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? 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

2 minutes ago, NotMyProblem MSN said:

Had one just like it!!???

The battery was the heaviest part and was only good for about an hour or two before it had to be recharges 

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

3 minutes ago, hppygr8ful said:

The battery was the heaviest part and was only good for about an hour or two before it had to be recharges 

The phone bill that came with mine was heavier than the battery!! Especially outgoing calls! I remember making calls and saying, hey, call me! Then hung up and waited for the call.??

 

[DesiDani]

I work extra only when it benefits me. If a charge who I'm in good terms with and I respect ask me I might, MIGHT say yes.

[NewRN'16, ADN, RN]

On 10/30/2021 at 9:48 AM, 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. 

Good idea, I've never through of that. We are not unionized, and of course I could call corporate and tell them what's happening but obviously it would be my last day there. 

[mtmkjr, BSN]

As a supervisor who spends an inordinate amount of time trying to cover short shifts, I would be grateful if someone would be honest with me and tell me that they do not want to be called on their day off. I would respect that and I really don't want to waste my time calling people who have no intention and working extra. I've even said before if you don't want to be called on your day off let me know, but no one ever does. 

And to those who say that we make the big bucks, or that we are home with our families while everyone else is working double shifts, that is not exactly the way things work out. Yes my base salary is higher but with all the huge bonuses and incentives that have been paid this year, I can guarantee you that staff nurse W2s will be much bigger than mine this year. And when I can't get a shift covered adequately guess who has to step in?

It's been a nightmare. I feel like I work in a very supportive hospital where management does care and yet we simply don't have adequate staffing and have depended heavily on travelers. This during the times when staff were out sick with covid or quarantined four family members, taking leaves of absence, FMLA, and who knows what. I am hopeful that things will improve in the field, with increased compensation for one thing.

In the meantime I keep plugging away one day at a time. Thankfully I do love my job but the current status quo is not sustainable

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

15 hours ago, mtmkjr said:

As a supervisor who spends an inordinate amount of time trying to cover short shifts, I would be grateful if someone would be honest with me and tell me that they do not want to be called on their day off. I would respect that and I really don't want to waste my time calling people who have no intention and working extra. I've even said before if you don't want to be called on your day off let me know, but no one ever does. 

And to those who say that we make the big bucks, or that we are home with our families while everyone else is working double shifts, that is not exactly the way things work out. Yes my base salary is higher but with all the huge bonuses and incentives that have been paid this year, I can guarantee you that staff nurse W2s will be much bigger than mine this year. And when I can't get a shift covered adequately guess who has to step in?

It's been a nightmare. I feel like I work in a very supportive hospital where management does care and yet we simply don't have adequate staffing and have depended heavily on travelers. This during the times when staff were out sick with covid or quarantined four family members, taking leaves of absence, FMLA, and who knows what. I am hopeful that things will improve in the field, with increased compensation for one thing.

In the meantime I keep plugging away one day at a time. Thankfully I do love my job but the current status quo is not sustainable

So justthis AM I get a text "Can you come in at 3 am tomorrow" I didn't even answer because I have been telling stafing since August that I am not available for any overtime on Mondays or Wednesdays due to a prior commitment.

 

 

[amoLucia]

mtmkjr - years ago, I DID have 1 CNA who just flat out told me NOT to call her EVER. Between us, we agreed I would cover for her and she would cover for me, but I HAD to say I TRIED calling her. It worked.

Didn't like that, in essence, I was fudging the truth. To those that did take the time to answer my ph call, I always thanked them for at least  answering my ph call. Even if they declined, I was appreciative.

For all of you out there who are complaining, just know that making those calls was one of my MOST detested, onerous tasks. It was NOT something I happily relished doing. I think I speak for 99.44% schedulers & supers.

[mtmkjr, BSN]

It's too bad when the workplace doesn't make note of what is going on in everyone's lives - I try to remember who is in school, who has another job who has children at home and can't get childcare on their off days, who lives a distance away, who is not interested in making extra money... Or when someone has just been called too many times I won't call them again. 

It's a shame when work-life balance isn't a priority.

amoLucia, that's shameful that they make you call people you know don't want to be called. I never feel that pressure thankfully, and if I did, I'd fudge as well.