On my off days, I make sure that I am getting plenty of rest, because I am a nurse and my duties at the floor requires my full attention.
So when I have to come in during my "off days" so that one of you who mysteriously calls out sick for the entire weekend, placing a call on Friday afternoon saying that you will be sick on Saturday and Sunday..
have no doubt that you have caused ill feelings and I hope that your words will come true for you. ?
I'm just not mean enough to place a "sick call" on the day that you're scheduled to be "on call." Maybe I would, but no..I'm not that mean. Although, it would be sweet. To see a cluster of your "off days," and placing a sick call just to get even with you.
But I live with a honor system. So what do I do? I join Allnurses to rant my feelings here.
But who is actually "forcing" you to come in? Why make yourself a martyr to a job?
In my particular situation, management is constantly hounding and guilting us (those who don't habitually call off that is) to stay over, work extra....to cover these shifts. It's subtly, but constantly hinted at that we're somehow lesser employees because we choose not to work beyond our designated 40 hours-not "team players". It get's real old. Why not place the onus of blame on the employees who created the problem in the first place and address it head on??? Now, I get it, if you have a legitimate reason(s), that's a whole different story, but trust me, that what I'm referring to here.
They "are" separate. In my hospital. And all the other hospitals in the area as well.
Sick days accumulate in hours comparable to the PTO hours that accumulate.
People use the PTOs accordingly, placing them before the schedule is planned and set in calendar.
Sick days..as it implies, is used for sick days.
But people are using them just to get the entire weekend off. ? But I don't care anymore. As I have stated, I just used this site to rant my feelings and I'm feeling neutral now.
But have no doubt. If that nurse ever asks me for shift changes or a "favor," my answer will be a no.
Not at the last hospital I worked in. And I don't think they should be separate.
Hire adequate per diem staff, staff units appropriately, offer good differential pay for weekends and it's not an issue.
I agree with this^^^This would serve as a deterrent for those who habitually call off and would extend the vacation time for those who didn't. I also like the idea of merit raises being influenced by sick time use.
In my particular situation, management is constantly hounding and guilting us (those who don't habitually call off that is) to stay over, work extra....to cover these shifts. It's subtly, but constantly hinted at that we're somehow lesser employees because we choose not to work beyond our designated 40 hours-not "team players". It get's real old. Why not place the onus of blame on the employees who created the problem in the first place and address it head on??? Now, I get it, if you have a legitimate reason(s), that's a whole different story, but trust me, that what I'm referring to here.
I get that, but what I'm saying is that learning to say "no" is a helpful skill here. Succumbing to guilt by management helps no one but management. Of course it gets old, nurses keep saying yes so management keeps guilting. But what are they actually going to do, fire you and then be even shorter staffed?
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
The real problem here is that you are on call for weekends. That is management's solution to frequent callouts over the weekend and that sucks for you. But it's cheaper and easier for them to do it that way. Instead of it being their problem that no one wants to work on the weekend, it is your problem.
A real solution would be to offer incentive pay, a Baylor program or something else to make the weekend attractive. This respects the integrity of the unit culture. People are miserable working when they don't want to.
If you look at your coworkers as the problem, you can't improve the actual working conditions.
A good work ethic means you get some feeling of value from working. It doesn't mean you feel miserable about working but do it anyway. Poor compensation and overwork bring down the work ethic of an individual.
I get that, but what I'm saying is that learning to say "no" is a helpful skill here. Succumbing to guilt by management helps no one but management. Of course it gets old, nurses keep saying yes so management keeps guilting. But what are they actually going to do, fire you and then be even shorter staffed?
I do say 'no'-trust me that's not a skill that I need to work on. I'm just really resenting the fact that nurses who chose not to work over are impugned and somehow made to feel that they're crappy employees for not being the Bandaid solution to this chronic problem. I also really find it ironic that at 5:00 P.M., all of the nurse managers make for the door like the great Wildebeast migration. Where are they at at 02:00 A.M. to cover the graveyard call in?
The real problem here is that you are on call for weekends. That is management's solution to frequent callouts over the weekend and that sucks for you. But it's cheaper and easier for them to do it that way. Instead of it being their problem that no one wants to work on the weekend, it is your problem.
A real solution would be to offer incentive pay, a Baylor program or something else to make the weekend attractive. This respects the integrity of the unit culture. People are miserable working when they don't want to.
If you look at your coworkers as the problem, you can't improve the actual working conditions.
A good work ethic means you get some feeling of value from working. It doesn't mean you feel miserable about working but do it anyway. Poor compensation and overwork bring down the work ethic of an individual.
I agree sort of. Sigh, but I'll just remain quiet. As someone else pointed out, it's not wise to have a huge sign on my back by "rattling the system."
But lessons learned though. ? I will never place myself on calls for weekends that "suspect nurse" is on duty.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
On 4/28/2019 at 1:37 PM, KonichiwaRN said:
I agree sort of. Sigh, but I'll just remain quiet. As someone else pointed out, it's not wise to have a huge sign on my back by "rattling the system."
But lessons learned though. ? I will never place myself on calls for weekends that "suspect nurse" is on duty.
I understand. If you live in a "right to work" state, where the law doesn't really support unions, it's pretty much impossible to negotiate this kind of stuff.
If you have a union, you get a better deal. We had very generous PTO at my hospital, even regular part time employees got substantial PTO. Weekend rates for per diem staff were so high that we really did not have a problem with weekend staff.
And staffing was management's responsibility as it should be.
You are on call, right? So it’s not actually your day off. Am I reading correctly that you signed up for this on call? Expect to be called in any time you are on call. It’s that simple.
If you don’t want to work extra, then don’t. Again, it’s simple.
It’s not your job to guess about why someone is calling out. I have called out two days in advance before. I knew I would not be better in two days and it was easier on staffing for them to know in advance. Think GI situations. Or when I hurt my back.
It’s their sick time do with as they please. You have no say so in the matter.
.thumb.jpg.e7b5bd336d518053002d5b4dbeef882b.jpg){kind=small}
guest974915
275 Posts
In my particular situation, management is constantly hounding and guilting us (those who don't habitually call off that is) to stay over, work extra....to cover these shifts. It's subtly, but constantly hinted at that we're somehow lesser employees because we choose not to work beyond our designated 40 hours-not "team players". It get's real old. Why not place the onus of blame on the employees who created the problem in the first place and address it head on??? Now, I get it, if you have a legitimate reason(s), that's a whole different story, but trust me, that what I'm referring to here.