Late for work excuses

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As Nurses, we've all probably been late a time or two. 30 feet of snow, car trouble, sick children, no babysitter ... the list goes on. But, potholes in the parking lot of the hospital? I can hear the Nurse supervisor now. You were late because of what??? So, what's your best excuse for being late for work?

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When my husband worked retail many years ago, he had the absolute laziest boss who was always looking for any excuse to get out of working.

One day she hurriedly left work in the middle of the day. Her excuse? She had called home and her daughter answered the phone, and because of this she couldn't be certain her husband was really watching her!

She was a piece of work!....or not! :D

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

I never learned how to lie properly so I just tell the truth.

"I overslept."

"I'm running late but I'm 10 minutes out."

"She's not gonna be done. She's never done on time."

Yes, I was talking about another nurse. I know that some are reading this and thinking, " *gasp* The 'orda-sit-y'...!" *laugh*

Okay. That's fair. Here's my thing, though: Why lie?

Every time I come in, it's an hour until I get the keys but I have to show @0645 or Why do I have to be on time? This one lady, she chronically takes forever. Admit or not. She's holding the MAR/TAR hostage and she won't get off the cart. That's the crux of the issue. Soon as you get done with the medpass, bare minimum, you make sure the count's okay. Count's okay? Okay - gimme the keys and get the fudge off the cart! *laugh*

After wrestling the keys away from her a good 40min into my shift, she once took 30minutes to give report. She's over here, shuffling paperwork from one corner of the desk to the other with a furrowed brow. I went & gave a heparin inject. Got my PEG stuff labeled & ready. Did a round. Assembled labs for lab draw/pickup. Flagged the MAR/TARs. Came back to the nurse's station chewing on ice and she continued, "Uh, Mr Reynolds...yeah. He's, uh...well...."

I thought we were done!

She writes nothing down. That's what so there's always a lot of hemming and hawing during report time.

"My scrubs are still wet. I forgot them in the washing machine."

True story.

"The road's closed. Trying to find another route."

Not an excuse.

"There's a big pit in front of my house and I can't get him to leave."

True story.

"I'm stuck on the access road and the train's not moving."

I have been caught by a stalled train twice. Trapped on an access road with many drivers.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I have coworkers who love to blame traffic as an excuse for being late. They forget I can pull up the traffic cams online and see the "traffic" that does not exist. The lanes are WIDE OPEN. WOOPS. GOTCHA.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Elle23 said:
When my husband worked retail many years ago, he had the absolute laziest boss who was always looking for any excuse to get out of working.

One day she hurriedly left work in the middle of the day. Her excuse? She had called home and her daughter answered the phone, and because of this she couldn't be certain her husband was really watching her!

Well, we can be reasonably certain that your Husband's Boss' last name was not De Niro!

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
SmilingBluEyes said:
I have coworkers who love to blame traffic as an excuse for being late. They forget I can pull up the traffic cams online and see the "traffic" that does not exist. The lanes are WIDE OPEN. WOOPS. GOTCHA.

I had a similar situation:

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
rnsrgr8t said:
I was late to work one time b/c I had a bird in my house! I was getting ready for work when I noticed all three of my cats where in my closet looking up. I looked in and there was a black bird sitting on the rack!

Talking on its cell phone?

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Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.
Davey Do said:
Talking on its cell phone?

That is hilarious! Wasn't funny the morning it happened but I love this cartoon! LOL!

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Specializes in Hospice.
Davey Do said:
Talking on its cell phone?

...and thank you for the ear worm. 

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There's train tracks right in the middle of town...I was already running late and came up on the tracks to find the train stopped dead and unmoving for 15

minutes.

I think the train has the same schedule as I do. Often times it is coming through around 1830-1845, right when I need to be at work.

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Davey Do said:
I'm with you, SmilingBlueEyes! It is rude and inconsiderate to be chronically late!

Chronically late People have three things in common:

1. They're always smiling.

2. They spend a long time, even though they're late, at the time clock, looking at the schedule.

3. They come to work without an ink pen, never expecting to need one!

Yes!! It is inconsiderate. But it happens to even the best of us. We have a woman who is at least 10 minutes late every....single....day.She comes in, huffs and puffs for 5 more minutes while clocking in, taking off her coat, then wants to put makeup on...uh...no.

She often calls and says her battery on her car is dead, she woke up late, her alarm clock died, her dog is sick....it's something every single week. Endless excuses. There has been complaints, but she is friends with the supervisor so that gets us no where.

She is then at work until 10pm every night riding that time clock.

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MedChica said:
I never learned how to lie properly so I just tell the truth.

"I overslept."

"I'm running late but I'm 10 minutes out."

"She's not gonna be done. She's never done on time."

Yes, I was talking about another nurse. I know that some are reading this and thinking, " *gasp* The 'orda-sit-y'...!" *laugh*

Okay. That's fair. Here's my thing, though: Why lie?

Every time I come in, it's an hour until I get the keys but I have to show @0645 or Why do I have to be on time? This one lady, she chronically takes forever. Admit or not. She's holding the MAR/TAR hostage and she won't get off the cart. That's the crux of the issue. Soon as you get done with the medpass, bare minimum, you make sure the count's okay. Count's okay? Okay - gimme the keys and get the fudge off the cart! *laugh*

After wrestling the keys away from her a good 40min into my shift, she once took 30minutes to give report. She's over here, shuffling paperwork from one corner of the desk to the other with a furrowed brow. I went & gave a heparin inject. Got my PEG stuff labeled & ready. Did a round. Assembled labs for lab draw/pickup. Flagged the MAR/TARs. Came back to the nurse's station chewing on ice and she continued, "Uh, Mr Reynolds...yeah. He's, uh...well...."

I thought we were done!

She writes nothing down. That's what so there's always a lot of hemming and hawing during report time.

"My scrubs are still wet. I forgot them in the washing machine."

True story.

"The road's closed. Trying to find another route."

Not an excuse.

"There's a big pit in front of my house and I can't get him to leave."

True story.

"I'm stuck on the access road and the train's not moving."

I have been caught by a stalled train twice. Trapped on an access road with many drivers.

Glad I'm not the only one with occasional train issues!

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Specializes in ED.
Davey Do said:
I can see the logic behind that, RNator...

Are you being serious? Can't tell from here :-). Calling to say you'll be late, but then not as late as originally thought, does not qualify one as being "on time" or un-late...

"Officer, I know I was driving 95 mph, but I planned on driving 75 mph, therefore I wasn't really going 95mph..."

RNator

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