I have always prided myself in being professional and I make myself available to work as much as possible.
I work the night shift and I am one of those people that can go to bed that night after sleeping all day.
I was on call tonight...and they made a really big deal before I left the previous night to fully expect to work tonight at 6:00 because they were on high census.
I slept all day, washed my uniforms, got up, took a shower, fully expecting to work.
It came 6:00 ....no phone call...so I called them, and they decided to "work with the staff that they had" which meant that a couple of nurses probably got higher assignments than normal.
I was disappointed because I needed the money.
So at 10:30...I went to bed.
At 11:00...they called.
Guess what? I have a Blackberry and I got up around 3:00 a.m. and checked my phone for e-mails and discovered that I had 3 missed calls...I ALWAYS hear my phone ring.
So I tried to call from my house phone and discovered that my ringtones were not working.
I called work immediately, offered to come in right then, they ended up calling someone else in for me....and I know darn good and well that several of my coworkers probably got woke up in the middle of the night trying to get someone to cover for me.
I cannot tell you how embarrassed I was....what makes it worse is that this is the SECOND time I have missed a call from work because my Blackberry ringtones suddenly stopped working and required the phone to be rebooted in order to get them to work.
The only reason my work doesn't have my house phone number is that the clericals that work the day shift think NOTHING of calling night shift people at 11:00 am., 1:00 pm...whatever...for non-emergent reasons..even if you are already scheduled that night...calls that can easily wait another 3 to 4 hours.
It's hard enough to sleep during the day...so when I get woke up, I'm up. I can't get back to sleep and have to work that night severely sleep deprived which isn't safe.
I called and offered to come in on the day shift if they needed help...charge nurse wasn't exactly nice about it.
Now I can't get back to sleep because there is nothing that I hate worse than looking like an idiot at work and now I'm worried about getting in trouble on Monday with my manager...which I fully expect to happen because they see this no different than a no-call, no show.
Those of you that have experience on the night shift much longer than me....how does your hospital handle these? Is some sympathy given? Or do they not care that sometimes technology fails.
I would love to go to my cell phone company tomorrow and get a different phone, but I am 8 months from a contract ending and it would cost me over $200 to make the change.
Any advice and encouragement would be greatly appreciated.
I agree missing call twice is a problem BUT if there are not other major issues, then it is not something that sould cause the OP to be sentenced to purgatory or worse. I have been an RN for 23 years. Stuff happens. In my current role, I have many people running to me telling me what everyone else is doing wrong (including me). Though many times there is truth to what the person says, it is often out of proportion. many have a suggestion for punishment for the person. Usually those who have a list of 20 things others do wrong could make a list of 40 about themselves. About ten years ago, a critically ill OB patient came to the ED. She was to be flown out. OOPs she was coming to the floor. A nurse given off for low census didn't answer her phone. We regrouped and dealt with it. Was I upset? You bet! However, she wasn't someone who was habitually lazy or had other major issues. It was discussed with her and didn't happen again anytime soon. The OP wants to solve her phone problem. She got some suggestions. I think she will get a "talking to" and should show she has a plan of action. She is accountable and seems to be seeking to be so. Nurses have a lot of legitimate things to complain about. I do not deny that. I have put my two cents in many times. I also think that many nurses are all too wiling to slam each other. That is my opinion! I see the negativity by some posters (or what I perceive to be negative) and it frustrates me. This attitude is killing us as a profession. Sadly, some of those I see as harshest are not "old" like me, but much younger.
BabyLady - I hope that some of the good suggestions helped. Personally, I liked the call forwarding idea and the fact that it is free is an added plus!
I wish you the best. Like in real life when you ask for advice: take it with a grain of salt: keep the good and forget the rest.
First off, I find it a little shocking that, as a working nurse, you can't spare $200......I always thought nurses made decent money. I'm assuming (hoping) it is because you have other financial obligations that are eating up all your money. You did mention something about being in school......
Either way, they pay you enough to get a new phone, or at least fix the one you do have. You can't tell me otherwise.
When I was a bartender we were expected to buy our own wine tools. When one broke, we were expected to replace it ourselves. Without it, we couldn't have made money. Your phone is YOUR tool, and the only way they can get in touch with you. It is 100% up to you to make sure it's working.
Another thing, ringtones? REALLY? If you know the Jay-Z song you downloaded to have a cool ringtone doesn't work half the time, then here's a novel idea: Ditch the downloadable ones (which I guarantee would be the source of trouble because my friend has the same issue with hers.....) and switch to a normal ringtone for the hospital.
