No call no show, and feeling terrible about it!

[omha]

As a background; I have been a CNA since 2012 and worked in both skilled nursing and hospital environment. When I worked in the hospital I was a float CNA, floating between a couple different hospitals and floors. I have just received my LPN in May of 2016 and currently in school full time to get my RN-ASN and of course onto my BSN.

I have recently started a new job as an LPN working in a skilled nursing facility. I am PRN and only work one day out of the week, usually an 8 hour day. I have been with the facility for 2 months. Anyway, I do go to school full time and keep pretty busy with that.

Today, I was scheduled to work day shift. I forgot I was scheduled to work this shift because I have just gotten off an orientation and I assumed I was supposed to pick my own days to work. I picked up yesterday. Apparently they had told me in an email they were going to schedule me for today to work. I must have missed it with everything else going on and got confused with all of the emails back and forth and with school to boot.

I ended up not going into work because I didn't know I was scheduled to work. They had called me that AM and asked why I didn't come in. I was confused when they called because I had already picked up my one day a week to work and had worked it. I told them I never picked up, thinking they were the ones who had made the scheduling mistake. Anyway, I went back to sleep and woke up to another emailing saying I was a no call, no show.

I agree that this has all been my fault. I feel so bad. Anyway, I ended up emailing my supervisor right away, called twice but no answer, and told her about the situation and my mix up. She stated it was an honest mistake and I would just need to check my schedule more thoroughly with this app they have.

I feel so bad about the whole situation. I feel like I look like a horrible employee. I have never no called no show to any job in my life.

My question is, has this ever happened to anyone else?? After all this time in nursing and working with swing shifts and dealing with staffing and scheduling and working understaffed and making a mistake like this..I just feel like I want to throw in the towel and find a different career outside of nursing. I am actually getting tired of this and don't know if this is what I want to do.

I do not know if I can do anything else with my RN. Even if it is just sitting in an office. I would like to be able to have a set schedule and not have to deal with a scheduling person or staffing ratios. I am unaware that this whole situation is my fault. I guess I'm just trying to look for support.

I tend to take things seriously and now I just look like a lazy lump. I guess I am also asking if you know of any other types of careers I could pursue with an ASN in nursing. It does not have to be health related! I have thought about careers in the insurance business, but that is all I really know of. I have questioned some people about it and what they think I should do.

I am not sure that I really enjoy nursing. I am not sure how my article turned into me not liking nursing and wanting a new career, but its true. If anyone has any advice or has ever been in the same or similar situation, please feel free to offer some support!

Thanks!

[Libby1987]

The no show aside, you didn't describe why you don't you enjoy* nursing. Are you having a knee jerk reaction to your embarrassment or are they're specific things that substantially put you off?

*It's too soon to know if you would enjoy nursing if you're an LPN now and BSN is your goal. You haven't yet been able to experience different roles and responsibilities. One thing I think you have to like or be able to thrive in is pressure not of your own making as you'll find that in any field in nursing or at least those you must experience before obtaining a seemingly less stressful role.

[LaneyB]

I was a NCNS once earlier in my career. I was on a day/night rotation, and the schedule for nights was super confusing. So I thought I had to work the next night, and no showed for my shift. They were able to get a hold of me, and I came in with no sleep a few hours late for my shift. My career and I both survived the embarrassment.

I know you feel terrible, and I did too. But it honestly isn't a career ending move if you have been a good employee. You have apologized, they have most likely forgiven you, and now you can move on from it.

[KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

Wow - don't beat yourself up. Every mistake is a lesson, dust yourself off and keep it moving. It was an honest mistake. I have never been a NCNS but I have showed up when I wasn't scheduled felt like a complete fool...

We live and learn and make new mistakes - at the end of the day your supervisor is over it and you should be too.

[petertheparrot]

You are under paid and over worked. How do you think this will affect your future employment in nursing? If yur smart enough to be a nurse theres other careers you might happier in and better paid and respected and thanked and and and

[suseliz, MSN, RN]

Once I didn't show for a night shift. They changed my schedule from what it had been for years. The night supervisor called, I got out of bed, got dressed, and went in to work my shift. Nothing else was ever said.

[Oliver's Mom]

I would completely disagree with you regarding the "mortal sin." Killing a patient on the 1st day of work would rank WAY higher than a no-call no-show. And you're saying she had a "flat-out I don't give a damn" no-call no-show? Where in her comments does it say she didn't care? She said she wasn't aware she was expected to work that day. Maybe offer some support instead of judgement.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

Here's the deal and you can take it or leave it. First,, why is this an article? Thought this was something different. But I will comment here.

It sucks to be on the receiving end of a no call, no show. Especially when that person is a dayshifter.

Get your crap together. ASAP. Seriously. Nightshifters depend on sleep. It's so totally different than a dayshifter stating over a couple of hours. Unless you work nightshift, you don't get it.

Seriously, I have had it happen 3 times. I've been on nights a month and a half. My specific nurse has not shown up three times. It angers me.

I get mistakes happen. I forgive one. A continual issue, I don't. And when it's 3 different nurses, it makes me think the entire dayshift doesn't giv a crap about their job.

From a night shift girl, don't let it happen again. Learn your lesson. Do better. We forgive. Once.

[oceanblue52]

You recognized the error, you and your manager addressed it...so no harm done. These communication errors happen and the lesson learned is to have set times for checking email (without compromising work-life balance), and maybe setting multiple alarms on different devices just to allay your fear about missing a shift. Develop a routine of checking your calendar against the work schedule, or set something up on your phone. I've shown up to clinical where the Charge Nurse overslept, and have worked various floors in the past 5 years where SO many coworkers have not shown up due to miscommunication, sleeping in, etc. We are all human. Get past it and make up for it by showing a good work ethic and clocking in during the earliest possible window (e.g. Kronos let's you clock in at 653 for a 700 shift without the company losing $). Managers check these time logs and if they see a pattern of showing up early (again being mindful of not clocking I too early), then a good manager will not put this against you.

[rudecat]

It's done, it happens , it's a learning experience. I can't imagine why you would want to give up nursing because of this. It sounds as if you might have a little self esteem issue thinking so harshly of yourself over this lack of communication and that's what it was . From now on,no matter where you are employed you'll need to familiarize yourself with that institutions procedures.re; scheduling. You will make other mistakes ,we all have, recognize them and be accountable. Hey, have a great career . Marg,RN

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

I see a much more serious problem in your response to your error rather than the error itself. Miscommunications and misunderstandings are a part of the human condition and nursing is as human as you get.

You WILL make mistakes/errors in whatever career you choose. There is no error-free career. Learn to deal with it now or forever suffer the unforgivable error of thinking you're perfect or ever could be.

I would venture that OP made an error in selecting "article" as the forum for their post.

[allthatshines]

Don't feel bad because we're all humans and humans make mistakes, even the most perfect ones have flaws. Last week I was called in to work one location of the company I work for as an LVN, got there 30 minutes early and wondered why my charge nurse didn't show up to open the surgery center with me, when she's usually punctual then I texted her- come to find out she had told me to work the other location an hour and a half away. I completely misunderstood what she communicated to me, MY error. I apologized to everyone involved for my mistake then busted my ass to the other location to which I was 2 hours late for because of morning rush hour traffic. Things happen, it's life.

[Batya]

To answer the question you asked...yes, there are many jobs you can do with a set schedule. You can work in a doctor's office, do case management, intake for home health or hospice, health department, insurance companies, product reps, and the list can go on. Check job search websites and see what's available, and networking with people as well. I'm a wound/ostomy nurse now and love it! I work Mon-Fri, have holidays off. The possibilities are endless with your RN license!