perdiem and hounded everyday to work

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 8, 2014

I would advise that you just turn off your phone or figure out how to be comfortable with not answering it. Think about it - as desperate as they are for help, are they really going to punish you for not taking more than the 3 shifts per week that you are comfortable with?

If it's unbearable, I would go to the nurse manager (or whoever's always calling you) and tell him/her that you will soon be forced to reduce the number of shifts that you're available because the calls are bordering on harassment. Their short-staff situation is not your problem. It's theirs and they should be working on a solution.

CoolKidsRN · Oct 8, 2014

I completely agree with roser13. I am also a per diem nurse and get asked to pick up shifts frequently. I work about 2-3 shifts per week. I have learned to say no politely and do not feel bad about it. Honestly personal health and well being definitely comes first.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2014

Ignore them....I bought a cheap phone and gave them that number to call I just turned it off.

Calinurse4 · Oct 8, 2014

I'm in the same position. I choose to work 2-3 shifts a week and that's specifically why I wanted a per diem position. I will get called daily whether it's 0130, 0500, 1300, or 2300...I hate feeling like I'm on call 24/7/365. I never answer and I even assigned a "silent" ringtone for my work number so I won't even hear when they do call. I felt badly at first but don't anymore. If they are so short staffed, they should be hiring more people!

Caffeine_IV · Oct 9, 2014

I just had an evaluation with my manager and my not picking up tons of shifts did not come up at all. I chose to be PRN for the flexibility. It is rare that I can just go to work on short notice. I don't stress over it at all.

I sign up for more than the minimum of hours based on the needs stated on the schedule. I do not feel bad not going in nor do I get upset when others don't want to work extra hours.

I'm thankful for the charge nurses that will text to ask if I'm available vs calling.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

You are only "hounded " if you allow it.

Ignore the emails and phone calls.. work when you want to.

sistasoul · Oct 9, 2014

Thanks for all the encouragement and wise words.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

Yes and the endless requests to work become very tiring. Sure, you can opt not to answer or answer and face a guilt trip.

I used to answer and say no if I couldn't work. Still....I felt like I could never really shut work out because of this.

firstinfamily, RN · Oct 9, 2014

Even when I was working full-time the LTC facility I worked for was always calling me on my days off to come in. I had no intentions of giving up my days off as I needed them to do things at home, run errands etc. Finally, they got the message that I was not picking up extra shifts and stopped calling me on my days off. When management constantly gets others to work extra shifts it saves them money, they do not have to hire and pay for benefits of another person etc. When I worked agency they were calling all the time, and I had to also inform them that I was working only x number of shifts. Once they got the message they left me alone!!

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 9, 2014

Life is short. Cut out the complications and don't feel badly. I have been PRN before. There was a reason for that. I did not waver.

kiszi, RN · Oct 9, 2014

Their short-staff situation is not your problem. It's theirs and they should be working on a solution.

Yep. I have a text on my phone with 30 open shifts for the next two weeks (8 hour shifts). I just had to LOL at that one. This particular facility staffs the bare minimum, making it nearly impossible to do the job properly, then they wonder why people quit or don't want to come in.