How often do you get called and asked to work on days off?

[limonada]

Just curious. This happens to me a lot and it's pretty annoying. It has been happening to me several times a week. I usually say no. Just last week I was away for the weekend and I told them that when they called me on Friday afternoon, but they continued to call me all weekend-once on Saturday and twice on Sunday. I always let them leave a voicemail and then I call back later and say I can't do it. Anyway, is this common? And what do you do when they call you? Shouldn't they have some sort of relief pool, or have certain people be on call on certain days? I just think that would make more sense....

[beckster_01, BSN, RN]

It totally depends on staffing patterns. In the fall we over-hired in anticipation of some of the new grads transitioning to the ICU. I haven't gotten too many calls since then. In the summer we were running on minimum staffing every day, and I would get called about once a week. If no one takes a shift then our leadership has an on-call schedule, so one of them will come in.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

When short staffing occurs, most facilities require the hospital's staff to be contacted first..

before they can call in agency.

It is really just a formality.

What do I say when they call??? Hello ... talk to the answering machine. I would never pick up and give them the time of day.. it's my day OFF!

[Perpetual Student]

Pretty much never because I typically work every single day that my unit is "open" for elective business. I do sometimes get asked to start earlier/later to better fit the surgery schedule, which doesn't bother me. I'd rather be there when stuff is going down rather than to end up taking low census hours.

On my last job I got called pretty frequently because I was one of the few people that generally said "sure." What can I say, I love working. I'm pondering a second job once I get settled into my new house, just so I don't get bored.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

Oh they call all the time. I worked Friday and saturday night off sun and then back for mon, tue and wed.. Guess what, they called me sunday wanting to know it I would work.. Hahaha, um NO !!! Most of the time I don't even answer my phone, sometimes I do but still say NO. I have done my fair share of extra. This last pay period I had 96 hours. If I want to work, I sign up for extra shifts ahead of time. If something happens and some one is sick or had a family emergency I will pick up last minute but I rarely do it that way. I look forward to my days off :)

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Sometimes I get called once or twice a week, sometimes I go a few weeks without getting called. If I can't come in, I let it go to voicemail and thats that. If I accidentally answer it I simply say "no" (if it's my day off, that is all the answer they are entitled to).

If I am at work and we are short, it is very rare that someone comes in (can you blame them?). So, I'm guessing most people either ignore the call or say no.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Certain weeks, it's every shift, every day. Sometimes multiple calls in a single day. I don't answer and I don't do them any favors. Staffing is not my problem. Not to mention they never have anything good to offer. They call and say stuff like, "KelRN, how would you like to work 7P-7A tonight and then we'll take you off next Tuesday?" How does NO sound? If I'm already planning on working next Tuesday and I don't have anything to do then because I know I'm working, why would I want to drop everything and turn around and go to work tonight for no extra money? No thank you.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Everyday til I exploded on the staffing person. Calls stopped for some reason

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

Honestly, never. I guess that's one of the few things I like about my workplace.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

Staffing frequently calls me on my day off. I just don't answer the phone. Since the message says "call if you can come in", I don't return the call unless I want to go in. It doesn't bother me, if I want extra work, it's there. If not, I don't have to.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Sometimes if the other CN calls in sick and the back up is working the floor. Rarely I will say yes though. Technically, I'm suppose to work 3 days a week, 12 hr shifts.

However, I do a boatload of committees and such, so I'm usually going in on my day off. For instance next week. Monday is a day off. Well, I have a 1hr meeting to attend. I work the next three to only go back in on Friday for an hour long meeting on my day off...So if they call me next Saturday? I will say no. I'm not into working 6 days in a row! I once did 9 days in a row. NeVeR AgAiN!

[Good Morning, Gil]

All of the time before at my last job. Current job: never! I have heard a nurse or 2 say they got called in once, but that's only when there's multiple call offs, which is pretty rare. I can still pick up an OT when I want to (but not that many available since we're well staffed), and I love it. I work my schedule, and that's it.

However, if you're getting called in all of the time, you don't have to go in or feel guilty for saying "no." Your days off are your days off, and you will burn out and not be as compassionate at the bedside if you work every time they ask you to work. The benefits of that, though: you pretty much can work any extra shift you want to for some extra cash for vacation, shopping trip, etc, or savings, and get the extra pay and say no when you want the day off. But, you need your days off! So do not go in all of the time (unless you want to, that is).