PRN nurse forced to take a call shift **NEED ADVICE**

Nurses General Nursing

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I currently work at a local hospital. I work PRN and requirements are 1 shift a week, which I do. I do also help out with call as needed ( I give them days I can take call and they can put me on, for example last Tuesday evening I was on call) and help cover full time employees as they need (taking a shift this week for one on Thursday). Last week I got a text from my TL who stated that they needed coverage for Sunday October 13, 7a-1p, normally no problem whatever I would take it, but but this weekend I have a midterm for my FNP program scheduled between 7am-3pm. I texted her that I had my exam, then yesterday I got a text from her to myself, another PRN employee and a FT employee stating "Hi. so no one has picked up 1st call Sun Oct 13 from 7a-1pm, Everyone else has signed up for their fair share. Sorry but someone has to take it our we will have to draw one of your names..." I texted her again that I had midterms, no answer, then this morning I get a text "Happy Friday! Since no one covered call on Sun Oct 13 7a-1p names were put in and & MINE was drawn...(P.S. there is A PART TIME RN (unnamed) who mentioned she wants the call but she has taken her fair share, but it is possible she will take it, it is her birthday weekend". I texted my team lead again "I have a midterm exam" she texted me "sorry..."

I was fuming at this point...there are some full timer and part timers who did NOT take their fair share of call ON top of that WHY should I have to contact the nurse who wants it,( I don't have time to play games) why didn't she ask her to begin with?!?! Needless to say I didn't contact the PART TIME nurse, I went to the director and texted her what I was texted. An hour later that nurse that wanted it, texted me asking if she could have it...I said yes. I feel this is a freaking GAME, so immature. I am PRN I am in an FNP program, and work 2 other jobs. I am the FIRST to be cancelled and sent home WHY should I be put in a position like this?? need advice. I haven't heard from the director yet but I will be meeting with her when I go back to work. I guess I am just confused on how you can just put someone on the schedule like that, let alone a PRN person??!!??

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I'm wondering what kind of advice you're looking for. If you would like a sounding board as to whether your TL seems reasonable, I can certainly confirm that she's not. Putting you on the schedule despite your protests looks like an act of either desperation or stupidity. Either way, refusing to play ball was entirely reasonable on your part, and frankly would be reasonable for a full-time nurse who doesn't have an obligation to pick up mandatory short-notice overtime shifts written into her contract. You're not indentured.

If you want advice as to what to say when you go back in, I'm not certain, but definitely don't apologize. Probably your TL tried a desperate bluff. Or maybe she genuinely thinks she has more authority than she has. Either way, hold firm, don't apologize, and don't promise to pick up shifts you never agreed to work. Or maybe your employer will even go and do something monumentally stupid like trying to enforce mandatory short-notice shifts from PRN staff, in which case you can lead the exodus out of that mad house.

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I always stick up for what is right, I am not rude about it but when you are told that you are working as a PRN with prior obligations for a shift you never said you would work it is not a good situation to be in. My team lead was off today and when I called her ( I didnt know she was off, she said her phone was dying and got disconnected). I did go above her, not to be malicious but to make sure I didn't do something wrong. You are right, I will not apologize, was not planning on apologizing but I am reasonable and will state facts...I dont want this to happen to anyone else or myself. Honestly if worse came to worse I would have worked ( I would NEVER abandon a patient) but in my eyes that just shows that what she did was OK which it is NOT, if anyone should have taken it, it should have been my Team Lead (in this desperate time).

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19 minutes ago, RN08021982 said:

I always stick up for what is right, I am not rude about it but when you are told that you are working as a PRN with prior obligations for a shift you never said you would work it is not a good situation to be in. My team lead was off today and when I called her ( I didnt know she was off, she said her phone was dying and got disconnected). I did go above her, not to be malicious but to make sure I didn't do something wrong. You are right, I will not apologize, was not planning on apologizing but I am reasonable and will state facts...I dont want this to happen to anyone else or myself. Honestly if worse came to worse I would have worked ( I would NEVER abandon a patient) but in my eyes that just shows that what she did was OK which it is NOT, if anyone should have taken it, it should have been my Team Lead (in this desperate time).

I certainly don't think you were in the wrong.

That said...

A) Refusing to work is NOT abandoning a patient. Abandonment laws only apply after you have assumed care of your patient. Assuming your personal circumstances allow you to risk losing the PRN job in order to avoid ridiculous abuses of both you and your patients, please try not to enable this kind of behavior by acquiescing to completely unreasonable demands.

and

B) My gut inclination is to assume that the whole thing was a bluff, in which case you might be best off treating it as silliness and misinformation that's beneath you rather than as a profound violation of your rights. In other words, just because someone you work with says you must come in, that doesn't mean you actually have to come in. Can your team lead fire you directly or even discipline you in any substantial way? I doubt it. As such, consider treating it as a kind of misunderstanding over workplace policy wherein your team lead was Just Plain Wrong - at least if no one tries to reprimand you over the whole affair. You'll look better and come off stronger by standing firm without appearing to be too shaken up.

On the other hand, if anyone tries to reprimand you, feel free to get a little worked up in your own defense.

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You only need two pieces of information: What your contract/per diem agreement with them says your obligations are, and how much you want/need this job.

12 minutes ago, RN08021982 said:

You are right, I will not apologize, was not planning on apologizing but I am reasonable and will state facts...I dont want this to happen to anyone else or myself.

This is not a war or even a battle. Save your protestations and explanations and concerns about what could happen to anyone else. Don't talk too much and don't get yourself all riled up.

