I don’t want to work extra!

2BS Nurse, BSN · Oct 11, 2021

Yes, it's typically the rural areas that have less jobs.The big systems by me have Hundreds of job postings. In any other non health care industry, you might have to move to find a good job. Why should it be different for nursing?

I like Camillemm's 3 rules above. I worked with a martyr who would pick up extra shifts and then run around complaining about it. You have to learn to ignore that ish!

toomuchbaloney · Oct 11, 2021

On 10/9/2021 at 6:05 PM, Hoosier_RN said:

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

Are you still anticipating that some of your coworkers are going to leave their positions over vaccination mandates?

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 11, 2021

2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

Are you still anticipating that some of your coworkers are going to leave their positions over vaccination mandates?

All of my coworkers are now vaccinated, but many in area LTCs aren't. The hospital staff are at a high vax% at all 3, so I'm not really concerned. But I see it being a major concern for some

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Oct 11, 2021

On 10/1/2021 at 1:26 AM, 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?

Caller ID and voicemail are your friend. Obligations outside work when asked to stay later when you just can’t do any more…I’m not saying don’t help out here and there-you may need a favor some day too, but never feel guilted to stay or do more- it will burn you out and quick

Leonardo Del Toro, RN · Oct 12, 2021

19 hours ago, NurseSpeedy said:

Caller ID and voicemail are your friend. Obligations outside work when asked to stay later when you just can’t do any more…I’m not saying don’t help out here and there-you may need a favor some day too, but never feel guilted to stay or do more- it will burn you out and quick

I'm done with the helping out BS. I've been helping out since day one. Doing an extra shift here, coming 3 hrs earlier, living late, and working on days off. They have demolished their welcome. Used our nice nature to death. Hire more nurses. Oh, there is no nurses to hire? What about paying more? What about providing a nice working environment? Try that, it might work.

No, I'm done filling the holes. By default, I'm already murdered and used every single shift I do. I don't ever take brakes, no down time, just work, work, work. Very unsatisfying work that has very little to do with what I though would be what nurses do. It's like working in a office but in the middle of the street with all the noise and people interrupting you. It's disgusting.

They knew this shortage was coming. They even received federal funds to address it. Did they do it? Did we see any of that money? Did they secure more nurses when they were still available? No, I'm not sorry. There is nothing to be sorry about. Health care is a for profit business and not a public service in this country. I don't work on HR, therefore, it is not my job to keep a facility well staffed. THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM.

This whole system is about to collapse and everyone is about to find out that nurses are the backbone of this business. And when it does, there will be change because someone will have to step in and take charge. Then and there, they will finally will have to listen to nurses.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 12, 2021

On my day off, I don't handle them at all if I can help it. My manager is awesome about not bugging us on days off or vacation. I am truly lucky. But I have worked places where they would. not. leave. us. alone. I just would not answer.

Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN · Oct 13, 2021

On 10/5/2021 at 7:00 AM, 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.

Last time I looked, nursing supervisors were RNs. You give the supervisor report, and then you go. It is not abandonment if you do not agree to stay. It’s the hospitals job to staff their units. Exceptions are made for bona fide emergencies, like a mass casualty or natural disaster, but generally speaking unless your contract allows mandates without your prior consent, it’s not your problem if they can’t do what it takes to have adequate staffing— call an agency, offer somebody a ridiculous amount of money to stay or come in, or close beds, for example.
I am old enough to remember the time before cell phones and the exciting advent of answering machines. Boy oh boy, did that make avoiding the staffing office calls easier. Revolutionized staffing overnight.

Leonardo Del Toro, RN · Oct 13, 2021

44 minutes ago, Hannahbanana said:

It is not abandonment if you do not agree to stay. It’s the hospitals job to staff their units.

Meaning, you don't have to stay if you don't agree? I often have to stay and work 16hs because the NOC nurse calls off and no replacement is sent. It is a given well established practice. No need to replacement whatsoever.

But lately I've became very intolerant of this. It's pure agony not know if you will have to do a double. It's painful. Short staff also led to another weird practice: on your Friday it's totally OK to do a double because you don't have to work the next day. So, lot's of schedule holes are covered that way. What? It ruins your only day off! I'm thinking of not doing this anymore to see what happens. No NOC nurse. I'll call the DON and leave. What would happen. Get fired. This might be the only way.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 13, 2021

9 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

Last time I looked, nursing supervisors were RNs. You give the supervisor report, and then you go. It is not abandonment if you do not agree to stay. It’s the hospitals job to staff their units. Exceptions are made for bona fide emergencies, like a mass casualty or natural disaster, but generally speaking unless your contract allows mandates without your prior consent, it’s not your problem if they can’t do what it takes to have adequate staffing— call an agency, offer somebody a ridiculous amount of money to stay or come in, or close beds, for example.
I am old enough to remember the time before cell phones and the exciting advent of answering machines. Boy oh boy, did that make avoiding the staffing office calls easier. Revolutionized staffing overnight.

Not everyone works in the direct hospital setting--LTC, acute dialysis, etc--and a supervisor is not always there later in the day at shift changes. I remember before cell phones as well. Some never answered their phones then either. I had one that took her phone off the hook after her kids got in for the evening. She admitted at retirement that her kids called and did a special ring pattern, so she'd know to answer

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 13, 2021

9 hours ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

Meaning, you don't have to stay if you don't agree?

No. Someone still has to accept responsibility for your patients. Yes, you can get fired, but if you get reported to your state BON, you could lose your license to practice and not work in healthcare again. Calling your DON does not constitute giving report, the person needs to be present

allnurses Guide · Oct 13, 2021

10 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

offer somebody a ridiculous amount of money to stay or come in

Yep!

Leonardo Del Toro, RN · Oct 13, 2021

2 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

No. Someone still has to accept responsibility for your patients. Yes, you can get fired, but if you get reported to your state BON, you could lose your license to practice and not work in healthcare again. Calling your DON does not constitute giving report, the person needs to be present

Yes, they get you there. Good job, the taste of victory is theirs, but only for a few hours until they realize you called off for your next shift. Now is somebody else's turn. Good lord I hate this s***