No call no show

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 20, 2018

Moved to General Nursing Discussion forum.

Sour Lemon · Jul 20, 2018

I feel awful. I was on call one night for a shift. I tried calling to see if I was needed later in the shift, but my calls weren't going through. I restarted my phone and messages from earlier from the job started showing up. I guess a technological glitch. Messages from hours previously needing me to come in. I quickly called my coordinator and was told someone else had been called in and Id be placed as a no call no show. I was devastated. I always come in for my shifts unless I call to say that I can't. I'm not sure why this happened and am afraid of being terminated. I already let my manager know, but don't know what to do.

If you haven't had any other issues, it's unlikely that you'll be terminated. You might consider providing alternate means of contact as back-up, though. Technology can be glitchy ...you're right about that.

I've been a no-call, no-show, and it did feel pretty awful because I know my unit was shorter staffed than they should have been. I've also shown up for work when I wasn't scheduled, so I think that gave some credibility to the "honest mistake" claim that I made.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 20, 2018

This is a good example as to why it is important to have a good reputation and track record. If you have those things, then your Manager should know that this was an honest mistake/mishap that you are not going to be repeating regularly. While there might be some minor penalty, it should not ruin your job or career. Apologize. Offer to make it up to the unit by working an unpopular shift or something ... accept forgiveness ... and move on.

Maybe the next time, when you are the "victim" of someone else's mishap, you can be forgiving to them.

Crush · Jul 20, 2018

A clean track record, a sincere apology and the offer to pick up an unpopular shift to make up for it. Maybe there will be minor consequences but unless there is a policy in your employee handbook, I doubt a one time event would cause termination. Do however, find a back up plan for them to be able to contact you in the future.

JKL33 · Jul 20, 2018

This is a good example as to why it is important to have a good reputation and track record. If you have those things, then your Manager should know that this was an honest mistake/mishap that you are not going to be repeating regularly. While there might be some minor penalty, it should not ruin your job or career. Apologize. Offer to make it up to the unit by working an unpopular shift or something ... accept forgiveness ... and move on.
Maybe the next time, when you are the "victim" of someone else's mishap, you can be forgiving to them.

My second "hear, hear!" post in a matter of minutes. Very good advice.

caliotter3 · Jul 20, 2018

I figured out a long time back that cell phone service is not reliable. Recently, I attempted to rectify the situation by getting a regular house phone, but then I found out that they no longer provide hard wired phone service. The phone is connected to the cable wifi, so, in essence, I do not have reliable phone service. So much for technology.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2018

There are only so many ways of being reachable. I've had delayed VMs (and texts) as well. Maybe the facility should send out redundant emails as well? Not foolproof for sure, but added insurance...

Or maybe proactively call the unit when you're on call?

Aunt Slappy · Jul 21, 2018

Maybe contact your cell service and get confirmation that there was a network outage that affected you that day? You could give it to your manager.

Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2018

maybe we have to go back to beepers , lol