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!

[guycna95, CNA]

Even though it's a big deal, it's not as big of a deal as you see it. I see no call no shows literally everyday. But it does happen more with CNAs the nurses.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Error 1: you assumed. Never assume. If you are anything less than 100% certain about something, you ask. The only stupid question is an unasked one that should have been asked.

Error 2: if I read your post right, you didn't answer the phone when they called. That is generally not a good practice to do when you are a brand-new hire.

That being said, don't be too hard on yourself. Many of us have no-called/no-showed without meaning to. I have. A first offense is forgivable. It's when you develop a repeated pattern of no-calling/no-showing that you're courting trouble.

You spoke to the manager and addressed it, so let it go--no more beating yourself up over it. However, take her words to heart and be vigilant about checking your schedule. Always clarify with your manager and/or staffing office if you're uncertain. I never hesitate to call or write them if I have a question about my schedule.

And since you're PRN--especially since you're PRN--do not ignore a phone call or e-mail from staffing. You're not there regularly/consistently enough to know everything that is going on, so you need to make sure they can contact you to convey any information.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Sorry but it's their fault not yours. You don't email someone a schedule. I got my BSN in 77, and have worked for almost 40 years, so I have been through all kinds of technology and communication changes, so I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. They need to give you a paper schedule, and consult with you.

They don't 'need to', if that's not their protocol. If paper schedules are no longer in use, then you have to rely on their methods. Not saying it's right, just saying that all facilities are different.

[GaleSRN, BSN, RN]

Give yourself a break. Your supervisor wasn't upset, you need not be either. This is not your norm. Don't beat yourself up so much over one shift. There was a time in my career when I was working FT in one hospital and per diem in another one. I also picked up shifts through the registry. I worked night shift. On more than one occasion I would pick up the phone at 10 am in the morning, which is when I was sound asleep. I would agree to anything just to get off the phone and back to sleep. I, on more than one occasion agreed to work in two places at the same time! The hospital and the agency finally figured out that they should call me late in the afternoon when I was awake!