Is it a sin to want a day off?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Sorry. I just have to vent.....I work 2 jobs. I worked my primary job the past two days, horribly busy, 14 hour shifts. I'm off today. Work the rest of the week. Yesterday AM I was asked to come in to do a C/S. at 6:00 AM today. At the time I felt like I was getting sick plus I had alot of things to do today, my only day off. So, I said no. Then when I got home last night at 9:00, I had a message asking me to work this evening because they already had a call off. I said no, I had plans for today plus I wasnt feeling well. Now I have a message on my machine stating "We're really crazy here! Could you help us out?" Why do I feel so guilty? There are 35 other nurses they can call. Obviously they don't feel guilty saying no. I feel like I don't have a good enough reason other than not feeling well, and having a million things to do. Am I wrong? Does anyone else feel the way I do?

Put yourself first. Your health and well-being are your top priorities. That feeling of false guilt? Forget it. My days off are mine, end of story.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Just say no.

You will learn you are expendable and the world continues with or without you.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

of course it is a sin. nursing is a calling. self sacrifice and dedication, because it is all about the patient only and forever. this nonsense of wanting to do other things must stop! how dare you put your needs above this poor sick and hurting population. how could you let your co-workers down this way? don't you know we are a team!?

not!

i used to feel bad if i called in sick, let alone refused to go in. but you know what? the hospital was still there the next day. and the next month. and the next twenty some years.

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

When I worked as a PCA they started calling me on my days off and at first I didn't mind coming in to help out. Then it became a bit of a nuisance so I started saying that I had consumed alcohol and wouldn't be safe to drive, let alone work. I would say this at any time even at 6am. They eventually got the hint.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I can't believe I used to feel guilty about taking time off :icon_roll

It's called "Paid TIME OFF" for a reason ya know...

cheers,

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Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.

Hey....let's over analyze it.... "feeling guilty" means for you REALLY feeling guilty...??? Is it guilt or is fear?

You fell guilty if you did a bad think (and not always necessary are a lot of people who do bad thinks daily and don't fell at all guilty)...so for what reason to feel guilty...is an imaginary guilt for somenthing that is not a guilt. You are guilt that you are sick? NO! Forget about it....take care of you and stay with a normal mind! Hugs!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

say no and don't feel bad about it. it get's easier the longer you are in nursing. :coollook:

praiser :heartbeat

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

I used to jump and run in every time I was called until one day I came in on my day off. I was told we were understaffed and every room was full. When I got there they were overstaffed and the regular charge nurse wanted to go home for a lowcensus. I turned around clocked out and went home and never helped them again. Don't let them burn you, go in when you want to go in. Like someone else said They don't feel bad when they call you off for low census

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

When I went through a divorce several years ago I volunteered for extra shifts and usually covered when my unit had a call-off on another shift. When I started to develop a social life again and started to take my life back, it was, shall we say, an adjustment for my employer.

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