Nurses showing up late for work.

[justmanda]

This morning, after a twelve hour shift, I found out that my relief was just getting out of bed and wouldn't be at work until 9am. I was expected to stay, without complaint, until my relief arrived. When I dared to mention that my young children were going to be two hours late for school if I stayed, the manager of the floor called me a "whiner".

I don't mind staying a little late every now and then, but this frequently happens and the powers that be actually seem surprised and irritated when nurses have other responsibilities they have to tend to. The manager finally took report from me at 8am, seething the entire time. I don't blame her for the person not showing up. It wasn't her fault, and I thanked her for taking report. Her attitude though, made me furious! Just a rant....ahhh. I feel much better now.

[imafostermom]

We have had the same situation and often with the same nurses being "late". Our unit is so against overtime, the charge nurse has to take report and pass it on to the late nurses now. This has cut down on the repeat offenders a little.

[Batman24]

Your manager was out of line and I would discuss her calling you a whiner next time you go in. You worked 12 hours and your children need to get the school. You have every right to be furious. If this other nurse is often late then your manager should deal with it.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

My current facility allows one to clock in 7 minutes late, and sure as clockwork, the ADON's DIL showed up to relived me at 6:37 every morning. It was a little thing but it annoyed me every single morning it happened because I wanted to give report an go the heck home.

You had every right to be annoyed, and every right to be relieved by the charge.

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

Well, Im one of those who are chronically late, but only about 5 minutes! And its because its hard to get myself and my kids ready to leave the house that early. I would NEVER be THAT late, especially habitually. I dont blame you for being upset. Management should have had the attitude with the one who was late, not you. They should understand that people have lives outside the job.

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

I would have told her that you have every right to go home on time and that a late nurse was not a good enough reason to make your children 2 hours late to school. I would tell her I didn't appreciate her attitude and calling you a whiner. That's very disrespectful and an immature thing for a NM to do.

I have had it happen twice. Once was a person who was constantly late and I filled out an SOE, the second time it was because the nurses daughter was in a serious car accident and life-flighted. I stayed until they found me relief an hour or so later. I didn't mind that at all, I wished there was more I could of done.

But the late for no good reason stuff? No.

There's nothing wrong with speaking up to your NM in a respectful way, that's more than she gave you

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

Well, Im one of those who are chronically late, but only about 5 minutes! And its because its hard to get myself and my kids ready to leave the house that early. I would NEVER be THAT late, especially habitually. I dont blame you for being upset. Management should have had the attitude with the one who was late, not you. They should understand that people have lives outside the job.

My thought would be set every clock in your house 10 minutes ahead. There's no good reason to be habitually late by 5 mintues. That's teaching children bad habits too. Trying to be helpful not mean :wink2:

[nervousnurse, ASN]

wow, sorry that happened to you! Our charge nurses would've happily said "go home and take care of your children" and they would've taken report AND cared for the patients a while without seething!!! Yea, they might seethe at the LATE nurse, but they would NEVER treat us badly because we had to leave!!!

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

"Well, Im one of those who are chronically late, but only about 5 minutes! And its because its hard to get myself and my kids ready to leave the house that early. I would NEVER be THAT late, especially habitually. I dont blame you for being upset. Management should have had the attitude with the one who was late, not you. They should understand that people have lives outside the job."

My thought would be set every clock in your house 10 minutes ahead. There's no good reason to be habitually late by 5 mintues. That's teaching children bad habits too. Trying to be helpful not mean :wink2:

I agree with you Binkie. I know it's hard to get children ready, but if you're always 5 minutes late, you should wake up 5-10 minutes earlier. Just think if you were the nurse that was waiting for you. It would get old really fast. Not trying to be mean, just picture yourself being the nurse that is waiting for you.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I never worried about lateness wen I had jobs that didn't relieve someone else. In fact, I WAS chronically a little late every day. It didn't matter. Once I became a clerk at Wal*Mart and then a nurse I was late literally once, during a blizzard. People were waiting to go home.

[Acosmo27]

Well, Im one of those who are chronically late, but only about 5 minutes! And its because its hard to get myself and my kids ready to leave the house that early. I would NEVER be THAT late, especially habitually. I dont blame you for being upset. Management should have had the attitude with the one who was late, not you. They should understand that people have lives outside the job.

5 minutes might as well be 30 minutues after a 12 hour night shift... its polite to be on time, if not... early.

[bossynurse101]

A "whiner" huh? If you're a whiner, then I guess all of us working moms trying to do the responsible thing are in that category. When my third grader is bringing home geometry, two hours late IS a big deal. Jusr goes to show ya those in charge are not always those who should be in charge. I would be fuming! Hopefully she (the manager) wont be there long . . . doesnt sound like her leadership skills are going to carry her far. Keep your chin up!