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?
They call me to work overtime all of the time, and I just don't answer the phone. Let it go to voicemail. Heck, I can barely do 3 shifts a week, let alone overtime! I've been nicknamed "low-census captain" on my unit. :)
Also wanted to add that not working overtime will not impact your performance review/evaluation. No one is expected to work overtime, unless your papers specifically state mandatory overtime.
my job calls my home number all of the time. i never answer the phone. unless, i want to pick up an extra shift. also, my work does not have my cell phone number. and i will not give it to them. lol
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.
I think it's fine to say no all the time too, if that's what you want, but if you're casual, prn, or per diem, if you say no all the time, they'll quit calling!
It's hard to believe you don't have a secret cell phone number, caller ID, an answering machine, or a phone that you turn off when you don't want to be reached.
Have you been a nurse a long time?
Will it go against you? It could. It could make them less willing to help you when you need a favor. I think it could go against you more if you actuallly answer the phone and turn them down. Just not answering seems better, at least somewhat. Try to help them once in a while but not to your detriment. They knew the deal when you signed on, you say, so just be out of reach.
The less discussion, the better.
When I have done staffing, I really hated the nurses to call back to tell me they couldn't come in. It was a disappointment and a waste of time. Better to just not hear back from them.
Simple, let staffing know that you don't do last minute requests. It seems you had an understanding befoere with your manager that you get work extra IF notified ahead of time. Last minute requests by staffinf is them trying to find a warm body. Put your foot down now or it will continue.
my job calls my home number all of the time. i never answer the phone. unless, i want to pick up an extra shift. also, my work does not have my cell phone number. and i will not give it to them. lol
Totally agree with this. A couple of work friends have my cell phone number, but even my charge nurse, with whom I do things socially, knows not to call me on it for work issues. Last thing I want to get is a call on my cell phone and I'm in the middle of a music lesson.
I hate having to make that call. I'm Supervisor on the 11-7 shift and it really does tear me up having to call people between 5:30 and 6am to find coverage. Usually it's not too bad for the CNAs, we can work with 3 on one floor and my night girls can pick up some slack and help out with get-ups, but it's unbelievably difficult to find nurses to come in last minute at my facility! We actually have a fairly extensive per-diem list, but lo and behold, no one ever picks up. The last time a day nurse called out, I actually ended up calling another 11-7 nurse (per my ADON's wishes) who agreed to come in, because she knew how difficult it is to find someone to come in.
I once had a per-diem nurse chew me out for calling her at 6am. "I know you wouldn't know, but I actually have a full time day job. Just make a note for them not to call me before 9am." Excuuuuuse me? Needless to say I never called her to find coverage ever again.
Personally, I used to get called almost every weekend to come in. I learned to let them leave a message, and called back if it sounded like a shift I'd be willing to pick up. I'm usually all for switching shifts, but picking up hours isn't usually my style.
Simple, let staffing know that you don't do last minute requests. It seems you had an understanding befoere with your manager that you get work extra IF notified ahead of time. Last minute requests by staffinf is them trying to find a warm body. Put your foot down now or it will continue.
But there is something to be said about being a team player sometimes. I get called all the time also and probably go in about 60% of the time to help out. The extra money isn't bad either. It annoys me when the ones that cry poor the most are also the ones that won't ever pick up an extra shift to help cover sick calls etc.
P.S. so much for nurses not being able to get hours in this bad economy, huh?
But there is something to be said about being a team player sometimes. I get called all the time also and probably go in about 60% of the time to help out. The extra money isn't bad either. It annoys me when the ones that cry poor the most are also the ones that won't ever pick up an extra shift to help cover sick calls etc.
P.S. so much for nurses not being able to get hours in this bad economy, huh?
I never cry poor. I also never pick up an extra shift. I work part time in a high stress environment. This is my way of following through with the pre flight airplane and the oxygen theory protocol you gotta put the mask on yourself first before you put the oxygen mask on someone else.
I am scheduled to work a certain amount of hours within a two week time frame. At the time that management makes out the schedule, they become aware that there is a nurse short and I do not have sympathy for them since they are waiting over three weeks until two hour before the beginning of the shift to finally do something about it.
If I have something scheduled two or three weeks out, I don't wait until two hours before my shift starts to call in sick so that I make my scheduled event.
I do not get paid extra to work pool hours. I am a regular employee. They are aware of this as well.
If nurses do not come in on there days off, then someone is still needed for that hole in the schedule. Maybe management might hire a new Grad RN for that hole??
Specializes in PACU,Trauma ICU,CVICU,Med-Surg,EENT.
For 9 of the 10 years I worked in one particular unit I was casual. The unit had self scheduling and all of the shifts I took were scheduled in - our three children were tiny then and it worked the best for us. I did exclusively nights,and usually on the w/es -so I figure I did my share of filling in difficult to fill slots. I generally always said no to last minute requests to come in -I won't apologize that my family comes first. I don't remember anyone ever saying anything to my face, but I think it royally pi**ed off some charges that I always said no. They never 'got it'...I was down in the book as 'casual',so," damn it,why isn't she available?!!" was the impression I got.
If you work what you are contractually obligated to do,it is my opinion that it isn't ethical for management to say (or write on your file) a darn thing about a nurse refusing a shift. I now work in PACU where we have mandatory O/T in the form of Call,but that goes with the territory. We are short staffed and get asked a lot whether we're interested in any O/T but get no pressure to work it.
There is so little pressure that 2 winters ago,after saying 'no' to "would you like to work today?" I found out that they'd had 5 sick calls for the daytime shifts!!! (that's massive as our daytime staff complement is 10-11 RNs). The charge didn't tell me this...if she had,I would've come in for a major situation like that....I told her to please tell me if that an extreme circumstance happens again!).
inland18mempire
193 Posts
They call me to work overtime all of the time, and I just don't answer the phone. Let it go to voicemail. Heck, I can barely do 3 shifts a week, let alone overtime! I've been nicknamed "low-census captain" on my unit. :)
Also wanted to add that not working overtime will not impact your performance review/evaluation. No one is expected to work overtime, unless your papers specifically state mandatory overtime.