Job won't quit calling on my days off!!!!!

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2004

You have to stick to your guns. If they prompt you into taking more hours for their "dire emergencies" they will really start calling all the time and probly will try to schedule in more hours thinking you will work them without arguement, rather than getting phone calls at home. It sounds pretty typical no matter where you work. Leave the machine on, only answer if YOU want to and make sure you meet your obligations to them with regard to your scheduled hours. Do not call because you are going to be late, have a sick kid, need to take someone to an appointment, that will give them ammunition to use when they call you for extras. Remember if they scratch your back you will eventually have to scratch theirs.

nursemaa · Jul 17, 2004

Hi Jenny,

If your agency is chronically understaffed, that's their problem and they need to do some serious recruiting and hiring. However...

Speaking as a manager, when I have fewer nurses or aides than I need, I have to be able to show that I've done everything possible to get staffing up to wear it needs to be. Unfortunately, that includes calling everyone who isn't working and asking if they could come in. I know it stinks, but it's part of my responsibility. I do think calling more than once a day is excessive.

And please everyone, let's not start the "the manager can work..." argument. I'm only one person (who may have already worked well over the 40 hrs I'm paid for that week) and I may still need more help. Especially when 2 or 3 out of the 5 scheduled nurses calls off. And I do work as staff if I need to.

Don't feel guilty if you can't work extra, you have to do what's best for you and your family. I can't speak for all managers, but I stayed home (part-time only, no extra shifts) when my kids were little and I completely support that. Just know that we need to ask- you certainly have the right to say no. :)

fulwood · Jul 17, 2004

Jennifer, Dont' feel guility. I know you are venting but they know the terms of your contract so don't feel guilty! I use my answering machine at home all the time - even for friends. I will pick up the phone if I choose to. Take advantage of your answering machine and don't pick up if it's the hospital.

gypsyatheart · Jul 17, 2004

My dear, this is typical of practically any nursing unit/job! LOL! That's why you either have caller ID/voicemail or pick up the phone every morning to hear someone asking for your "help".

As long as you are working your pointage, I wouldn't pay the calls another thought! They will soon realize, as if they don't already know it, that they need to hire more staff. It really is part of nursing, for most of us, to routinely be called on our days off to work extra.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 17, 2004

I second the above. Get caller ID. Follow your husband's advice. Don't let them manipulate you by trying to make you feel guilty. There always will be a "crisis" or "emergency" going on with this outfit. Stand your ground. Make the job work for you and for your family, not the other way around.

Ex130Load · Jul 17, 2004

Jenny_G

I think you've gotten a lot of good advice and perspectives, especially from the nurse mgr.

I think you have to stake out your priorities (family first right?) and go from there. When determined, "stick to your guns." Seemingly everyone uses caller ID today. When I was in the military, we couldn't selectively answer calls, more difficult to fight wars. LOL. Well, we could selectively not answer phone calls from the base, but there could be ramifications--send some to your house, make you move on base into a dorm room, etc. I believe it's important to sleep peacefully at night, that I've done the right thing. My son only went to his first day of school once, he still occasionally mentions how I was the only dad hanging out at the bus stop playing with the kids, he loved having his dad chaperone some school field trips, he enjoyed going trick or treating with me. etc. The agency will give you more money by responding to their calls, but at what cost?

You have a point about not being percieved as a team player, but to what affect? Everyone in nursing knows that nursing is nearly universally understaffed. I don't envision the company letting you go because you're of too limited availibilty. Would letting you go hurt the agency or you more?

I agree with pack. Follow your heart and sleep more peacefully. If priorities change by necessity or otherwise, then do as you must. I 'spect you want to please all, but can't. That's life. LOL If your personal situation allows or mandates you to work part-time, then by all means take advantage of it. Your daughter will achieve milestones but once. I think they're great to witness.

obeyacts2 · Jul 17, 2004

This is how you handle this: make it absolutely clear what hours/shifts/days and types of assignments you will accept PERIOD, NO EXCEPTIONS. Employers like this love the guilt trip. Dont buy it. If they are understaffed, its not YOUR problem, they have hiring/retention isssues. If you are not scheduled, turn the ringer off the phone/answer machine. DITTO for your pager/cell phone. If cornered about the fact they can't reach you, tell them you were "busy" with no explanation. Works for me: I resorted to this tactic when one of the two agencies I work for kept constantly (3 or 4 times daily) calling in the mornings when they KNEW I was sleeping after an 11-7 overnight shift, and I had REPEATEDLY asked them to not call until the afternoon. :angryfire

Laura

jenny_g · Jul 17, 2004

Thanks so much for all the positive reinforcemnt! I knew in my heart I was doing the right thing. It does help to hear some feedback that affirms that. Thank you all so much!

