I don’t want to work extra!

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Oct 17, 2021

My employer made what I believe was a tactical error on their part recently. They were desperate enough to fill a couple of PCT shifts that they offered a $300 bonus to pick it up. Now that the PCT's know they are willing to go that high nobody will pick up a shift for less.

Now that the nurses know how big of a bonus they offered the PCT's to pick up no way no how are those open shifts being picked up for mere "critical needs" pay , oh I almost forgot the "afternoon shift differential" was also on the table, LOL! I don't really pick up extra anyway, but if they start throwing out a big enough number for a pick up bonus I will and at this point $300 isn't even big enough.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 17, 2021

1 hour ago, kbrn2002 said:

My employer made what I believe was a tactical error on their part recently. They were desperate enough to fill a couple of PCT shifts that they offered a $300 bonus to pick it up.

Not going on in my area. Critical needs pay at a handful of clinics. For $300, I'd sign on for 6-8 hours (average pct shift in my area). I'd even consider a couple of shifts at 300 per shift.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Oct 17, 2021

24 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Not going on in my area. Critical needs pay at a handful of clinics. For $300, I'd sign on for 6-8 hours (average pct shift in my area). I'd even consider a couple of shifts at 300 per shift.

Typical PCT shift in my clinic is about 10-11 hours, we are a ridiculously stable clinic most times but there were shifts open from PTO that weren't filled until they got desperate enough to offer the big bonus. We almost always have some kind of a bonus for picking up. I know there's some RN shifts coming up that haven't been filed yet, I'm holding out until the last possible minute. If they offer a big enough bonus I'll cover one or two, if not no big deal if somebody else wants the open shifts they can have them

Leonardo Del Toro, RN · Oct 17, 2021

3 hours ago, kbrn2002 said:

My employer made what I believe was a tactical error on their part recently. They were desperate enough to fill a couple of PCT shifts that they offered a $300 bonus to pick it up. Now that the PCT's know they are willing to go that high nobody will pick up a shift for less.

Now that the nurses know how big of a bonus they offered the PCT's to pick up no way no how are those open shifts being picked up for mere "critical needs" pay , oh I almost forgot the "afternoon shift differential" was also on the table, LOL! I don't really pick up extra anyway, but if they start throwing out a big enough number for a pick up bonus I will and at this point $300 isn't even big enough.

That's right. We have to adopt that same frame of mind in our facility. This thing about asking to be a team player, help out etc...is not flying anymore. Where is the incentive to work extra, but not more time, but in a much harder working environment and downright dangerous due to the lack of staff and trained staff? I'm asking for a substantial raise or else I'm checking out what the market is offering out there. Maybe I can work 3 days a week and make the same amount of money?

SilverBells, BSN · Oct 17, 2021

I used to also feel bad about not picking up, because it meant that my coworkers were working short-staffed and/or extra-long. However, that quickly subsided after picking up a few shifts that wound up being more hellacious than my normally scheduled shifts. I decided the stress and burnout wasn't worth the extra pay. As a unit manager, I am now salaried and now have even less incentive to pick up. I already work 50-70+ hours a week and would not get paid to come in during the weekends. There would be no benefit to me picking up at all as it would just lead me to becoming more burnt out and crabby, and there would be no additional compensation for that. Thus, I don't feel too bad on the weekends I receive a text message indicating that they are short...usually, I'm so exhausted I sleep through those messages anyway, and by the time I wake up, the issues are usually resolved.

Leonardo Del Toro, RN · Oct 18, 2021

3 hours ago, SilverBells said:

I'm so exhausted I sleep through those messages anyway, and by the time I wake up, the issues are usually resolved.

And for how long will these issues be resolved? I think we are going to have a melt down one of these days. When they finally realize the problem it will be too late.

NewRN'16, ADN, RN · Oct 30, 2021

On 10/12/2021 at 10:32 PM, 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 all places have supervisors. In many SNFs you're on your own, if you don't have relief, you're there to stay. ?

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 30, 2021

9 hours ago, NewRN'16 said:

Not all places have supervisors. In many SNFs you're on your own, if you don't have relief, you're there to stay. ?

The local hospitals in my area don't have supervisors at all hours of the day, other than house supervisors that don't take any patients due to need to circulate through facility and problem solve, assign patients in the admissions process, etc.

allnurses Guide · Oct 30, 2021

10 hours ago, NewRN'16 said:

Not all places have supervisors. In many SNFs you're on your own, if you don't have relief, you're there to stay. ?

Yes and no. I once told a SNF supervisor over the phone that I would be leaving in 1 hour, replacement or not and would alert the local media about the continued staff shortages. The supervisor showed up and I left. I still had my job the next day and the next and the next.

Hppy

nfahren05 · Oct 30, 2021

On 10/8/2021 at 9:26 AM, NewRN'16 said:

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.

No, doubles would not typically be an issue, but you will be asked to come in on off days. CM also works 7 days per week, and holidays (24/7 in some larger facilities).

Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN · Oct 30, 2021

10 hours ago, NewRN'16 said:

On 10/12/2021 at 10:32 PM, Hannahbanana said:

overnight.

Not all places have supervisors. In many SNFs you're on your own, if you don't have relief, you're there to stay. ?

But they do have owners and administrators, whose legal duties include providing adequate safe staffing. Bona fide emergencies aside, it’s their responsibility, not yours. Get your state nursing association’s support in this, or it will never change.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 30, 2021

1 hour ago, Hannahbanana said:

But they do have owners and administrators, whose legal duties include providing adequate safe staffing. Bona fide emergencies aside, it’s their responsibility, not yours. Get your state nursing association’s support in this, or it will never change.

Sadly, the state nursing associations and ANA don't give a rats butt, they're in the pockets of the owners/corporations. The only time that they make a statement is to throw "the negligent nurse" under the bus, then hit the gas. Then they investigate how to avoid again, and the blame always falls to the nurse. It's why healthcare is in the predicament that it's in. Owners/corporations don't care as long as the $$$ keep rolling in ???