How to deal with constant calls to come into work?!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I work as a CNA/HHA in LTC facility. I also go to school full time, and work another job. I have finally figured out my schedule to where it is some-what tolerable, but still get CONSTANT calls to pick up shifts or to come in to work early. I am talking almost every day. If not every day, at least every other. It stresses me out! I want to like the job (I've only been there about 2 months), but seriously want to scream each time the phone rings. I can't even enjoy my little time off. I am seriously considering quitting, but don't want it to look bad on my resume, or not have any experience when trying to find a nursing job. How do I deal with the constant calls? What do I say (I am running out of excuses already)? It just seems like no one wants to work!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.
Wow, what a crazy world are living in today. Someone is literally whining about getting phone calls to come in to work when some people can't even find ANY job. Listen, quit your whining and don't answer your phone. Simple solution. Problem solved. Are you going to school for nursing? How will handle bigger stress? Sigh....

Wow, NewTexasRN. You must be in management. :lol2:

Specializes in Med/Surg.
Wow, am I the only one who works on a unit where we get in trouble if we don't return calls? I finally decided that I spend less time if I just go ahead and pick up and say "yes" or "no" right then.

I'm usually happy to pick up EXTRA shifts, since I don't have many scheduled obligations, but I hate it when they ask me to switch shifts at the last minute. The hospital doesn't have to pay me overtime, but I'm inconvenienced--and almost always, that leaves my originally scheduled shift short anyway. They're always robbing Peter to pay Paul. So I rarely switch shifts if there's nothing in it for me. Most of the time they could have seen these problems coming--it's not because of a last-minute call-in, just a poor job of scheduling.

We don't get in trouble for not returning calls. Usually the message will say, "if you can help us out, give us a call." Otherwise, it just goes on the schedule that a message was left, and they move on. They know people screen their calls.

We must work at the same place (re: the "robbing Peter to pay Paul" thing). They do that ALL the time...have someone work a different shift and letting them off another day; well, then they're just short THAT day instead. I get plenty of calls the hour before I'm due to come in (I work kind of an "odd" shift) that ask me to adjust my hours. That is HARD, and that's what I have a hard time saying no to.

You are definitely right, it's due to poor scheduling. Of course, some nights or days will be short after the fact because we have several people off on extended medical leaves, so a schedule will have looked ok when it was put out and then be very short when that day comes. That's the hard part.

Specializes in cardiac (CCU/Heart Transplant, cath lab).

Why do you feel so obligated to answer your phone when work calls?? Just don't pick it up if you don't feel like working! Sheesh! It's YOUR free time. They are not paying you to answer your phone. I am on call for work right now and getting paid- and for THAT I will answer!

Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
My first job out of LPN school, I worked at a county nursing home that was chronically understaffed, and they had no problem will calling at all hours of the day or night. To make matters worse, it was written into the union contract that employees were REQUIRED to return any phone call within 90 minutes, or face disciplinary action - up to and including monetary fines.

I started out screening calls, and after second time I got fined $75 for not returning a call (I had pneumonia and was asleep for literally 20 hours - I didn't even hear the phone ring!), I finally quit. The reason I stayed at the facility so long? Like you, intense guilt.

Wow, just wow. I hear stories like this and I thank my lucky stars I work at a semi decent place.

Wow, what a crazy world are living in today. Someone is literally whining about getting phone calls to come in to work when some people can't even find ANY job. Listen, quit your whining and don't answer your phone. Simple solution. Problem solved. Are you going to school for nursing? How will handle bigger stress? Sigh....

Wow- lighten up, they explained the situation perfectly. Are you a CNA or nurse? SHOW SOME COMPASSION!!!!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

use caller id or an answering machine to screen your calls. don't answer when you know it's work.

Specializes in Surgery.

Your reasons for not wanting to work more hours are valid. Between working two jobs and a full-time school schedule you really don't have any time left. Don't feel you have to make up new excuses every time. Just reiterate that you have a packed schedule and simply cannot fit in another shift.

You might be able to use it as an opportunity. You are working two jobs now. Which would you rather work? If it is this job, talk to your boss and say, "I notice you call me a lot to work extra hours. I currently work two jobs. If you can guarantee me __ hours every week, I can drop my other job and be more available to this job."

Or if you know a friend who is looking for a job you could refer that person when your boss calls.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

My guilt buttons are so easily pushed it's ridiculous. For years when they pulled the "not a team player" card I would say no sometimes -- and mentally beat myself up to the point I was more miserable at home than I would have been if I had just gone in, as I vividly imagined the chaos I was certain was going on without me.

After you're treated like a doormat for long enough, given no reward whatsoever for your sacrifice of your personal time, and you're asked to come in on a day off one time too many for a co-worker who got-their-car-stolen has a sick-aunt a-fever-of-104 was-burglarized- blah blah blah and comes back with either a tan or a tote bag from Bellagio you'll find your spine grows a lot stronger as the guilt is replaced by anger. It took me far too long to learn that lesson, though.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

Anytime I have taken a job where I could only work so many hours, I have made it clear that I will not work beyond my scheduled hours. No explanation is needed, and I have taught them NOT to call me.

Don't answer the phone. That's why they're calling -- none of your co-workers are answering their phones!:clown:

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I had same problem with old job. They would call for extra shifts, and even call and leave a message that they were changing my shift during my days off. Get this..."Hello, this is xxx, and we are changing your shift this week. Instead of coming in day after tomorrow we need you to come in at 6am in the morning. Thank you." This would be at 9pm at night. I might be out of town, already asleep, with my family not checking my messages etc.

If I didn't show up they counted it as a no call/no show. If I turned my phone off, it still went to my voice mail and it was my fault I didn't check it. I was terrified to answer my phone, and terrified not to. I considered getting rid of my phone all together, but having kiddo's in school I really needed a phone. I also was not on call or being paid to be on call. I was assigned to a set shift. Anyway, I gave my two week notice and quit. I have been at my new hospital for 4 months, and do not have this problem.

Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

I'm in a position now where I have to be on call. So if we are short or someone calls in, my options are to either call the list of people or go in and work the shift myself. Since I don't get paid to be on call or to work the shift if I go in (yeah, I know!) we are all highly motivated to find someone to work. That said the list is alphabetical in my facility. If your name is in the beginning of the alphabet you will likely hear from me more often. Our staffing is usually good enough that we don't have to call in people unless someone calls out. There are few enough of us on call that we also know which people generally say yes over those who consistently refuse. But that isn't the same in every facility.

Overall you don't need an excuse! When you give them an excuse they think maybe next time you'll say yes. Say no, you can't work any extra hours at all, EVER, because of school. If that doesn't work stop answering your phone.

+ Add a Comment