How To Say No

allnurses Guide · May 12, 2005

I always say" thanks for asking, but no I can't."
You don't need to say why - it's not public knowledge.

It just takes some practice . . . . :)

steph

CathRN · May 12, 2005

I apologize for laughing as I read these posts. As a new LVN, I always helped out and went in to work, then as I was taking my pre-req's and RN school, I went "prn". The phone was always ringing. I became a pro at refusing. They still call, but they know when they get the machine, no matter how desparate they sound, I may or may not call back.

As a new graduate, my nurse manager really took advantage of me. She even tried to tell me that she could add days to my schedule and I needed to check it daily to see if there were any changes. I tolerated that for a while (she told me it was critical need basis), then when talking with some of the other nurses, I found out that the nurse manager always did this until confronted. She tried changing my schedule again one day and I politely but firmly explained to her that I was no longer going to be her "fill in", that she would need to find someone else of come out of her office and work the floor herself, because I would only be available for my regular rotation, no more. After a lot of sputtering and getting very angry with me, she backed off and since then we have become friendly.

Like all the other posters have said, get caller ID, answering machine and take your cell phone number off of the lists.

Good Luck

fergus51 · May 12, 2005

"Can you come in tonight for an extra shift?"

"No, thanks for asking."

That's the whole conversation. I don't apologize, I don't make excuses, I do not tell them my plans. What I do with my own time is my business.

Mystery5 · May 12, 2005

"Sorry, I have other plans" (yeah, to watch my flowers grow )

"I'd love to help, but I just can't manage it today" (or any other, for that matter)

"Oh, that wouldn't be possible today, sorry" (Maybe the DNS can help out!:chuckle )

"Thanks for thinking of me, but I can't today" (All this kindness is killing me!:angryfire )

"I'm washing my hair today..." (LOL) :lol2:

"Not tonight, I have a terrible headache" :saint:

"Sorry, I don't accept solicitations over the phone...Oh, this is work, not a telemarketer?"

Gee, I'd love to help, but I just drank two beers...:cheers:

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 12, 2005

alright, the phone is always ringing, and there are always messages on my cell. i want to go in and help out, but most weeks i've already answered the call and gone in for someone or another, or am scheduled to pick up someone elses shift. if you have to or want to say no how do you get it done? i tend to ramble on about what i have to get done that day, or say i've already picked up a shift this week for someone else, but no matter what i hang up feeling like a sludge. what's your "no, i'm sorry i can't work" speech? thank you!

caller id and an answering machine work -- i never answer the phone unless i know who is calling and it's someone i want to talk to. work goes to the answering machine, and i don't usually "remember" to return their calls, either! as far as how to say no? "no, i'm sorry." works really well. it's your time, and you don't owe them any explanations!

EyesForward · May 12, 2005

OK, I see I need to toughen up! But...has anybody experienced any repercussions for saying no, such as negative feedback during evaluation time for "not being a team player", and so on? Thanks everybody whose answered so far. Cool answers, especially "I've had two beers" (which is probably true half the time!) :beer:

Mystery5 · May 12, 2005

Nope, none. I make up for it by always showing up on time and having an extremely low absenteism rate. :coollook:

Just remember, you don't need an excuse, other than the fact that you didn't plan for this, had other plans, can't make it, or are busy... (potting flowers and walking the dog...:chuckle )

I told my manager that I had 'been advised by my priest' not to take any additional shifts. Who can argue with that??? :coollook:

dbsn00 · May 12, 2005

Caller ID - one of the best inventions ever made.

I turn the ringer off on my phone EVERY time I'm off the next day (& EVERY time there is a message left asking if I can come in). I used to have a hard time saying no to extra shifts when I first started - my excuses/reasoning for not wanting the extra shift just didn't seem to be "valid" enough for the supervisiors, & I have no children so I was always one of the first asked. Now I just say "sorry, no" with no further details given. Let them call someone who didn't already work that day or better yet, :chuckle let a manager or the supervisior stay!

labornurse · May 12, 2005

There are repercussions on my unit. Don't come in, and you can count on being on call or floated for your next shift. Does come up in evaluation. A lot of people didn't get their 3% raise because "they weren't team players." They still wonder why they offer a sign on bonus but no one will bite:uhoh3:

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 12, 2005

It also might help you new grads or newer employees to realize that one reason they're pushing you to fill those extra shifts is that you are working for less pay than the nurses with more seniority.

So if you do want to fill an extra shift, try to get them to sweeten the pot a little. They just might.

In the meantime, I use caller ID because I'm easy to persuade when I'm tired or when I'm just waking up, and I've been talked into doing extra shifts and regretted it later. I tell people at work that I turn my phones off on my day off so I can rest, so it's useless to call me anyway.

Mulan · May 12, 2005

There are repercussions on my unit. Don't come in, and you can count on being on call or floated for your next shift. Does come up in evaluation. A lot of people didn't get their 3% raise because "they weren't team players." They still wonder why they offer a sign on bonus but no one will bite:uhoh3:

Sounds to me like another good reason for caller ID and answering machine. They certainly couldn't prove you ever even heard the message, or maybe you didn't get the message until the shift was already over with.

That's the story and I'm sticking to it! :lol2:

I'd be sure to write that on the bottom of the evaluation, never got the message(s).

Celia M, ASN, RN · May 12, 2005

When I wasa a staff nurse I just said "No sorry". Now I'm a manager when I call people to work extra I try not to sound desperate or make them feel guilty even if they're my last hope. I hope that if I do that may be the next time I call and they're free to help they will come in rather than saying no 'cos I didn't ask politely the previous time. These are your days off, you're entitled to them and no should be sufficient. Of course I do like the "I've had a couple of beers" excuse I remember using a similar one when a supervisor wouldn't take no for an answer :rolleyes: