Nurse's: Find your own replacement when ill

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I work at a LTC facility. Lots of issues. State survey gave over 17 citations recently. We do have some attendance issues (as All places do) Our "acting DON/acting Admin" (her main title is clinical coord) recently stated at a meeting that all nursing staff is to find their own replacement when ill. If they can not find their own replacement, then, they are to call scheduling or her. If it becomes a trend, they will be fired.

Now, i can understand finding your own replacement in a factory...or a store. But in healthcare?? Doesn't this just encourage those who are ill and can not find their own replacement to come into work sick?? They have not yet put this "new policy" in writing. Also, they switched all nurses to every other weekend, instead of every 3rd weekend, when asked politely "can you really just go and switch our hours and times of work?" Acting DON replies "We can do, whatever we want to" Nice. Just wondering if finding your own replacement is a new trend in healthcare, when you are sick???

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

pretty sad to have to find your own replacement. obviously in those facilities that require you to get your own replacement, management provides everyone with a list of all employees' phone numbers? hmmm. i wouldn't like that.

at our hospital we have staff who deal with staffing. we are unionized and get 8 hours' sick time every month...which is abused quite often. all that's expected is calling in 2 hours ahead of the start of the shift. no explanation needs to be given for the call-in, just "i won't be in today." the call needs to be placed to a licensed staff person(rn or lpn). if the nurse who takes the call asks the reason for the call-in, he/she can get into trouble...supposedly because it's a violation of privacy.

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This is just a ploy to keep them from having to pay agency or call back pay. If you're sick, you are sick. Yeah, there are people who call in for any and every reason. But if the facility didn't suck so bad maybe they would get better employees.

If you're legitimately ill, call in and don't feel guilty. Trust, administration can leave when they feel like it.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

I've never worked somewhere that required you to find your own replacement. I have a few times found my own replacement when I was ill, but that was when I knew the day before that I would not be able to make it so I called around a little. This was not mandatory, but me just making an effort to cover the shift. Of course if I hadn't found a replacement, I still wasn't coming in sick. That's just ridiculous if your already feeling bad (or dealing with a sick loved one or some other crisis) to have to call around to find someone to work your shift!

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

It isn't legal- When calling to provide staff coverage for an open staffing hole you are performing a duty for the business, and are erquired to pe compensated for your hours. If you decide to take a day off and are calling around to see if you can find someone willing to do you a favor and pick up your day you are doing that for yourself. Bottom line is still: if they want to fire you for calling off they can- they cannot force you to do thier job for them without pay or while sick.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

We do not have this policy. We have a posted schedule and people are supposed to request days off before the schedule is posted. If you want a day off after the schedule is posted, it is expected you will find your own replacement. This does not go for sick calls. We expect the person to call off AT LEAST 2 hours before their shift so we have a hope of finding a replacement. Chronic absences warrant a write up (3 strikes you're out). If I am the one to take the sick call, I ask what it wrong. I've had so many people say "I just don't feel like coming to work today, okay?" I always say "It's not okay. We take care of people, we don't work at Walmart".

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Specializes in HH,LTC.
pretty sad to have to find your own replacement. obviously in those facilities that require you to get your own replacement, management provides everyone with a list of all employees' phone numbers? hmmm. i wouldn't like that.

at our hospital we have staff who deal with staffing. we are unionized and get 8 hours' sick time every month...which is abused quite often. all that's expected is calling in 2 hours ahead of the start of the shift. no explanation needs to be given for the call-in, just "i won't be in today." the call needs to be placed to a licensed staff person(rn or lpn). if the nurse who takes the call asks the reason for the call-in, he/she can get into trouble...supposedly because it's a violation of privacy.

maybe its different in ltc than in a hospital where there might be more staff. but i would hate to be the only nurse on the floor because you did not feel like working today and did not bother to find someone to cover for you! you would not like it if it happened to you. i work in a small facility with only 2 full time rn/1 part-time rn charge nurses that alternate to have rn coverage. it would be very difficult to find last minute replacement. our nurse scheduler, which happens to be one of the ft rns, post nursing schedule for a full month at a time. so, they have plenty of time to find someone to switch shifts or get coverage if they know ahead of time or if something comes up. it is understandable that we do get sick or kiddos get sick. but "just because" call ins, should not be acceptable. as for me, i would definitely ask why? if i have to come in on my day off to cover your shift, it better be a good reason.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
We do not have this policy. We have a posted schedule and people are supposed to request days off before the schedule is posted. If you want a day off after the schedule is posted, it is expected you will find your own replacement. This does not go for sick calls. We expect the person to call off AT LEAST 2 hours before their shift so we have a hope of finding a replacement. Chronic absences warrant a write up...

We have a similar policy.

Think it's legal to ask for a reason if the facility policies distinguish between sick days and personal days (or other categories). But all that need be said in response is "I'm sick." End of conversation.

At some companies, calling out for a family member being sick does not fall within the "sick day" definition, which may apply only to the employee.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

In our facility the Aides and Nurses are expected to find their own replacements. They will assist in finding someone, but if they have no luck & you don't either then you are expected to work the shift (even if ill). If you decide to call off anyway then your co-worker has to work a double as they will not utilize agency.

This seems to be a trend. The facility expects dedicated employees for the benefit of the residents (most nurses are vunerable to this as we are givers by nature). However, they facility will not dedicate itself to the employees best interest. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why nurses burn out so easily.

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Specializes in LTC.

At the facility where I work when you are ill and "call in" you must find your own replacement or it will count as an unexcused absence which by the way there are NO excused absences unless the facility sends you home once you have arrived and undoubtedly spread your illness. You get four unexcused absences in a three month period and any after that then you are asked to take two days of unpaid leave or at least that's what I hear happens. If you then get no absences for the next three months any and all absences are erased. I feel like as a parent of a disabled child who is frequently ill during the winter months it's crazy that they will not take a doctors note but whatever. ALL that being said IF you find your own replacement it DOES NOT count against you but if the facility has to find one for you it does~!:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

Who knew that human resources would be a skill set required for a floor nurse?:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

What's next- you can't resign until you recruit and orient your replacement ; otherwise you are GOING DOWN for patient abandonment!- You are going on the schedule whether you resign or not- so you better show up.

I've known Mom-n-Pop businesses who hire HS kids for summer work to have a policy like this- it teaches responsibility and discourages sick time abuse, but as licenced health care professionals, those are lessons we shouldn't have to be taught. Not only would I be calling off from this pit I would be running for the hills as fast as you can.

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