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Nurses Stress 101

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Hi all! Just wondering what you guys think of this situation

I work at a clinic within a hospital. Usually 8-5pm. Took this job for better work life balance and to travel to do races (I do obstacle course racing and ultra running) - I was working 1900-0700 previously on med surg for 3 years 

I feel enormous pressure to pick up all the time. One time my manager took me into her office to talk because she said my Co-workers said to her I wasn’t being a team player by picking up extra (She even brought up the fact I live close and I should be able to pick up more). I explained to her I couldn’t pick up due to the fact my brother was getting married and we/my family were doing all the planning.. she brought this to my attention the actual week of my brother’s wedding. I was just told to explain to my cow workers the situation (they were more than a aware of it) I’m usually easy going and don’t get mad, but that irked me. I have been coming in early at least 2-3x week whenever I’m working without making a scene or anything (some of my co workers make a scene about coming in early).

lastly, I had a patient mention to me he heard my co workers making fun of me. I didn’t ask for details but said they were talking about someone else.
 

just wondering what your thoughts are.  This passive aggressiveness and feeling pressure has been taking a toll on me mentally. Thank you for reading!


 

Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

Nope, nope nope nope no. Never feel pressured to work extra. It is NOT an obligation on your behalf. I think it’s beyond inappropriate for your manager to bring it up to you and then tell you to explain it to your coworkers - you don’t owe the manager NOR your coworkers an explanation. I would personally be looking for another job, and if it gets brought up again I would be directly telling the manager how inappropriate it is. I would also stop working ANY extra at all just to prove a point. 

3 Votes

@JadedCPN thank you! Sometimes it seems like I’m given more work than my co workers. I looked at the daily schedule yesterday and I was 323% full... I felt like a chicken with its head cut off

1 Votes
Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

I work homecare, so the staffing pattern is different in that most of us work the same set days each week. Since I sometimes need a certain day off, meaning that someone else is needed for that day, I try to be flexible for others. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. 

Of course, that is not the same as trying to require me to work a lot of extra days. Jaded is right, that you do not have to explain why you say no. It's none of their business.

2 Votes
13 hours ago, Kitiger said:

I work homecare, so the staffing pattern is different in that most of us work the same set days each week. Since I sometimes need a certain day off, meaning that someone else is needed for that day, I try to be flexible for others. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. 

Of course, that is not the same as trying to require me to work a lot of extra days. Jaded is right, that you do not have to explain why you say no. It's none of their business.

Thank you!

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Who wants to be part of a team where your teammates are making fun of you?  Did you sign any contract that stipulates how much time you should work above your scheduled shift?  No?  Then no.

Try to figure out what you like about this job and see if you can find those characteristic elsewhere.

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