I'm sick of, sick of it, SICK OF IT!

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 24, 2004

You have classified as a easy touch if they can get you on the phone and apply a little pressure. I would turn the ringer off and instruct the kids, ringer stays off until I am up for the day. I hope you have an answering machine too. Sounds like you do your share when the unit is in a pinch, tell the supervisor that you are not available for extra for awhile. I hope things calm down soon. GET SOME REST. Winter will be here soon.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jul 24, 2004

Wow, Nightowl... that truly does suk. How RUDE. SO not right.

Stick to your guns. It is THEIR problem... let THEM come in and do the med passes. :stone

ahearthealer · Jul 24, 2004

Until it is crystal clear that you mean "no" when you say"no", you will continue to be harrassed to "help out". I have been both the supervisor begging for help (and learned who I could "guilt" into working) and I have been the assertive staff nurse saying "no" and meaning it.

You also might want to consider lowering your expectations of others: just because you help out different shifts doesn't mean they are willing to help

yours.

Todd

pickledpepperRN · Jul 24, 2004

I noticed you work for the government.

Well, I want my tax money to be used to HIRE MORE NURSES.

You need your sleep and a family life too.

That kind of working short and working extra is driving nurses like you away.

MizzPrettyPilz · Jul 24, 2004

How awful! I think some nurses get into a management position and how soon they forget how hard it is on the floor! And the hospitals only care about only one thing.Not you, not your kids or anything else but covering the floor. Management needs to quit burning out nurses and look at the big picture. Nursing "ain't" all that attractive to college grads. That's why you don't have anybody to call. Long hours with low wages, abuse from family members and management politics kinda make you want to go into something else. How about making nurses feel like like a valuable part of the healthcare team....we are not mules or workhorses!!!

ZAHMAN · Jul 24, 2004

Thats really unfortunate the way they take advantage of people like you.

Instead of telling them NO, tell them you will come in for triple pay and stick to that amount. I bet they will soon realize how important it is to hire more nurses, increase the pay scale or more importantly your time off is to you and your family. Hope things go well.

ZAHMAN

pickledpepperRN · Jul 24, 2004

Thats really unfortunate the way they take advantage of people like you.
Instead of telling them NO, tell them you will come in for triple pay and stick to that amount. I bet they will soon realize how important it is to hire more nurses, increase the pay scale or more importantly your time off is to you and your family. Hope things go well.
ZAHMAN

Good idea. Often they are trying to avoid expensive registry or, God forbid a 'slow shift'

i took a class where the instructor said to say, "I would

if I could,

but I can't because

* I am too fatigued

* I would be prone to errors because of worry about my family

* Whatever is the truth.

Amazing how prefacing the true reason with "I would, if I could, but I can't" somehow placates them temporarily.

nurseygrrl, LPN · Jul 24, 2004

I feel for you. I go through the same thing where I work. I finally told management...Don't call me, I'll call you! I let THEM know when I am able to do OT and they better not call me otherwise unless it's the end of the world! I also hate it when I'm at work and they'll ask me to stay a second shift, and when I say no they ask 'Why not?' like it's their business. I don't feel I have to tell them 'why not'. Maybe it's as simple as I just don't feel like it. Sheesh!

nursbee04 · Jul 25, 2004

I was called in last evening to do OT @ 5:00. "Could you come in, the girls could really use you. They only have two nurses and they're really struggling." "Well ok, I'll get there as soon as I can." I get in and help them out, no problem. Now I have to work my night shift and we're short one nurse. "I have no one to send you, so you'll have to do without." So now we struggle. At 0430 it starts. "Could one of you stay and help out with just one med pass?" "Sorry, but NO!" Other nurse can't stay and I'm pooped! Super calls again at 0645. "I really could use one of you for one med pass." "Didn't you just ask us two hours ago? We're struggling here with all these meds and you're worried about day shift and their med pass? (Or are you really worried about CYA and the unit for staffing?) We already told you we
can't stay. I came in and helped evenings with their meds. We need help NOW, and got none and now you want me to stay and help day shift with their meds. You've got to be joking! I have to come back tonight!" {{click!}} I go home go to bed and my daughter wakes me up and says, "Mom, it's your work calling" as she stands over my bed holding the "ringing" portable phone with caller ID. The message said, "Hi, it's......Same senerio as last evening.....please call me when you get in." Yeah right! :rotfl:
I'm sick and tired of helping other shifts and when we need the help, it just doesn't happen. :stone It's just not fair. Did I mention I have another life? It's called "sleeping" :zzzzz because I'm too tired to do anything else???
That is all. Thanks for letting me rant.

I will come in and help out my shift only. Nurses from days and evenings NEVER help night shift out when asked. When I first started working, I was an easy yes, they knew they could make me feel guilty and I would cave. And if I did have to say no, I would still feel guilty. Not anymore. It works both ways, and anytime I would ask them to return the favor, all I got was a shrug and a "Just do your best" (I ALWAYS do my best!!! :angryfire ). It gets really old really fast. Good for you for sticking to your guns.

oramar · Jul 25, 2004

I have said this before but here is what I do. They do not have my everyday number at work. They do not have my cell number and they will never get it either. I have a land line, a second phone number and all my work calls come to it. One of the reasons I had to do this is because my husband has this compulsion to answer phones. Even if the I told him not to answer it because the caller ID said work he would pick it up. I have no trouble saying "NO" but the problem was that I was being woke up at odd hours and it was affecting my mental health. If I don't want to be bothered I turn the ringer off completely, believe me it is off a lot! Last job I had they tormented me just like they are doing you and I figured out how to put a stop to it.

night owl · Jul 25, 2004

It's hard to turn off that ringer when you have teenagers, I swear they turn it back on the minute they hear me snoring. :angryfire I never did call back and don't regret it either. I've been relaxing on MY computer before I have to go to work and fight with theirs which hardly ever works. Three meds carts and now ONE working computer for meds. Where's that head banging smilie???