when your manager texts or calls because they are very short staffed, and you do not respond to the texts, knowing that your unit and your co-workers who you like very much are going to have a rough time?
I feel guilty about it, but I know that my coming in will not solve the overall administration problem of either poor planning or budget cuts or not hiring enough nurses or not retaining them well enough.
Does anyone else experience this on a regular basis, or is it just my unit?
When I was an LVN in LTC I was much more naive and felt obligated to say yes. After a while I realized that I was the only one picking up these extra shifts for emergency call offs (I even came in on Christmas, my one holiday scheduled off that year). Ever since that job I have never felt guilty for saying no. It's too easy to get taken advantage of.
It is not your responsibility to get those shifts covered. If you keep picking up, management won't see that they need to actually do something about their understaffing. They either need a larger resource/float pool or start using agency nurses. Is a problem that they need to address, they won't be permanently fixed by coworkers picking up extra shifts/covering.
It is not YOUR fault they are understaffed, it's managements fault for understaffing.
My hospital has a semi-automated calling system so no need to feel guilty because it is the staffing caller not your direct manager calling you 99% of the time.
Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.
I do not feel guilty, however I think there may be a correlation between the amount of guilt felt vs years of on-the-floor nursing. I felt horribly guilty when I was younger and believed my nursing job was my life and felt I had to be committed 100% to the hospital I worked for. Now I realize I have a life and that the hospital's bottom dollar is making $money$ and not loyalty to their employees.
Every time that I have come in for an extra shift I have had a horrible night due to unsafe ratios and other factors. Every single time. It's even worse on the holidays which are always understaffed. I once had two codes at the same time on Christmas Eve. Being asked to work extra on a holiday is a bad omen for me.
Haven't even read a single response yet, but feel strongly enough about this to be compelled to answer. Do I feel bad for my coworkers? Sure. Do I feel guilty about not answering or going in? Absolutely not!
We are so short staffed right now it's not even funny, and I heard yesterday when I ran into a coworker at Walmart that two more nurses have put in their notice.
Management should have a couple options here, short term need...they are all nurses too and may need to help on the floor occasionally. Then they really need to offer better incentives to come in on a day off.
This staffing issue we are having has been happening for months and is not getting any better, as a matter of fact it is getting worse. I really don't see any improvement on the horizon as the company I work for is well known for being on the low end for pay and not giving annual raises. Unless a miracle occurs and they decide to loosen those purse strings I am afraid we are doomed to always be understaffed.
I also do home health, intermittant visits not private duty. I feel bad when I say no, but I know what my schedule is (home and work) and my responsibilities at home are more important than at work. When I'm on my death bed I guarentee I will not regret not working more, but I would regret not spending time with my kids. I love my work, job, and my coworkers... I love my family more though.
I don't feel guilty at all. I get called in everyday when I am off work. I have a coworker who started her vacation last week and they tried to call her in on her first two days of precious vacation. My nurse manager came to me last week complaining that I don't come in on my days off. I just reminded her how she denied EVERYONE'S summer vacation and she was going to Croatia in two weeks on vacation. She just turned around and walked away, I guess enough said.
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Karou
700 Posts
I do not feel guilty.
When I was an LVN in LTC I was much more naive and felt obligated to say yes. After a while I realized that I was the only one picking up these extra shifts for emergency call offs (I even came in on Christmas, my one holiday scheduled off that year). Ever since that job I have never felt guilty for saying no. It's too easy to get taken advantage of.
It is not your responsibility to get those shifts covered. If you keep picking up, management won't see that they need to actually do something about their understaffing. They either need a larger resource/float pool or start using agency nurses. Is a problem that they need to address, they won't be permanently fixed by coworkers picking up extra shifts/covering.
It is not YOUR fault they are understaffed, it's managements fault for understaffing.