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....

[dzadzey, MSN, RN]

The situation's gotten even worse since they took away incentive pay. We gotta pay our CEO's $1.8 million salary some how.

[paddler]

I get called at least 4 times a week to either pick up an extra shift or stay late for half a shift. I always say no unless I have nobody coming in to relieve me and I am forced to stay against my will. I hate it. I never need/want/accept offered overtime. It is apparently the norm for nurses where I work to pull doubles and come in any old shift on their days off. It's a team work thing, they say.

Well I feel no duty to "do my part" to cover staffing holes, because I show up for my shift and work my hours... period. If there are staffing holes it is not because of me, and therefore it's not my problem. Some of the staffing holes are known about weeks in advance when the schedule is made, yet they don't take preventive measures. I do feel guilty for always declining the extra work, but truth be told I don't even want to for full time, let alone overtime! On a few occasions when I have declined working a double, the on call administrator nurses have had to come in and work the floor. And they are salary, so you bet they aren't getting paid for it. And that sucks. But, maybe if THEY start ******** about the staffing something will get done? I just know it's not my problem and I did not create or contribute to the problem, so leave me alone on my days off.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I have 2 jobs and one of them calls me every single day. I never answer the phone because I have it set up so that it doesn't ring when this facility calls me.

I am normally a 7-3 person and they would call me at 10 o'clock at night, when I was already in bed, asking me to work 3rd shift. Then they would call me again at 4:30 in the morning wanting me to work 1st shift. I use my phone as an alarm clock so I'd have it by my bedside, and I couldn't even get 8 hours of sleep, and then I would be dead tired at my other job the next day.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

The situation's gotten even worse since they took away incentive pay. We gotta pay our CEO's $1.8 million salary some how.

You hit the nail on the head there. The hospitals &^%$* and moan that they can't hire more staff because of how bad the economy is and they're poor blah blah blah. Meanwhile, they're spending millions of dollars building an extension to the hospital (when they can't staff what they already have) and the CEO is bringing in well over a million dollars with a 6 figure bonus. My account in the favor bank is closed.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

That's it exactly. This problem could be solved. I find it impossible to feel sorry for these employers when so many CEO's make big dollars and you have thousands of people looking for work. Stop being so cheap and hire the staff! I don't want the overtime or the guilt.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

Some times every day off for a week or more. I even get 2 calls some days! Even on scheduled vacations. Either screen calls or say I can't come in.

[Perpetual Student]

I wish I got asked to work as often as some of you. I'd work every single day until my house is paid off.

[dzadzey, MSN, RN]

Be careful what you wish for. :)

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Then you should sign up with agency and work thru them part time. You'll get paid a whole lot better that way!