Jenny

dphrn · Jul 17, 2004

Believe me, it will become easier to say NO as time goes by!

Jailhouse RN · Jul 17, 2004

In NY sfter you tell them to stop both verbally and one time in print they must stop of face harassment charges.

Destinystar · Jul 17, 2004

The day after I delivered my first child 18 years ago the place that I worked for called me at 5 am the next day and asked me to come to work, when I told them that I had just had a baby & was on maternity leave the nurse told me she didnt care because they needed me to come to work cause everyone else called in sick (guess my reason wasnt as good as the others). Now here comes the best part the DON, gave me a verbal warning for not speaking to the nurse that called me in such an upbeat manner!!! Dont take the fact that they need you the wrong way. We are lucky to have a job that puts us in such high demand. Keep reminding whoever calls you what your original agreement is, and pretty soon they will realize it is a waste of time to keep asking you. They just think that if they keep pulling the handle on the slot machine eventually they will cash out.

Hi all, I'm Jenny, an RN ASN. I have only posted on this site a couple of times. I just started working for a Hospice Agency in June. I specified in my application I only wanted PT work. I was called for an interview and told the Director I only wanted PT work. She said, "that's fine, like 10 - 20 hours a week?" I told her I had a babysitter lined up for 2 days a week, so I could work like 16 hours a week. She said that sounded good and hired me on the spot. I spent 2 days one week doing all the paperwork for orientation. Then the next week spent 1/2 day in mandatory mtg., the other 1/2 with an RN observing her. The next day I spent a full day with an RN training with her. So I had 1 1/2 days of training with an RN. Then one of our RN's went on vacation last week and they asked me to see her pt's. I agreed b/c I felt comfortable with the 2 page assessment form (very similar to the one I used in Home Health Nursing).
While seeing pt's this past Thur., for the RN on vacation, I saw our director who was out doing admissions. I am learning that this co. is the typical understaffed nursing facility. They seem to be a very good co., highly respected in the community and getting tons of referrals and admits. Anyway, she asked me when I was going to be ready to do an admit. I said, "well I've never seen one done, never been trained to do one. Too bad I'm seeing these pt's today or I could go with you to learn how." She said, "well, you'll have to do one eventually." Almost like she wanted to push one off on me to go do along with my other visits. I just laughed and said, "I guess so."
Ok, so then Friday I was off, I had worked Wed. and Thur. (as agreed upon) and actually went to a mtg. Tues. afternoon. Friday morning the office mgr. called and asked if I would be on stand-by call for them PRN for the day? I said, no I can't, I don't have a babysitter. She said, ok. Later the same day, I was gone and she left a msg. on my machine, saying, "can you please call, I have a dire emergency, could you just help out for like an hour?" I didn't even get the msg till after the office was closed so I have no idea what the "dire emergency" was.
So I am already feeling frustrated and taken advantage of. My husband says just don't let them get to you. You are working exactly what you were hired to work. But for me, I hate knowing that they are probably thinking, she's not being a team player, we can't count on her to be there when we need her, etc.... I love doing the job so far and don't want to not be doing it. At the same time though, I don't want to be called on my days off and be given a guilt trip about how they so desperately have to have me come in. Or take on doing admissions when I already have a day full of pt's.
It's as if, they belittle the fact that I only work PT b/c I choose to be home with my daughter instead. Like that's not a good enough reason. That I should be willing to put in 65 hours a week like some of our other RN's. If I was working PT b/c I was also working another FT job, I think they would leave me alone, but they know I am a SAHM and I guess that's not a good enough reason to work PT.
I mainly needed to vent all my frustrations. Any opinions?
Thanks,
Jen