Bottom line, the "my phone wasn't working" excuse doesn't fly with angry stood up girlfriends, nor does it fly with employers. Yeah, it may not be "fair", but neither is life, and you know you'd be ****** if the roles were reversed.
First off, I find it a little shocking that, as a working nurse, you can't spare $200......I always thought nurses made decent money. I'm assuming (hoping) it is because you have other financial obligations that are eating up all your money. You did mention something about being in school......
I don't find it shocking. A single mom as a nurse does not mean she rolls in the dough. My husband was unemployed for a while and it was up to me to pay both our car payments, mortgage, iinsurances, electric, phones, etc. You don't know her situation, I wouldn't judge. There were times we had less than $100 in our checking and had to charge groceries. Some circumstances are different than others.
I never judged her, I simply said it was a little shocking.
My main point was that they DO pay her enough to fix the problem.
When a job pays you decent money, they expect you to use that money wisely. That means making you sure you have everything you need for the job FIRST, then taking care of everything else. Because without the job, the money stops lol.
When you get a promotion and raise in the corporate world you are expected to buy some new, sharp looking suits to properly represent your status and the company. If you choose to spend the suit money on your son's doctor bills, hey I totally understand that......but the job might not. It's not fair, and it may not be right, but that's life in the big city.
Bottom line, they write the paychecks, they know how much money you get.
(Why do I always have to have a "bottom line" in all of my posts LOL?)
When it comes to putting food on the table vs. paynig $200 for a phone, food is priority. It depends on where you work and what they pay--I've worked in 3 different states and pay was drastically different. If I had to start at new nurse wages now we'd never make it. My student loans are $220 month, so basically my BSN differential pay doesnt' even cover my loan to get it!
Anyhow, she did state there were other circumstances.
If you give the hospital your home phone number, and give your parents your cell phone number... doesn't that solve things? You might have to change your cell phone number, but that is free.
If you are still concerned about your cell phone failing, perhaps you have a friend or neighbor that could come over in a true emergency and would be a backup for your parents to call.
Specializes in PCU, peds, geriatrics, home health, LTC.
My main point was that they DO pay her enough to fix the problem.
When a job pays you decent money, they expect you to use that money wisely. That means making you sure you have everything you need for the job FIRST, then taking care of everything else. Because without the job, the money stops lol.
I feel I have to reply to your posts about other people's finances because your presumptions are unbelievable.
You DO NOT KNOW what someone else can afford to spend and on what. Yes, you can assume that someone is paid enough to fix something (and you can be wrong) but you CANNOT assume what someone can or can't spend money on. Just because someone technically "makes enough money" to fix something doesn't mean that money can necessarily be spent TO FIX SOMETHING if they have other obligations that must be paid for out of their paycheck!
My reply to you has to do with YOUR posts, not this thread, so I apologize if I am not on topic but I really find the need to reply to something like
"When a job pays you decent money, they expect you to use that money wisely".
Are you SERIOUS? It is not your employer's business what you choose to spend your money on or NEED to spend your money on. We are not obligated to justify our spending to our employers; only to ourselves. It appears the poster has already indicated spending 200-300 hundred is not feasible for her at this time, and there are plenty of people who don't spend money wisely. If we all spent wisely, there would be no credit cards or debt.
I'm only posting this because I have already read two of your posts containing rather annoying and offensive comments about money and finances. They are not the same for everyone.
Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.
In response to the recent post, I am completely outraged.
They pay decent money so that makes them have a say in how you spend it???!?
REGARDLESS of where I work or what I do, food for my child comes FIRST. Before ANYTHING. Whatever my family needs are, they will be met first. No Questions Asked. Once they put my name on my paycheck, it's MINE. No matter what I choose to spend it on. As long as I show up to earn the next one, that's all they need be concerned with.
With all due respect, saying my phone didn't ring is like saying the dog ate my homework. I'm not going to visit this thread for awhile. I'll probably get chewed on for the above comment.
trixie333, ASN
93 Posts
I took call for $2/hr. from 1979 till 1992....
Haven't they raised the rate of on-call time since then???
For a professional RN, able to save lives,
and come in anytime of night????
And then run the risk of termination for a technology failure? For $2/hr?
The disparity of the cost vs. responsibility vs. consequences is ridiculous....
BTW, one of my managers during that 13 yrs. took her share of call....awesome
when you think about it....
Good luck Babylady...NICU nurses are highly specialized and a desirable commodity.....if they want you gone, it won't be because of your telephone...