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

CTNurse678 · Mar 13, 2011

As in my experience, unless I need the money, I am not coming in. I have been dealt some shifty deals when it comes to being called in. As a nurse you have to stand up for yourself and your family. My bf and I have broken up because of some of the issues of the unit and the drama d/t the fact it stresses me out that no one deals with it.

As one time when I worked at a Children's Hospital, they called me in to work extra on a Friday for a Sunday night shift hence when I got there they sent me to the trauma/neurosurg unit. I immediately spoke with the AOD, they did not care. I left there shortly after that incident because there was several other incidents of rudeness and unprofessionalism which I didn't tolerate especially after moving my son and I to a different state for work. What a very disappointing experience!!

Another thing that annoys me when they call you and you are not even home yet from work to pick up extra. I very professionally and nicely told my boss since I have the most experience that if I keep the most pt's at night I will no longer pick up any overtime. That lasted one day. I have started to do my own thing to begin working at home as a nurse. I feel it is the best decision for me and my family. :nurse:

hotflashion, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2011

You do not have to answer the phone.

You do not need to give an excuse or a reason.

Work your hours. The rest of your life is yours to do as you please and no one should have any claim on it.

You do not owe an employer anything more.

rngolfer53 · Mar 14, 2011

Thanks caliotter, but I feel guilty. I feel like I should at least return their calls! Should I just not worry about it, and realize it is not my problem?

Yep, it's not your problem.

If management can't hire people who will show up for their shifts, those people need to be fired, and reliable ones hired. Yes, emergencies sometimes arise, but not every day.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2011

You do not have to answer the phone.
You do not need to give an excuse or a reason.
Work your hours. The rest of your life is yours to do as you please and no one should have any claim on it.
You do not owe an employer anything more.

I wrote this down. lol Thank you for making me feel better after I just got two calls from work(home and cell). On my day off to come into work tonight. lol

I took my home number off the telephone index on the floor. I don't want them calling my house because if you look at my missed calls on my cell phone, they own at least 80% of them.

I go through a cycle whenever they call me in. At first I get scared because I think I'm on the schedule and haven't shown up(Has happened, took a picture of the monthly schedule so they can't change it on me). Then I start to feel guilty and think about calling back. Then I get angry because I know I shouldn't feel guilty, its my time, I have other obligations and like the OP.. can't pick up OT. Then the anger decreases and I get over it.

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 23, 2011

My new phone has an option called "straight to voicemail" and the staffing numbers all have this option selected. Every time the staffers call, it goes directly to voicemail and doesn't even register as a missed call. It's lovely :) I've never once felt guilty for not working extra. I'm prn while finishing up school so I schedule myself with the hours I can do, and that's that. No guilt necessary

cogath · Mar 23, 2011

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.

So true. Got called on Halloween to go in because a coworker "called in sick." Well, I finally refused to go because I knew exactly who it was and what she was doing (she had been trying to find someone to work for her on Halloween months prior). Later in the week, said co-worker let slip what she had dressed up as for Halloween. I said casually to her, "weren't you sick?" and she stamered some lame excuse. :mad: :mad:

MilSpecRN, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2011

I turn my phone off when I am not working.

DizzyLizzyNurse · Mar 23, 2011

So true. Got called on Halloween to go in because a coworker "called in sick." Well, I finally refused to go because I knew exactly who it was and what she was doing (she had been trying to find someone to work for her on Halloween months prior). Later in the week, said co-worker let slip what she had dressed up as for Halloween. I said casually to her, "weren't you sick?" and she stamered some lame excuse. :mad:

I once was trying to get someone to work for me on Easter. No one would. Then I wound up with a horrible hacking cough, congestion, and a high fever. No one believed me when I called in on Easter. I really was sick though!!! :eek:

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2011

My new phone has an option called "straight to voicemail" and the staffing numbers all have this option selected. Every time the staffers call, it goes directly to voicemail and doesn't even register as a missed call. It's lovely :) I've never once felt guilty for not working extra. I'm prn while finishing up school so I schedule myself with the hours I can do, and that's that. No guilt necessary

I'll have to play around with my phone and see if I can get it to do that when work calls.