I may have to quit

Published

Specializes in LTC.

I've been on the verge of tears all week. We have "self scheduling" at work so if we take time off other than calling in sick we have to find the people to cover our shifts. I did everything I was supposed to do for my upcoming vacation and just found out the girl I asked to cover for me didn't follow through and double booked herself for the days I'm gone. I've called every.single.one of our 23 PRN people and only a couple have called me back. I only have two shifts out of the four I need off covered. If I don't find someone to cover my two other shifts my vacation won't be approved.

Not going isn't an option. The hotel is paid for, my dad is taking time off work, I'm paying someone to take care of my bunny, and we're paying to make sure the car is ok to make a 20 hour drive. All of the money spent on this equals about two of my paychecks and I'm not willing to wash it down the drain. I feel like this is so unfair. I did what I was supposed to do, someone else screwed up, and I'm the one getting screwed over. Add to that, that I give, give, give all the time. I've very rarely said no when they were short staffed and needed someone. I don't get my lunch breaks very often because the hall I'm on is just way too busy. I've been sick and running a fever all week, but I put a face mask on, made sure to wash my hands even more than normal, and grinned and bared it because I knew my coworkers were taking time off and didn't want to make it harder on anyone else than it needed to be. I've been a good employee. I'm a good aid. I love my residents and the girls I work with. Thinking about leaving makes me want to cry, but what else can I do? The DON is aware of the situation, but isn't doing anything. The staffing coordinator has all but refused to help me find someone to cover for me. And the PRN people won't call me back.

The whole situation just sucks out loud. :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

where i work if you trade shifts with someone you both sign a paper. if they cant cover it for some reason it is their responsibility to get it covered again, not yours.

if i were in your situation i would talk to the don again and tell her just what youve said here, and ask her if she can try to get people to fill in. say it in a way to where she knows youre just not going to be there.

"i just cant find anyone thats willing to come in, they might come in for you im not sure. i just dont want you guys to be short those 2 days."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would assume they would just write you up, not fire you. Maybe the write up is worth the trip!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Just want to say I'm sorry for what you are going through. I tend to be the one that always follows the rules and don't call off etc but people do it to me all the time like my relief nurse falls asleep and no-shows twice in one week- they said "it's hard to get enough rest when you're on night shift!" Huh??? Or can you fill in for this person because blah blah blah bs story. :(

I think with your record you should be able to meet with your DON and not lose your job! I'm hoping for the best for you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health.

This could be a little risky, but have you thought of calling your local Bureau of Labor and Industries (or equivalent)? You did everything you needed to in order to have the shift covered, you did everything right, your coworker was at fault, and now you're expected to forgo a long-planned vacation because of this? I'd say if you don't want to quit one option would be to talk to the DON again as others have recommended and then if that doesn't go well call your local worker advocacy agency and see if they can call your DON on your behalf. I'm pretty sure as a worker you have a legal right to take pre-scheduled vacations and NOT to lose them because of coworkers double booking. The DON if reminded of this by a state or national worker's rights agency might change their tune.

Your DON could also get unhappy that you called in the cavalry, and try to take it out on you later, which would be illegal, so if that happened you could keep a careful record of the behavior and show it to BOLI. Or your DON could just forget about it, don't know, depends on their personality.

But in any case if you're thinking of quitting anyhow, you don't have much to lose.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation, especially considering all the crap you're dealing with now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

GO ON THE VACATION, THEY CANT RUN YOUR LIFE!!! DO NOT LET THEM TRAMPLE ALL OVER YOU BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN FROM NOW ON IF YOU LET IT START!!!!!

have fun on your vacation :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Take the vacation!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Go on vacation with the thought in mind that you will find a new job when you return. Don't let these people ruin your family's plans. More is at stake than your participation. They don't have any right to ruin your family's enjoyment of your company.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

did you go on the vacation, what happened?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

Yup, that happened to me. I needed to get a research paper done, and I asked a girl if she could switch shifts with me. She agreed, and I agreed to work her shift. Well, I worked her shift which was mornings, and when it came time for her to cover mine she didnt show up. She called in sick. I had no choice but to work a double. We didnt sign anything stating we would work for eachother so it was on me. And nobody else wanted to cover for me. Next time, have them sign a paper saying that they will work for you. I learned my lesson, and will never do that again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I understand how you feel. At the LTC care facility where I work, if we call in sick it's the nurse's responsibility to find a replacement, however we still get written up for calling out even for an illness. If you're scheduled to work on days that you want off, it is up to you to find someone to cover your shift.

I've only been working here for 4 months, but for some reason I've been sick about 50-75% of the time. I caught the flu before they offered the flu shot, and I only called out once during that time, of course I got written up for it. Since then I've gotten sick two more times, both times I ended up with a sinus infection and severe bronchitis. I just worked as usual and just did my best to cover up my coughing and incessant nose-blowing; I would just wash my hands all the time like crazy and OD on hand sanitizer, although working sick is hell and I felt awful exposing all the residents to my illness. However, I couldn't afford to not work so I had no choice!!! Since I didn't have medical benefits I couldn't afford to see a doctor either, so I just treated myself with homeopathic remedies. Finally I qualify for medical benefits, they just sent me my enrollment packet. I'm still determined not to call in sick ever again and be made to feel like a traitor. I have to say, for some reason I've never gotten sick so frequently in my life since I've been working in LTC.:grn:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion