I don’t want to work extra!

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

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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? 

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 10/3/2021 at 6:33 PM, Leonardo Del Toro said:

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

Call offs can come back to bite you and can get you fired. When I am asked to work over and I can I do. After all it's double time for me. But I do not answer my phone at all when I am off at home. All calls are screened and I only talk to family or friends.

hppy

4 Votes
Specializes in Adult.
3 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

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

Yes, I should've qualified my statement..

1 Votes

     Like others, I just don't answer my phone-my off days are my time-quote; "Your failure to plan does not constitute and emergency on my part."  Personally, I don't want to even work the minimum number of hours that I'm required, let alone, more.  Also, my tactic for the coworkers that are constantly at you to change shifts, or "can you just cover this one Saturday?"....I don't commit and instead say 'I'll think about it' or 'I'll check my schedule'.   Most of the time, those people move on shortly (find someone else or change plans) and don't bring it up again.

4 Votes
On 10/3/2021 at 9:24 PM, Leonardo Del Toro said:

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?

I think Case Management would not require you to pull doubles. I'm thinking of leaving bedside too, I'm so tired of being stuck at work , especially if I am already exhausted and don't feel good.  

1 Votes

 I don't feel staffing issues are my problem to deal with. Management gets paid big bucks and bonuses to figure those things out. I just say, "no, I can't work extra." No apologies and no feeling bad about using the word no. 

7 Votes

1.  I never answer a phone call from work when I am at home. Never.

2.  When at work and am asked to work overtime I say no.  I don't give excuses or explanations. Just, "no, sorry, I can't."

3.  Never volunteer for extra shift. Ever.

4. Practice the first 3 and eventually they stop asking you.  Works for me.  I never work extra or do overtime. But I am dependable, do a great job when I am at work.  Rarely call out.  I just don't want to work any extra.  40 hours a week pays my bills and supports my lifestyle.

4 Votes
Specializes in ED, Critical Care.
12 hours ago, Camillemm said:

1.  I never answer a phone call from work when I am at home. Never.

2.  When at work and am asked to work overtime I say no.  I don't give excuses or explanations. Just, "no, sorry, I can't."

3.  Never volunteer for extra shift. Ever.

4. Practice the first 3 and eventually they stop asking you.  Works for me.  I never work extra or do overtime. But I am dependable, do a great job when I am at work.  Rarely call out.  I just don't want to work any extra.  40 hours a week pays my bills and supports my lifestyle.

I can't say it any better than this. I rarely if ever pick up extra work and I don't trade shifts either. 

1 Votes
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 10/5/2021 at 7:28 AM, morelostthanfound said:

     Like others, I just don't answer my phone-my off days are my time-quote; "Your failure to plan does not constitute and emergency on my part."  Personally, I don't want to even work the minimum number of hours that I'm required, let alone, more.  Also, my tactic for the coworkers that are constantly at you to change shifts, or "can you just cover this one Saturday?"....I don't commit and instead say 'I'll think about it' or 'I'll check my schedule'.   Most of the time, those people move on shortly (find someone else or change plans) and don't bring it up again.

I used to have a friend who when asked to do extra hours or change shifts would answer, "Let me pray on that and get back to you!"

Hppy

3 Votes
Specializes in Community health.
On 10/4/2021 at 6:24 PM, Olivelove20 said:

There are PLENTY of other jobs out there, especially now. 

This, this.  I know not everybody can just up and quit.  However-- I was recently in the job market because I switched my primary job to per diem. I filled out online applications for maybe eight jobs, in a variety of outpatient clinics, home health, and one hospital.  I got calls to interview at every single one of them.  This has never happened to me before-- not in nursing, or in my pre-nursing first career.  If you are unhappy in your current role, and if you could reasonably swing a job change, now is the moment to do it.  And ask for more money while you're at it.

4 Votes
Specializes in Dialysis.
3 hours ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

This, this.  I know not everybody can just up and quit.  However-- I was recently in the job market because I switched my primary job to per diem. I filled out online applications for maybe eight jobs, in a variety of outpatient clinics, home health, and one hospital.  I got calls to interview at every single one of them.  This has never happened to me before-- not in nursing, or in my pre-nursing first career.  If you are unhappy in your current role, and if you could reasonably swing a job change, now is the moment to do it.  And ask for more money while you're at it.

Depends on your location. The 3 area hospitals have 0 nursing offerings. Home health 0. In fact, the only listing I could find was 1 for my clinic, and 2 for a sister clinic, within an hour drive

0 Votes
Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.
37 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Depends on your location. The 3 area hospitals have 0 nursing offerings. Home health 0. In fact, the only listing I could find was 1 for my clinic, and 2 for a sister clinic, within an hour drive

That's right. In big centers they will never, never hire nurses. End of story. Only until the whole system collapses and maybe whatever is born from the ashes will hire nurses. The current corporate health care system in this country will never change. Never.

2 Votes
Specializes in Dialysis.
51 minutes ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

That's right. In big centers they will never, never hire nurses. End of story. Only until the whole system collapses and maybe whatever is born from the ashes will hire nurses. The current corporate health care system in this country will never change. Never.

I live in a rural area, not a big center. Most nurses have been at their jobs for years, and will die before they retire. New nurses have to travel an hour or more for work, except LTC 

0 Votes
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