New Grad, work calling on days off

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone!! Just looking for some advice :) I'm a new grad just off orientation about 2 weeks ago on a post op surgical floor and I've come into sort of a problem. I really love my floor but It doesn't matter if I'm at work or not, I'm CONSTANTLY being asked to switch with other nurses for shifts (not in my benefit of course) or to work OT on my days off. I'm still living at home for now so working extra really isn't in my prospects and also I'm still so nervous and scared of making a mistake and doing the right things that when I'm there, right now, I just need my days off to recooporate and relax so I can be my best for the days I work. We work 3 12s a week. In my 2 weeks off orientation I've already switched 3 times with people. And I've been called to do OT a few times, even night shift at like 11 am that same day when I've already slept all night and would not be prepared to work that night. I've said no to the OT and they don't seem to be angry with me, they say they understand and it's okay. I just can't shake this guilty feeling. I wish I didn't feel bad for saying no but I really do :( am I a bad person for saying no to OT even though I'm a new grad??

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

When people want to constantly switch- my standard response (if I cannot or it's not to my benefit) is "Sorry, but that doesn't work for me". No guilt- just the truth.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Simply don't answer the call or text. Don't feel guilty. If you do answer then just simply decline. In regards to switching with others, if you can and want to fine, but if not then don't do it. You can say you have plans that day even if you do not.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Certain co-workers always want to switch. I wised up quickly to that and said no. I liked the schedule I had and I do not ask to switch. People soon realized that I wasn't asking and I wasn't switching so they found someone else.

I felt no guilt because I planned my life around my own schedule.

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My first nursing job I was called in 137 times in one year. They would write people up if you refused, after 3 refusals, you were let go. Guess what, they didn't care about our well being. I no longer answer my phone on my days off, unless they are paying me 45.00 to come to work.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I get worried when I think I'm not scheduled but nobody calls to see if I can come in and work extra, it makes me think I must be already scheduled.

It only works when I get a call during the week before 5pm, but what I do is forward the call from staffing to the administrator in charge of deciding how many FTE's we supposedly need.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Advice from a COB:

Set limits now, so you don't get used and abused, like I did at one point in my career.

Stand in front of a mirror, and say "No". That's all. Don't add, "...I'm sorry, I can't", "...I'm sorry, I'm busy", etc. Repeat that one word until it flows easily past your lips, and there's no impulse to add anything to it.

Remember, to take care of your patients, you must first get used to taking care of yourself. No need to feel guilty. Staffing? Not your circus, not your monkeys.

And if they have the nerve to pester you on your days off? Simple. Don't answer. That's what I liked about the olden days. No cell phones, and house phones didn't have answering machines, much less voice mail. You didn't pick up the call back then? They simply moved on to the next sucker.

Nursing has changed dramatically since I started almost 40 years ago. But one thing you must remember: you do NOT owe your soul to the company store.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

Do you think THEY feel bad when they under staff you? No. So stop feeling guilty. You work what you signed on to work - 3 12's per week - and you don't owe anyone your time off. That's the hospital's problem, not yours. Don't ever feel guilty for calling off or not switching with someone. Your co-workers will take advantage of you because you are new and they will milk you for all that you're worth. When you start saying no, they will stop asking. Now, I only switch when it's advantageous to both of us involved.

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Specializes in Critical care.

A couple of things. I am surprised they let new grads pick up overtime, our hospital has a policy no OT or floating for new grads. Second, my wife had me put stick it notes on my computer one said "No thank you", the other said "I'll think about it", good visual reminders not to get sucked in.

Cheers

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Simple solution = SCREEN YOUR PHONE CALLS! YOU COME FIRST!

The hospital DOES NOT care about your well-being, it only cares about using you for your license and for their staffing needs... and if you let them (use you to their advantage) you will find yourself burnt and when you are no longer functional to them they will quickly toss you aside for applicant #5,104,098,439,495,84...

Let all calls from the staffing office or whomever go straight to voicemail because it's your day off after all and you're busy for ex. running errands, having a root canal, picking your nose, being a human being! If it is required of you to return the call simple say: "I am not available". Do not give them any details or insight into why, because it is none of their business. You are not a slave, do not let your employer treat you like one who owes every waking minute of your life to them. If you are not being paid to be "on-call" you owe them NOTHING! Let it go to voicemail, put on your pajama pants and enjoy your day off because you are a HUMAN BEING and you are entitled to take care of yourself.

P.S. I'm sorry this is happening to you. The same thing happened to me as a new grad but I wised-up quickly! Within 2 weeks, I started letting all their calls go to voicemail. Now whenever I see my hospital's number flash across my call display on my days off... honestly, I just look at my phone and laugh hysterically.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

When you answer your phone, you leave yourself vulnerable to either being mandated to come in, or the guilt trip variety. To each his own, but unless the employer is paying on call pay, you don't need to answer.

I learned early to screen my calls.

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Do you think THEY feel bad when they under staff you? No. So stop feeling guilty. You work what you signed on to work - 3 12's per week - and you don't owe anyone your time off. That's the hospital's problem, not yours. Don't ever feel guilty for calling off or not switching with someone. Your co-workers will take advantage of you because you are new and they will milk you for all that you're worth. When you start saying no, they will stop asking. Now, I only switch when it's advantageous to both of us involved.

Had that happen to me with a co-worker...switched for her a few times and when it came down to me asking her to switch she couldn't - claimed she was going out of town - I wised up when she posted on FB about the local restaurant she was raving about.

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Do you think THEY feel bad when they under staff you? No. So stop feeling guilty. You work what you signed on to work - 3 12's per week - and you don't owe anyone your time off. That's the hospital's problem, not yours. Don't ever feel guilty for calling off or not switching with someone. Your co-workers will take advantage of you because you are new and they will milk you for all that you're worth. When you start saying no, they will stop asking. Now, I only switch when it's advantageous to both of us involved.

EXACTLY! This needs to be taught in school, seriously!!!

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