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

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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, OR, HH,Case Management.

Welcome to Nursing. Except for business hour nursing jobs (clinic) they will always call you. Just turn off your phone, or just don't answer when they call you. DO NOT feel guilty. If you are in school they should respect this. They are just looking for anyone to come in, don't take it personally. It's ok to say NO. Don't worry about not having experience when you pass your RN degree. If you are doing it for experience, you could volunteer instead, they won't call you. Though if you are working because you need the cash then so be it. Perhaps you could work during the summer or on your school breaks, that what I always did. I could never work a shift and go to school fulltime.

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Specializes in OB.

As an added hint - if you see an unfamiliar number on your phone - let it go to voicemail! I've known staffing persons to use someone's cell phone to make calls when they know everyone is avoiding answering if the hospital number shows up - sneaky!

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Specializes in -.

Ugh I used to work at a place that would call on every one of my days off / days at school. The convesation would usually go like this..

ME: Im sorry, I cant come in, Im about to go to school.

RECEPTIONIST: What about after school ?

ME: Sorry I cant come in.

RECEPTIONIST: Why not ?

ME: Look Im about to go to class, sorry I cant take the shift.

RECEPTIONIST: Werent you at school the other day I rang ? If you dont come in youll get fired, this isnt good enough !!

ME: But Im not even rostered today ?

RECEPTIONIST : But we need people. You wouldnt let all the residents down would you ? We need SOMEONE.

Then I end up going to work, frazzled and almost in tears...then I get a call from my teacher..."Why did you miss class?"

:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Thankfully (due to another incident with the same receptionist where I caught her lying about me :uhoh3:) I left !!

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Specializes in Emergency Department, House Supervisor.

Heard of caller ID?

But seriously, tell them your availability...then do not answer the phone during your "unavailable" times.

They can't fire you for not being available when you are not scheduled or not on call.

Change your cell phone number, then don't give them the new one.

Caveat..."At will" employers don't have to have a reason to fire you, so you have to decide if you want to put up with the constant calls. Alternatively you can tell them you are unavailable when they call and DO NOT divulge your reason. It's personal. You do not have to tell them WHY...it's deeply deeply personal...right?

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My first bit of advice would be to NOT, NOT, NOT, give them your cell phone number

Ugh! Unfortunately, it is too late! :uhoh3:

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.

Me too! If I ignore the phone, I think I feel worse than saying no with no "good" excuse (other than I just don't want to).

It's ok to say NO. Don't worry about not having experience when you pass your RN degree. If you are doing it for experience, you could volunteer instead, they won't call you. Though if you are working because you need the cash then so be it. Perhaps you could work during the summer or on your school breaks, that what I always did. I could never work a shift and go to school fulltime.

Thank you. I am seriously considering volunteering now, and don't need the job for the money. I am only doing it for experience.

Thank you everyone for the great responses. I really do appreciate them. :D In the past two days, I have gotten 4 calls to either pick up extra shifts, come in early (4 hours early!) and/or stay late (again, an extra 4 hours). I was almost in tears because it was just so frustrating just listening to the messages. I have written up my letter of resignation and hope to turn it in tomorrow. I don't really want to quit, but don't want to dread each shift or phone call. The stress is not worth it to me.

Thanks again for the great advice, and would love to hear more.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Ugh I used to work at a place that would call on every one of my days off / days at school. The convesation would usually go like this..

ME: Im sorry, I cant come in, Im about to go to school.

RECEPTIONIST: What about after school ?

ME: Sorry I cant come in.

RECEPTIONIST: Why not ?

ME: Look Im about to go to class, sorry I cant take the shift.

RECEPTIONIST: Werent you at school the other day I rang ? If you dont come in youll get fired, this isnt good enough !!

ME: But Im not even rostered today ?

RECEPTIONIST : But we need people. You wouldnt let all the residents down would you ? We need SOMEONE.

Then I end up going to work, frazzled and almost in tears...then I get a call from my teacher..."Why did you miss class?"

:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Thankfully (due to another incident with the same receptionist where I caught her lying about me :uhoh3:) I left !!

Your teachers actually CALL you to see why you missed class?

Never heard of a teacher doing that...usually they mark down the absence and never say anything unless it is mandatory attendance, such as clinical...but I have never heard of anything like that.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
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. I'd say you've gotten some pretty good advice here - unless it's a situation like mine was where you MUST return the call, I simply wouldn't. I have a friend who had the same issue at her current job, so what she did was got a phone number from Google Voice (it's free) and gave work that phone number. She has it set to where it doesn't ring, just goes straight to voice mail that she can listen to (or read via email) at her leisure. That may be an option if you don't want to hear the phone ringing all the time.

This would be a job, that I wouldn't take.

If they can FINE you for not answering your phone, then to me, that is no different than being at work 24/7..and no job will ever pay me enough to do that.

Horribly run union that would allow for a provision like that.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU.

Before quiting, why not speak to your supervisor and explain the situation? You were hired to work x amount of hours, and each week you do that. It is ok to ask for the ocassional extra shift or extra hours before/after work, but cannot be expected to do this on a daily basis. Be specific! Give them "Do Not Call" times or days when you are in class or at your other job. Explain that you will not have your phone on at these times, nor will you check for messages. If they can't work with you on this, then it's time to leave. Good luck in whatever you decide!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU.
If they can FINE you for not answering your phone, then to me, that is no different than being at work 24/7..and no job will ever pay me enough to do that.

Horribly run union that would allow for a provision like that

Agreed!!!!

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OP, i really dont think you should quit. this is just a taste of what nursing is. Besides you cant quit every time a job/working situation is not perfect. No nursing job is ever perfect. You need to grow a backbone and start practising how to say no without feeling guilty :)

I hope it works out for you.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Me too! If I ignore the phone, I think I feel worse than saying no with no "good" excuse (other than I just don't want to).

In the past two days, I have gotten 4 calls to either pick up extra shifts, come in early (4 hours early!) and/or stay late (again, an extra 4 hours). I was almost in tears because it was just so frustrating just listening to the messages. I have written up my letter of resignation and hope to turn it in tomorrow. I don't really want to quit, but don't want to dread each shift or phone call. The stress is not worth it to me.

First of all you don't need anything besides "I don't' want to" as a reason to not go in. Second of all, it's amazing how they are about to make themselves even more short staffed by acting that way!

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I save all of the numbers that work calls from, add them to a special group on my phone with "no ringer" as the ring tone. They can call all they want to, but my phone just stays silent and then shows the missed call. Works for me!

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