13 minutes ago, RN08021982 said:

Honestly if worse came to worse I would have worked ( I would NEVER abandon a patient)

Refusing to take first call when you have no obligation to do so is not patient abandonment. They may consider it job abandonment depending upon how angry it makes them (i.e. they may terminate you), but these circumstances you describe would not constitute patient abandonment.

The correct course would have been a text: "I am not available this weekend." Do not inform them of your private plans and obligations as if they care. Any further responses would be met with: "This is not part of the per diem obligation. Please do not text me further about this matter. I am not available this weekend."

I wouldn't plan on meeting with anyone or even concern myself with reporting it or discussing it.

If an actual supervisor asks to speak to you about it, then you can very calmly and flatly let that person know that you found the interaction very inappropriate and you don't expect it to happen again.

Keep in mind, they may decide they don't like your MO and decide to part ways. If you absolutely don't want that to happen under any circumstances then I guess that puts you pretty much at their beck and call.

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3 hours ago, JKL33 said:

You only need two pieces of information: What your contract/per diem agreement with them says your obligations are, and how much you want/need this job.

This is not a war or even a battle. Save your protestations and explanations and concerns about what could happen to anyone else. Don't talk too much and don't get yourself all riled up.

Refusing to take first call when you have no obligation to do so is not patient abandonment. They may consider it job abandonment depending upon how angry it makes them (i.e. they may terminate you), but these circumstances you describe would not constitute patient abandonment.

The correct course would have been a text: "I am not available this weekend." Do not inform them of your private plans and obligations as if they care. Any further responses would be met with: "This is not part of the per diem obligation. Please do not text me further about this matter. I am not available this weekend."

I wouldn't plan on meeting with anyone or even concern myself with reporting it or discussing it.

If an actual supervisor asks to speak to you about it, then you can very calmly and flatly let that person know that you found the interaction very inappropriate and you don't expect it to happen again.

Keep in mind, they may decide they don't like your MO and decide to part ways. If you absolutely don't want that to happen under any circumstances then I guess that puts you pretty much at their beck and call.

Well said

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If you don't like what transpires at this point, and it riles your blood pressure and stroke risk that much, probably time to seriously consider resigning. Simple way to avoid further aggravation.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
18 hours ago, JKL33 said:

The correct course would have been a text: "I am not available this weekend." Do not inform them of your private plans and obligations as if they care. Any further responses would be met with: "This is not part of the per diem obligation. Please do not text me further about this matter. I am not available this weekend."

Absolutely. Short and sweet. You owe NOBODY an explanation of WHY you are not available. Their staffing issues are NOT your problem to fix or be involved in other than to say "I am not available."

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It's all been said, but-

You are really over complicating this very simple issue.

They want you to work, and you are not available.

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On 10/11/2019 at 11:59 AM, RN08021982 said:

I currently work at a local hospital. I work PRN and requirements are 1 shift a week, which I do. I do also help out with call as needed ( I give them days I can take call and they can put me on, for example last Tuesday evening I was on call) and help cover full time employees as they need (taking a shift this week for one on Thursday). Last week I got a text from my TL who stated that they needed coverage for Sunday October 13, 7a-1p, normally no problem whatever I would take it, but but this weekend I have a midterm for my FNP program scheduled between 7am-3pm. I texted her that I had my exam, then yesterday I got a text from her to myself, another PRN employee and a FT employee stating "Hi. so no one has picked up 1st call Sun Oct 13 from 7a-1pm, Everyone else has signed up for their fair share. Sorry but someone has to take it our we will have to draw one of your names..." I texted her again that I had midterms, no answer, then this morning I get a text "Happy Friday! Since no one covered call on Sun Oct 13 7a-1p names were put in and & MINE was drawn...(P.S. there is A PART TIME RN (unnamed) who mentioned she wants the call but she has taken her fair share, but it is possible she will take it, it is her birthday weekend". I texted my team lead again "I have a midterm exam" she texted me "sorry..."

I was fuming at this point...there are some full timer and part timers who did NOT take their fair share of call ON top of that WHY should I have to contact the nurse who wants it,( I don't have time to play games) why didn't she ask her to begin with?!?! Needless to say I didn't contact the PART TIME nurse, I went to the director and texted her what I was texted. An hour later that nurse that wanted it, texted me asking if she could have it...I said yes. I feel this is a freaking GAME, so immature. I am PRN I am in an FNP program, and work 2 other jobs. I am the FIRST to be cancelled and sent home WHY should I be put in a position like this?? need advice. I haven't heard from the director yet but I will be meeting with her when I go back to work. I guess I am just confused on how you can just put someone on the schedule like that, let alone a PRN person??!!??

Why do you bring up abandonment?

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On 10/12/2019 at 10:43 AM, klone said:

Absolutely. Short and sweet. You owe NOBODY an explanation of WHY you are not available. Their staffing issues are NOT your problem to fix or be involved in other than to say "I am not available."

This!

Doesn't matter if you have an exam or you plan to spend the whole weekend cutting your lawn blade by blade with a nail clipper. Your time is your time, and you don't have to justify what you do with it to anyone.

Check your contract. If mandated call isn't there, she can't mandate you take it. I'm FT, and rarely pick up. As far as I'm concerned, my "fair share" of hours are the 32 control hours in my contract. Anything extra is extra. When I pick up it's because I want to, not because I have to.

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Honestly if worse came to worse I would have worked ( I would NEVER abandon a patient)

First, that would NOT have been abandonment, and second, that is exactly the kind of mentality they were counting on. WHY would you miss a midterm to work a shift you were not required to work? That patient would have been taken care of, trust me.

If you had acquiesced, you would have just signed yourself up for more of the same BS in the future. You've got to teach people how to treat you.

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