Mandatory Meetings :(

DOCS RN · May 25, 2004

yes, I slept. They didn't wonder why.

SmilingBluEyes · May 25, 2004

I would not go. Truly, I would not. That is exactly how I would handle it. Then I would suggest they plan a meeting at 5:30 p.m., after the day shift "killed and hour or so" and have that meeting last until midnight----- and watch their faces and protestations begin.

I would send them this message loud and clear: IT IS YOUR SLEEPING TIME AND THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE WITH IT. THEY CAN EITHER TAKE YOU OFF THE SHIFT PRIOR OR LET YOU OUT OF THE MEETING. (sorry to shout but I hate when they mess with shiftworkers this way).

Where I work, these things would be huge grievances and a real problem for management. How unfair it is to expect night shifters to go to all day meetings right off shift? Ugh.

Seriously, I would go home and explain you, like anyone else, require your sleep.

hogan4736, BSN, RN · May 25, 2004

I would not go. Truly, I would not. that is exactly how I wou handle it. then i would suggest they plan a meeting at 5:30 after the day shift "kills and hour or so" until midnight and watch their faces and protestations begin. I would send them this message loud and clear: IT IS YOUR SLEEPING TIME AND THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE WITH IT. THEY CAN EITHER TAKE YOU OFF THE SHIFT PRIOR OR LET YOU OUT OF THE MEETING. (sorry to shout but I hate when they mess with shiftworkers this way).
Where I work, these things would be huge grievances and a real problem for management. How unfair it is to expect night shifters to go to all day meetings right off shift? Ugh.
Seriously, I would go home and explain you, like anyone else, require your sleep.

ditto...too many nurses put up with this crazy expectation...what are they going to do, not give you your .50 raise come eval time?

DO NOT GO next time...encourage the other night-shifters to do the same...

I have been a nursing director...2 things I NEVER did:

1) I never mandated anyone after their shift.

2) I never had the night people go to a meeting in the morning after their shift. I routinely held meeting at 2200, then I came in later the following day...

sean

seanymph · May 25, 2004

I agree with the above poster. They are totally inconsiderate of nightshiftworkers. This was a big pet peeve of mine (along with coming back to the hospital after working 3 or 4 nights on my only day off! :nono: ). I am so glad I am travle nursing now and don't have to mess with these kinda things. :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 25, 2004

I would do as Deb. I would protest by my absence. Mandatory or not, night shift workers need the night before and the night of these kinds of things off. I would mention it to the manager, as you have, and if the answer was too bad you still have to go.

I physically can not work a 12-hour night shift and be up all day. The other day I did a 4-hour workshop (not mandatory, but for trauma CEUs) after working a 12-hour shift. That was barely doable and took me a couple of days to recover from. :)

deathnurse · May 25, 2004

...and the problem is, specifically:

How could anyone even consider that they would have to attend this "mandatory" meeting at the whim of a managers coercion?

Can't you all take a JOKE? Tell em' OFF!

If you can't, I'll talk to them for you. I enjoy that kind of thing.

So subservient, so subservient....

Trauma Columnist · May 25, 2004

I worked nights for many years and I just don't attend these "mandatory" meetings after I work 12 hours. Its not safe then for me to drive home.

SCRN1 · May 25, 2004

Luckily, I have a Nurse Manager who has her meetings at 7:30 a.m. for the night shift, 10:30 a.m. for the day shift & 3:00 p.m. for the evening shift. The day shift can also attend any of the other meetings so that all nurses for the day shift won't be off the floor at the same time.

We are currently having to go to computer classes because of changing our programs, but they are scheduled at times that work for us depending on our work schedule.

I agree with the others. I would not go to the one you're talking about. If it were directly after work and not last but maybe 30 mins., that's different. The way they're expecting, it would be like someone who works days to get up at 3 a.m. to come in for a meeting.

In addition to it not being safe for you to drive home that sleepy, it's also not safe for anyone else to be on the road while you're driving that way. NOT WORTH THE RISK!

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · May 26, 2004

Our hospital finally got the message when no night shifters showed up...now they have them either at 715a or someone comes in during the night shift a few nights a week and does it.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · May 26, 2004

This is only one of the many reasons I will not work night shift. I have yet to work for a facility that has any consideration or fairness in dealing with those employees who work the night shift. I guess the memo with your names on it was a way of reminding the staff "no show- there will be consequences". Next time don't point out the obvious, just don't go, when enough people are not attending these meetings they will get a message or you and the other employees will get a new job. Wear the most comfortable uniform you have and expect to sleep most of the day. When they ask what you learned in the customer satisfaction meeting tell them that the chair were not made for sleeping. :crying2:

Energizer Bunny · May 26, 2004

I agree with the others that said not to go. I also think you would be way too tired to drive home and not only would you be risking your life but other's as well. I would tell them exactly what Deb told you to! There are so many places that are inconsiderate of their nightshift workers. It's sad.