no to OT when they really don't want it. If you didn't want OT why did you answer the phone? It's 2014! It's not like the old days when you never knew who might be calling and HAD to answer the phone or risk missing an emergency call from your kids school.
Get the free app "Mr.Number" It allows you to block and unblock calls and texts from any number very easily. Not in the mood to do OT? Block the work number. Need some extra money and willing to do OT? Unblock them.

Or, just grow a pair and say what you mean.

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 1, 2014

Or just grow a pair and say what you mean.[/quote']
I hear you. However I find even having to deal with the issue when I am relaxing and enjoying my family time can put me in a bad mood. I certainly can an do say no when I don't want OT. The Mr. Number app is better. That way I am not even aware that the hospital is short staffed and wants me to do OT. I avoid the whole discussion and my mood is never ruined because of talking to some half witt in the staffing office who doesn't realize that not only do I not want to do a shift in L&D, I am not even qualfied to work L&D. A nurse is a nurse is a nurse right?

SCBlueICU · Sep 1, 2014

Oh yeah! I definitely learned all there is to know about L and D in the 3 shifts I worked there during nursing school. Throw me in the fire and I'm sure the babies will pop out fine. :/. Saying "No" was a skill I had to develop. So hard when you think of everybody running around taking more patients than they should. Then I realized most of the time they are just fine without me...

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Sep 1, 2014

Well said! I am always shocked when these wage survays pop up on AN to find so many nurses working for $20 and hour or even LESS.
I simply wouln't do nursing work for less than about $80K/year (not counting OT). I make quite a bit more than that now but if I couldn't I would do something else. Probably go into business for myself.
P.S. I mean $80K HERE in the midwest where there is a very reasonable cost of living. Living on the coast or some place expensive and that $80K would have to go up considerably.

My time and a half rate would be $60/hr plus the diffs. For what I have to go through to get it, it is just not worth it to me. My neighbor thinks I'm crazy, but he hasn't spent one minute as a nurse or an inpatient in his life. Seeing as how my kids have families of their own, I'll leave the OT for the younger generation. My sanity is priceless.

myownboss · Sep 1, 2014

I work at two hospitals in their MS/Tele units; one full time, the other per diem! Both facilities know I work at another so they don't 'mess with me' so to speak. And yes, I rather get the extra hours elsewhere, rather than go in extra because they played that trick on me and I said never again; that is, I'd go in on an extra day, then they'd call me off on my regularly scheduled shift later in the week(i guess to make sure I didn't make overtime). So I decided to make extra money doing per diem elsewhere...

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

I work at two hospitals in their MS/Tele units; one full time, the other per diem! Both facilities know I work at another so they don't 'mess with me' so to speak. And yes, I rather get the extra hours elsewhere, rather than go in extra because they played that trick on me and I said never again; that is, I'd go in on an extra day, then they'd call me off on my regularly scheduled shift later in the week(i guess to make sure I didn't make overtime). So I decided to make extra money doing per diem elsewhere...

You did the right thing. Calling you in for OT then laying you off later so you don't OT is a diry underhanded trick. Like you once a hospital did that to me I was "never again". I wish all nurses would do the same to teach them a lesson.

Now however my hours are guarenteed so I don't hesitate to go in OT if I feel like it knowing they can't lay be off later in the weeki.

editingeyes · Sep 2, 2014

I work as an RN (BSN) and I live in the Midwest - I make nowhere near $80K. Every hospital in my area starts between $20-$25/hour. In my area you can't even remotely expect to pull in that kind of cash. I wish I did, though! Thankfully if I pick up OT my hospital doesn't call you off later that week - management knows if the OT is needed then that helps us prove that more staff needs to be hired (which is not easy on a psych unit).

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

I work as an RN (BSN) and I live in the Midwest - I make nowhere near $80K. Every hospital in my area starts between $20-$25/hour. In my area you can't even remotely expect to pull in that kind of cash. I wish I did, though! Thankfully if I pick up OT my hospital doesn't call you off later that week - management knows if the OT is needed then that helps us prove that more staff needs to be hired (which is not easy on a psych unit).

Right. I understand. When I said $80K I mean the bare minimum I would accept to be a nurse. That would have to be a pretty cush job. I make about 1/3 more than that.

I went looking for exactly what I wanted and found it after a long search. I did have to relocate and make some sacrafices but it was the best thing for my family and I.

I spent years working in various hospitals in various states as a staff RN and a traveler. I networked and asked questions, and did research.

This is what I wanted:

High qualiety hospital with better than average patient outcomes

Publicaly owned hospital

Union representation for nurses.

Non Magnet hospital

medium to large hospital (wanted 150 beds or more)

Good benifits to include a pension AND 401K matching

Not affiliated with a religion

High pay relitive to cost of living

I found all that in a couple hospitals in the upper midwest. I did learn that if you wanted to be paid decently, while having a modest cost of living, and be treated decently as a nurse, you were going to have to live someplace that gets a lot of snow.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

I have no problem saying no. Especially because they will force you off later because you are OT.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 2, 2014

My dear friend and nursing mentor Cathy had a list of thirty reasons she could not come to work. It was posted by her home phone (this was the days before cell phones kids!). She would cross off excuses as she used them, and when she got to the bottom of the list, start again. Brilliant!

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

I work as an RN (BSN) and I live in the Midwest - I make nowhere near $80K. Every hospital in my area starts between $20-$25/hour. In my area you can't even remotely expect to pull in that kind of cash. I wish I did, though! Thankfully if I pick up OT my hospital doesn't call you off later that week - management knows if the OT is needed then that helps us prove that more staff needs to be hired (which is not easy on a psych unit).

Thank you! I thought I was nuts for a minute there, wondering where that kind of wage is. I would love to know where in the midwest I could pull in that kind of money as a bedside nurse, heck I'd move in a heartbeat if the cost of living is even remotely close to what it is in my neck of the midwest woods.