Mandating to work on days off

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Hi all!

Just wanted some feedback. I started a new position where they mandate you to work about a week in advance if they cannot get anyone to fill the hole. The problem is a bunch of people are quitting (I wonder why) and the holes are huge in the next coming months. I already work every other weekend (weekends are alot of the holes) and do not want to work any more weekends. I am now afraid to plan anything because I am the new person who will be most likely mandated to work. I have been an RN for over 5 years and have never worked at a place that does this. I am wondering if anyone else out there has to deal with this??? I work hard and feel like I deserve to be able to make plans to be off when I have days off. Staffing is not my issue but the hospitals issue. Am I wrong for feeling like this?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You need to look for another job.You need time off or you will burn out and become exhausted.Where I work any mandated days are double pay ( we have a union).

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Not wrong for feeling like that, but if you don't have a CBA there is not much you can do about it. It may be time to start looking for a new job because it doesn't sound like it is going to get better anytime soon.

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At my facility we all split the weekends and holidays evenly. It is mandated you take an even share, although we all fight for more than our share of days oddly enough.

If the conditions of employment do not suit you then find an employer with conditions that do. Start looking now rather than when you are fed up.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

So it's like being on-call every day, how cool! Are they sending you into overtime or just shuffling your hours every week? BTW you are not crazy for feeling that way, they are- crazy I mean. I would check with HR and see if any policies are being violated. Did you ask about the schedule prior to getting hired? If they lied to you maybe you could "opt out" of their little program. Good luck, if it was me I'd find a new job pronto.

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They are crazy. I would find another job. As much as I like my job, I like my life more. You are right, we deserve our time off. You have a lot of experience, I wouldn't think you'd have a problem getting hired some where else.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

That's a horrible system..maybe that is why they are always short handed...RNs leave. Think how potentially diruptive this could be to your life. You make a doctor appt and constantly have to cancel..or ANY appt for that matter. What if you work per diem for another employer and you are scheduled to work there. What if you have a court date. What if you have agreed to take a friend to the airport and they are depending upon you or you are driving your kids to a school function and so many more things . I COULD NOT put up with this.

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I work at a facilty where we can expect to be mandated to stay over at least once a week. (so about once a week I work a 3-11 followed by a 11-7) Honestly, this dosent bother me. We have a policy where we will never run short under any circumstances, no matter what. We will mandate nurses and CNAs to fill every single hole or call in. I think it's worth it. In the two years I have worked there, I've never seen a single shift run short, ever.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Employers will use you as much as you let them. At my former place of employment they are so short staffed one nurse is scheduled to work every single day in July because the employer is too cheap to hire a travel nurse, and they are waiting on new lemmings to apply and get trained. And they wonder why they are short staffed.

You'll have to look at your employer's written policies, regulations in your state, and if applicable, union regulations and then decide what to do. Of course your manager's response to any boundary setting is a factor, and your local job market for nurses.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Not to sound immature, but F that. My job provides for my free time. I could not work a job where I'm not able to make plans on my days off.

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"F that." My thoughts exactly.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
Not to sound immature, but F that. My job provides for my free time. I could not work a job where I'm not able to make plans on my days off.
I totally agree. We've been short staffed and very busy lately, so I've been getting OT, but that's on a voluntary basis. I enjoy my job but I only work so I can pay my bills and do what I want with my life. Work isn't my life. It's unreasonable to expect you to be at their beck and call. No wonder they're short handed.
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