I am a new RN and am still getting to know my unit's rules etc. I am working on my Master's so I only work part time. When I had my job interview, my manager and I discussed working extra when they need me and I am able to. I thought though that I will be asked in advance, for instance, when someone takes vacation time or is sick for a few days... Instead I often get 4 am calls on my days off asking if I could come. I would like to work some extra time to save more money and help my coworkers out, but often I have already some plans for a day: doctor's appointment, study group, out of town etc... My questions is: do they call everyone? does this somehow reflect on the preformace review, etc? I am just worried because I am a new RN and want to establish a good relationship with everyone, yet at the same time I want to have a life with some sort of predictability so I can plan my study time etc and often when I come for an extra 8 hr shift, I am asked to stay 12 etc... Also I am not paid extra when I work extra because I am a part time employee, which is fine anyway... Do you get phone calls on your days off? Do you keep your cell phone on at night? Do I have to keep it one?
I have no problem working overtime but last year I got sucked into working some overtime and was never paid. I have told my nurse manager that unless she can switch a shift with me I do not want to work any over time. There are times they still call me and though I feel bad I tell them no I'm sorry I can't come in. It's not held against me.
I answer every single phone call from staffing at work when they call me to come in. My reply is always the same; "No. I am not coming in. I work all of my scheduled hours. Tell management that if they would hire enough staff, it would make your job and my job A LOT easier."
Come to think of it....I haven't been called by the staffing office in quite a few weeks.
yep. i agree - CALLER ID. I never answer until I hear what they have to say. I usually pick up 8-12hrs of open shifts every pay period after the schedule is released, so I normally don't go in when they call. It's the worst to say no when you're AT WORK and the charge nurse is all, "Hey, can you come in at 7 tomorrow night instead of 11?" Ick. I feel so guilty saying no, but I've usually already worked OT that week. Heck, staffing called me to come in tonight to work on a different unit than my own! Yeah... didn't go in. :)
I used to pick up the phone and call back to tell them no..but often, you'll get the huge guilt trip. So, I use my caller ID and I don't feel guilty about it anymore. If they would use more common sense in staffing, they wouldn't have this problem.
Unless I am on call, I don't answer any calls from the hospital on my day/s off or before/after my shift.
I agree with everyone else. Work only has my cell phone number, that way I can control the calls. I figure anyone who knows me and may really need me has the home number. At night, I put the cellphone on silent, the rest of the time I check the caller ID before I answer and let it go to voice mail almost 100% of the time. (I also have a special ring tone set for work only).
I don't mind helping out, but it has to be on my terms, so I sign up for extra shifts and never take the last minute calls.
My home is a fiercely protected environment, you have to set your boundaries early on.
We have a computerized system,..the manager on duty enters the need and the computer calls everyone.
For real?!
ok - If I may - and another reason to be unionised....
Frequent calls at home by your employer (or representative) is harassment. No ifs or buts. You are not paid to take calls when off duty.
Would your manager tolerate you calling them at home to say: Hey can you come in and discuss an issues that's important to me right now?
There is absolutely and unequivocally no requirement on a nurse to work any more than her/his rostered shifts.
If management wish to use that as a reason to fire people - they will find themselves very short staffed and heavily litigated against.
Caller ID and all that are good - but really, this is your home phone - I refused to generically give my contact details to work - there is no legal requirement to do so in my contract, or with my licensing body.
But we all might want a bit of OT/extra shifts on times - so we need to be available.
If your employers are so stretched then they are obliged to come up with decent and respectful operational plans. Getting a computer to cold call everyone - I would tell them to remove my number from the computer - these are private personal details - how safe is the storage of this information?
So what alternative?
Simple. You have a book with days of the week and shifts each day.
At the beginning of the week, those nurses wanting extra shifts write their name in where they are available and willing. That way you are giving management 'permission' to call you on your day off and then you don't need a fancy computer or staff randomly calling everyone.
We call it an "availability book" - cos we're clever like that.
I've never heard of being so "walked over"....
If someone called me at 4am - what shift starts at 4am?? Can't they wait til at least 6am?
Call display and an answering machine are a life saver. I'm casual too but I often have to do staffing as part of my job on weekends. No one calls back unless they are able to pick up the shift, and 90% of the time I get an answering machine even if they are there. If they want the shift they call right back so I know they were monitoring the call. Don't give them your excuse, just say you aren't able to come, as most excuses sound lame in light of their "desperate" need. You have to get good at saying no without guilt when you are a casual, in spite of how desperate they may be, otherwise it is an unbearable lifestyle. They can't hold it against you unless you always say no or have flakey excuses (that's why you don't tell them what it is unless it's a really good one!).
You don't have to take shifts on your day off unless you want to. It shouldn't count against you on your performance review as long as you don't say no all the time.
I think you should be able to say no all the time without any problem. Not that they wouldn't give some grief over it, but suppose you have another part time job? Or you have small children and only have child care on your scheduled days to work?
Your private time is just that. Private and all yours, to do with as you choose. Maybe that's work extra, maybe it's lay around and watch soap operas all day, but it's none of their business, unless they are willing to pay you to be at their beck and call.
I don't even bother to tell them why I can't work when they call me. If it's not my scheduled day to be there, they have no right to expect me to come and no right no know why I'm not coming.
xos4eva
107 Posts
I have no problem working overtime but last year I got sucked into working some overtime and was never paid. I have told my nurse manager that unless she can switch a shift with me I do not want to work any over time. There are times they still call me and though I feel bad I tell them no I'm sorry I can't come in. It's not held against me.