Published May 31, 2010
SoundofMusic
1,016 Posts
Our new PCD, who is only temporary, seems to have taken to writing up half the staff for clocking in like 1-2 minutes past 7 a.m. She's following and tracking those who do it and writing them up for it. I mean -- if you are chronically late, like 15 minutes or so -- whatever. But clocking in one minute past??? Who cares!!
What is up with this? We are chronically short staffed - these are experienced long time nurses -- all very good. There is a hiring freeze -- I mean -- what the HELL are these manager types thinking when they do this stuff? Do they want to run off ALL the nurses? What will they do then when there is no one to take care of patients anymore???
It's as if the world of nursing has just turned upside down lately.
westmidwest
35 Posts
Are you kidding me? you are a well paid professional and are responsible for people's lives. A million new grads would kill for your job.
Get. There. On. Time.
If this is too much to ask work at the DQ--which of course will fire you for being late--but at least you will not be bringing down your unit. Kudos to your PCD.
laynaER
228 Posts
At what point will she say enough is enough. You give people an inch, they take a yard. Before long it will be, oh I was only two min late...then oh I was only 5 min...then 10, at what point do you allow her to set a standard and say ok this is considered late? 1 minute late is still late! I second the poster above me. You know how many people would kill for a job? Be glad ya have one and the least you could do is show up on time. I'm always at least 30 min early for my shift I can't stand to be late and I can't stand late people.
Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
Yep. That's a lesson I learned in my first job in high school. Clock in late, get written up. Three times, get fired. If you can get there by 2 minutes after, the onus is on you to make it three minutes sooner, not on the employer to excuse it. No love on this one, sorry.
wrigh146
22 Posts
As one professor once told me...Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable. It sounds like this manager may be laying the groundwork to clean house. I'd watch my back.
FLArn
503 Posts
Most places I've worked require that we be on the unit by 15 minutes to the hour (so 7-3 actually starts at 6:45) so 7:01 is actually 16 minutes late. Personally I have no problem with someone who is ready to take report between quarter and 10 of the hour. What I hate is the ones who clock in "on time" , then proceed to comb hair, touch up make-up, get coffee etc not ready to get report until 7 or later!
Argo
1,221 Posts
I agree with westmidwest. I can't stand late employees. If your scheduled at 7 then get there at 6:45, chnnge and swipe in by 7. Your boss and hospital owes you nothing but a paycheck every two weeks. If they want you there on time Then get there or find another job that doesn't care. There are plenty of people to fill that slot. Sorry but that's the simple truth. I even fired my maid for being late regularly.
dscrn
525 Posts
I remember staff being told that they were clocking in too early...I generally punched in at least 20 min early-the clock was a good distance from the dept-and we needed to change into scrubs, I never expected to be paid ot...just liked to arrive early...
roser13, ASN, RN
6,504 Posts
"what the HELL are these manager types thinking when they do this stuff?"
Hmm....maybe that they want to improve patient care?
Maybe that a staffer that clocks in a few minutes late really isn't ready to take report from the outgoing staff? There are clothes to be changed, lunches to be put away......
Maybe that an ongoing issue needs improvement?
Maybe that employees' opinions that "clocking in one minute past??? Who cares!!" need to change?
I say YES!! Give me that patient care manager any day!!
MedChica
562 Posts
I'd be writing ya'll up to.
I have no experience with nursing but I'm not new to the hospital(xray/ct tech).
If my shift ends at 7:00 am? I am ready to pass the baton at 7:00 am.
Not 7:06. Not 7:02. Not 7:01...and "Oh, can you watch the front? I have to go to the bathroom/put lunch up/go out ot my car, etc..."
No ma'am.
I'll tell you why it's a problem:
Showing up does not equate to being 'ready to work'.
It's 7:02am. You're just walking in. You still have to put your food away. You still have to be 'briefed' on the goings on of the dept (both emergent and routine) in order for the info to be 'handed off' properly. You're still piddling around making your way up front, etc...
Meanwhile, it's now 7:04-7:10 and you're just now ready to officially 'relieve' me?
...and let's not even go into how this affects patient care.
I can understand traffic, emergencies and such but being late and not calling? Being late 'just because'...you didn't feel like waking up earlier or giving yourself enough time to drive w/o rushing or b/c you just had to have some Starbucks?
Maybe it's the military in me speaking but punctuality entails being on time AND ready to work.
On Time in a Hospital(imo) = 5-15 minutes before the start of your shift.
Anyway -- if managers were firm with timeliness, if there were consequences, you wouldn't have 'chronically late by 15 minute' type individuals, in the first place.
Today it's 1-2 minutes. 3 mths later? You have a few folks coming in between 5 and 7 minutes with the same rationale "Well...it's only 5 minutes...God..."
It creates the wrong sort of incentive which produces the wrong course of action.
Therefore, LATE...is LATE.
Boundaries exist for a reason.
*shrug*
"There is a hiring freeze -- I mean -- what the HELL are these manager types thinking when they do this stuff? Do they want to run off ALL the nurses? What will they do then when there is no one to take care of patients anymore???It's as if the world of nursing has just turned upside down lately.
The hiring manager don't have to worry about the cost to hire a newbie. I'd be willing to take a little paycut....with the option of negotiating later on...just to get my foot in the door.
leslie :-D
11,191 Posts
according to my experiences, nurses showing up 1+ minutes late, has been the rule and not the exception.
not all, but too darned many.
i wish all bosses did the same as yours did.
leslie
DuluthMike
164 Posts
according to my experiences, nurses showing up 1+ minutes late, has been the rule and not the exception.not all, but too darned many.i wish all bosses did the same as yours did.leslie
Totally agree. We are professionals. We should act like it.