Overtime I didn't sign up for

[Susan9608]

Today, as I was snoozing away, my work called at 7:02 to ask, "Where are you?" And I was puzzled, because today is my day off, and I was up until 3 am last night, celebrating that fact.

It turns out *someone* (read: NOT me) signed me up for an extra shift and I some how didn't find out about it. So they were expecting me to be at work.

I told the charge nurse, I'm sorry, I just can't be there. I didn't know I was supposed to be at work, I was up until 3 am, and I have a dentist appointment. And boy oh boy were they angry with me.

I guess they don't believe that I didn't sign myself up for the extra shift. They went to check the log, and sure enough, it's not in my hand-writing. So now they are calling the supervisor to find out what to do.

You'd think the fact that I've been there for 3 years and haven't ever worked overtime would give it away.

I suppose if I was a nice and decent person, I"d just say I'd go in. But, the mean and selfish part of me says no. I need more sleep before working 12 hours, I'm hung over (sorry, but it's true), and I have other plans. I feel tricked, and they should have enough staff that they aren't relying on our skeleton staff to work 60 hours a week to staff our unit.

Am I a horrible person?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Personally I think NO you are not a horrid person. Someone has done this behind your back and as you say you was out celebrating the night before

[lunden]

no, i would not have went in, and whoever signed your name up for ot needs to be found out and suspended!!!

[Susan9608]

Thanks.

I still feel bad, though. I guess this is going to tarnish my ... well ... whatever with the management, though.

[lunden]

try not to feel bad, remember , someone other than you signed your name to a document w/o your knowledge. make sure you document everything that happened, all the way up to the phone call, consult a lawyer just for advice especially if you think your job may be in jeopardy. strange things have a way of happening.

[Susan9608]

They found someone to cover my patient assignment, so that's good. But everyone is really mad. I guess I'm going to have to speak with my manager when I go in next time. This blows.

[Jolie, BSN]

You don't owe anyone an apology, or have to feel guilty for something that you didn't do.

I once worked for a NM who would alter the schedule after it was posted and fail to notify people of the changes. She did this on purpose because she knew that we were all fed up with understaffing and OT and would not volunteer for it. So she added shifts after the fact, and called the "victim" at home after the shift started. Most felt bad for their co-workers and came in. Her scheme came to an end when she inadvertently added a shift to a nurse who was away on vacation. This oversight made it obvious to everyone that she was scamming us.

Most of us know each other's handwriting pretty well. I suspect that the NM knew it was not your handwriting on the sign up sheet, and should have verified the shift with you at that time. She is the one responsible for covering the shift, not you.

Any astute nurse manager realizes that playing games with the schedule can only backfire!

[philanurse74]

Whatever.....you enjoy your sleeping in and do NOT feel guilty, you are not to blame!

[Batman24]

You did nothing wrong here so how could you possibly be a bad person in this scenario?! I hate they you even have a shred of guilt here when you shouldn't. Shame on the person who wrote your name on the schedule and shame on your employer being mad about something you aren't responsible.

I would go into work tomorrow and if anyone made a snide comment or called you into a meeting I would let them have it in a firm and professional mannfer. Put it right back on them.

[BradleyRN]

Ill bet it was the management that signed you up in the first place. Who else has the motive besides those who are responsible for staffing?

I saw this same type of incident many times in LTC. Staffing would call me asking "where are you?" knowing that i wasnt scheduled to work. It was all just a smokescreen to convince those nurses at work that they are "trying" or "it is my fault not theirs". Sometimes short staffing is intentional, and sometimes we are the scapegoat they use to pull it off. It's all money in the bank for them! :)

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

There is nothing to feel bad about, because the person that forged your name has an explanation, not you. Especially, since they discovered that this was not your handwriting. Get some sleep, hope you had a nice time celebrating and so what if you were hung over. A responsible person will have a good time with a few drinks when they know they are not going to be on duty within a certain timeframe and that is what you did.

Speak to them when you go back and that is all.

[pinksugar]

You have nothing to feel bad about. In fact, management should be apologizing to you for harassing you on your day off and they should be working hard to find out who signed you up without your knowledge. That person should be punished, not you.