I hate going to work because I never know if I will get out on time. Anyone feel this way

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Aug 22, 2016

Where are your supervisors?

heron, ASN, RN · Aug 22, 2016

Also, it kind of comes with the territory - although I agree that you are right to expect to be relieved on time barring a true emergency. I, too, wonder what your supervisors are up to.

In general, though, working as a health caregiver at any level is not like working in a factory where you can simply turn off the machines, dim the lights and leave with no harm done. Shyte happens when it happens and the time clock does not trump a code.

kida123 · Aug 22, 2016

Managers I believe normally come in between 8:30am and 9am. I completely understand and know with nursing comes unpredictable things and you do not always come out on time, but if it is the same people every single shift half an hour to forty five minutes late, then it bothers me. Our manager is known for being relaxed , but maybe he is too relaxed.

allnurses Guide · Aug 22, 2016

Well, I can certainly understand your frustration if you have to catch a bus and get to school and all of that.

Time for a reality check though. I've worked in numerous hospitals, nursing homes... I'm trying to think of a nice way to say this and I'm having a hard time so... don't expect that "passion" and "professionalism" from your coworkers. For many techs, their job is just that, a job. A way to pay the bills. They don't necessarily want to crawl out of bed and get to work on time and if they are continuously allowed to be late, they are going to do so. Heck, many NURSES are the same way. The only thing you can do is complain to your supervisor about the constant late coworkers, and that you have to be somewhere. It isn't fair to you, you are right, especially when you make an effort to get to work on time. But if you don't complain, nothing is going to change.

Like I said, there are plenty of nurses who like to show up late as well, so the problem isn't necessarily going to go away after you become a nurse.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Aug 22, 2016

Another point to consider is staffing altogether. If you were pulled to sit, then obviously they didn't have any sitters available. The staffing coordinator has to check the other floors to see which is better staffed to lose a tech, in addition to trying to call someone in. That process takes time because, unfortunately, they too have to wait to see who actually shows up to work. As far reaching someone on a scheduled day off, well, good luck with that. (I,too, am one who doesn't answer or return calls on MY time). If the tech does not report (or was cancelled due to census prior to the development of a sitter-type situation), it will affect your relief time.

If they agree to come in on a day off, most don't jump right up, rushing to get out the door as they would had they simply overslept. This will affect your relief time if management doesn't step up (as you've indicated in your post).

It is not uncommon for techs to be pulled from assigned duties to sit with a patient well into any given shift. When that happens at my hospital job, the only tech we may have is pulled to sit, leaving us to do total care on all of our assigned patients. That means that nobody gets off on time.

Trust me when I tell you that we hate that you were pulled as much, if not more, than you do. Heaven knows I do!!

nutella, MSN, RN · Aug 22, 2016

You need to discuss this with the manager. First of all you should be paid for the time you stay longer but secondly, there needs to be some form of rule about going at the end of your shift. If you work on the floor as a general tech it should not be a problem to get out and your manager needs to ensure that the person who is coming after you is there on time. If you are a sitter it can be more difficult - if a 1:1 needs to be replaced you can not just go. Some places where I worked the sitter would just call the RN and tell the RN that they would leave now because it is the end of the shift. That resulted in the RN stuck in the room but it also quickly resulted in the supervisor / manager figuring out where the next tech is...

malamud69, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2016

Reality check...modern medical care...24/7/365...perpetual...forever ahead and as far back as you'll ever remember...shift hours are guidelines...accept it...do The work...don't ever submit to management horse****...never work for free...and get that extra money!

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 22, 2016

People who are chronically late are disrespectful and selfish. There are always a couple of them in the bunch and management always seems to turn a blind eye to it.

I am never late to work unless there is an emergency which in 17 years, has been twice.

I hate that some people feel they are the "exception" and can just show up whenever they damn well choose.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Aug 24, 2016

As a tech, you should expect to be out on time. Now when you become a nurse, that is a whole other story there. The only thing that I can think of is that they are trying to find someone to pull to replace you . I think reminding your nurse know that on this day you need to be out on time for classes will help a lot. She or the charge can then make it a priority to make sure they have someone to replace you.

brownbook · Aug 24, 2016

There has to be someone in management you can report this to. Someone is paying you overtime, and someone should be noting that certain employees are consistently clocking in late!

What you are reporting is inexcusable and nothing to do with the reality check of a 24/7 job.

Sure a patient who codes, needs assistance to go to the bathroom, starts throwing up, etc., at change of shift makes getting out on time hard. But that is an entirely different issue from staff for the next shift simply coming in late for work!