Is not answering the phone for work bad?

[CedarGirl10]

Okay so I work at a Long-term care Nursing home. My position is originally a (0.2), but I pick up as much as I can. I work around 2-3 times per week (8 hour shifts), go to college, currently studying for my NLN Pre entrance exam, and I recently accepted a tutoring job. Since we are short-staffed, I ALWAYS get called in. Lately every time they ask me if I can work I am either studying my butt off or not available. Also, whenever they call, I either don't answer or accidentally miss their call. If I was an actual RN and not have to worry about school, I would defiantly go for the extra hours.....but I am just a CNA so the pay doesn't phase me much since it's low anyhow. Sometimes I feel like everyone talks behind other peoples back when they don't pick up a shift, but how do they know about our personal lives?!

I feel so bad for saying no, but school is much more important to me at the moment. I don't want to stress myself out anymore than I have to.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

I would have either loved or hated this boss. I can't believe she thought to do that. Or had the formula on hand to do it!

A coworker of mine years ago had a similar response when she said she had already had a couple of glasses of wine. I'm leaning towards the idea that the supervisor has either used this excuse herself at some point or has received it so many times that she took the time to research how long it takes to return to sober. My state requires minors to take a drugs and alcohol class prior to getting a driver's license so many of us knew the formula from high school. Nothing better than going to work feeling hung over. I wouldn't be surprised if the supervisor also told them to drink a lot of Gatorade and take a multivitamin and an extra vitamin B while waiting to return to sober.

[Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN]

Number 1 is that phone is for YOUR convenience, not theirs.

Number 2 is my own go to phrase: This place has managed to be a hospital before I came along, and will manage to continue being one when I'm not here.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

Protect yourself from nursing burnout. Only do what you can do.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I would have either loved or hated this boss. I can't believe she thought to do that. Or had the formula on hand to do it!

She was just used to excuses from employees for not coming in and had them by the cojones . . .

[emmy27]

You can say yes to working extra 99 times and then that hundredth time you say no, *people will still talk about it*. It's not fair so just ignore it.

Set your limits. Meet the terms of your contract, work extra shifts when the schedule and the pay is beneficial to you and feel no guilt about not working when it doesn't. I promise you that this, and every employer you will ever have as a healthcare worker, would slash your position without a second thought if they thought it would benefit their bottom line- they're not doing you any favors, and you owe them none. Always remember that, and conduct yourself accordingly.

[taivin]

I use to do over time (they called relentlessly). It got to the point where I was pushed into another tax bracket and instead of the government taking out 34%, they started taking more. After that I stopped overtime.

I was tired of being harassed on my day "OFF," I was tired of supporting the government, I was tired. If management had our backs, they would have contingency plans in place for the chronic call offs. Also ask yourself; why are there so many call offs? At this one place I worked, you could set your watch as to when and who was going to call off.

Don't feel as if you're stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. I screen my calls on my day off. If I don't recognize the number; I don't answer.

You don't have to answer the phone on your day off, and you don't have to give an excuse why you didn't answer your phone if questioned at work about it. If you answer the phone on your day off you don't have to give an excuse. Thank them for the opportunity and politely decline. This advise only pertains to staff that have a regular schedule with no special p/p attached concerning o/t and It's not intended for on-call/management with salaries/etc...

You may get a call when you get home from work. It's usually about a patient or the never ending "Do you have the narcotic's key?" (which has all the other keys on the ring as well) . Not so much these days, as everything is electronic.

These places that have a so called mandatory over time clause; I don't beleive it's legal. If you want to work there and it's their p/p, then that's your decision. It's like we have to be drug tested but the public school teachers don't??? The future of our youth is in their hands and they don't have to be held accountable. I don't agree with m/o or drug testing anyway, but if you're going to drug test us because we deal with a fragile population...well. OK; teacher rant done.

To save anyone some time; I know about the bills and the protests, Teacher's Union, the injunctions, special need in Skinner vs Railroad blah blah public employees, etc... concerning the drug testing of public employees.

Go Patriots!

[Clarifier S'il vous]

When I read this, I had to ask myself if I wrote this while I was really tired, LOL. At any rate, I personally do not think it's bad not to answer. There have been too many times I have answered or called back to tell them I'm sorry, but I can't work for whatever reason and all I get is cajoled and guilt-tripped.

Although those who call claim they would appreciate the courtesy of a response so they can cross you off their list, this doesn't appear to be the case for most of them, based on their reaction when they do receive that courtesy. Therefore, I rarely answer these calls or call back if I miss them, unless I know for a fact that the person on the other end will politely take no for an answer.

[NotYourMamasRN]

I never answer my phone unless I want to work. I never feel bad about the facilities not staffing properly and having to call every darn day. Their problems with staffing could easily be solved if they treated, compensated, and supported their staff the way they should.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

The only time it's a bad idea to not answer the phone is if you are placed on call. If it's important, they can leave a voicemail and you can call back as warranted. Don't let your schoolwork suffer because an employer can't be bothered to staff appropriately.