I don’t want to work extra!

[missnursingstudent19]

Lately it seems like I’m always being asked to stay late, come in early, or work on my off days because people keep calling out. I just want to work my scheduled shifts and be left alone, but I hate to say no when I’m asked to work extra. Anyone else feel the same way? How do you handle it? 

[klone, MSN, RN]

You don't answer the phone when you're not at work, and when you are approached at work, you say "I'm sorry, I can't stay late because I already have plans."

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

For real! You can't stop the calls, texts, or other requests, but you are always allowed to say no, short and sweet, no explanation needed. Only pick up if you genuinely want to, not because you feel guilty. I also occasionally offer to come off another day to work the requested shift instead, so being flexible while not picking up extra is also sometimes an option.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Nope. Don’t have/never had that problem. Your coworkers don’t, either. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

2 hours ago, klone said:

when you are approached at work, you say "I'm sorry, I can't stay late because I already have plans."

That doesn't always work, as sometimes, no one will come relieve you. If you leave at that point, it becomes abandonment. I've always known that my clock out time isn't guaranteed. It's the suckiest thing about healthcare

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

On 9/30/2021 at 10:26 PM, missnursingstudent19 said:

Lately it seems like I’m always being asked to stay late, come in early, or work on my off days because people keep calling out. I just want to work my scheduled shifts and be left alone, but I hate to say no when I’m asked to work extra. Anyone else feel the same way? How do you handle it? 

Welcome to my life. I'm thinking about quitting working in a facility for this very reason. I find that I can never just work my scheduled hours. There are always the 12 and 16 double shift all night horrors. I'm so sick of it. I call off for every hour I'm required to do overtime, but that doesn't work either because I don't like the torture of not knowing when I will be asked to do overtime. What kind of nursing related job would not have this?

[JKL33]

3 minutes ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

I call off for every hour I'm required to do overtime

?

I would probably think of another solution, personally. I don't sully my professional/employee record due to others' poor decisions.

But I do like your creativity, as this sounds an awful lot like "if you call in on a weekend you will have to make it up," and I tend to be partial to people getting a dose of their own medicine.

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

2 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

?

I would probably think of another solution, personally. I don't sully my professional/employee record due to others' poor decisions.

But I do like your creativity, as this sounds an awful lot like "if you call in on a weekend you will have to make it up," and I tend to be partial to people getting a dose of their own medicine.

I can't think of any other way to protect myself from being robbed of my personal time. 

[JKL33]

5 minutes ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

I can't think of any other way to protect myself from being robbed of my personal time. 

You gotta get another iron in the fire, pronto. Back-up plans. Then next time they tell you you're being mandated, say, "I am able to stay today. I will be giving notice of resignation if you mandate me again in the next [#] of [days, weeks, months, etc]. Then do it. ??

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

11 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

You gotta get another iron in the fire, pronto. Back-up plans. Then next time they tell you you're being mandated, say, "I am able to stay today. I will be giving notice of resignation if you mandate me again in the next [#] of [days, weeks, months, etc]. Then do it. ??

That's true. I should do something like that. However, I know all other facilities are like that, specially right now. So what gives. I should look for a part time job and fill in the days I want, and there will always be those. I like wound care, maybe I should work with wound care for a couple of agencies and make my own schedule. I need to do something soon.

[Olivelove20]

Don't answer the phone when you are off if it's someone from your job calling. Period.

When you are at work and they ask you to stay over, stay if you want, if you don't, be upfront, tell them "sorry, I can't" and leave it at that. It's the Supervisors/Leaderships problem to get shifts covered/come in if they can't. Not yours. They may cry abandonment, but your shift is done and it's up to them. They are being paid way more than you - not to mention they are home with their families or doing whatever they want to do while you are working over 12 hours - which isn't safe for you or the patients. And, most likely know in advance they need someone to cover the shifts. As long as nurses are guilted/bullied into staying the powers that be will sit on their laurels and do nothing more than shake the saber.

There are PLENTY of other jobs out there, especially now. Take care of yourself because your job certainly won't. You have nothing to feel guilty about.

Hospitals, long term care facilities, etc. and  the corporate machines have created this mess. Not nurses, not covid, not anything other than greed. It's only in the past 1-2 yrs it's all come to ahead.

I assure you, your place of employment needs you way more than you need them. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

12 hours ago, Olivelove20 said:

They may cry abandonment

If you leave with no replacement in place, it is abandonment,  whether your scheduled shift has ended or not. Your state entity will only care that you left patients without entrusting them into the care of another qualified caregiver. There may be plenty of places hiring, but if an employer does report you for abandonment, you won't be eligible to work any of them