Saying No!

[Emergent, RN]

This is a spin off of another thread. It seems that many nurses have a hard time saying no and get very aggravated by texts and calls from work for help. (I'm sure, though, when the same nurses are on, and they are working short, they would like everyone and their brother contacted.)

I've never had one bit of trouble saying no. My current manager sends mass texts. I know they are mass texts and emails, so I don't usually answer. If it's a personal text, I will respond 'No, sorry'. If it's a phone call I say, 'No, sorry, I have plans'. Sometimes my plans are merely to catch up on laundry, walk the dogs, and read a book. Those are plans.

Before my husband died, I remember blaming him. Ha ha, 'My husband wants me home'.Ah, those were the days, being able to blame my sweet husband for any and all decisions that someone might not like, poor oppressed wife that I was...

But, I digress. What's so hard about saying "I can't work, thanks for asking". Why all the angst? I'm of the opinion that it's nice to be needed and in demand. And, once in a while I can help.

[Swellz]

I rarely get called, but I have no problem saying no. I know what it's like to work understaffed but someone gets paid more than me to have these staffing headaches. That being said, I hate hate hate calling out. But I work with people with compromised immune systems and I couldn't live with myself if I gave one of my patients something. I went to work ill once and I'll never do it again.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

The people who can't say no do indeed have a problem to solve and it isn't their employer.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

When I was a new grad I always had trouble saying no. No I can say no without thinking twice about it.

[annie.rn]

No problem here saying no either :-) It actually makes me feel a little happy to have control over something regarding work. They certainly don't feel bad about the constant understaffing. Rarely do we get any positive feedback for getting through one tough shift after another. I do feel bad for the nurses left there working short but feel like by going in to help out things will never get better. More than anything, I want time off with my kids who are growing up way too fast. "No" is so easy for me!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I have caller ID and have no problem ignoring calls from my unit. Some charge nurses get crafty and call on their personal phones. I have no problem saying no to that, either. As far as text and, as ridiculous as it might sound, Facebook pleas -- I ignore 'em. In fact, since I check Facebook approximaely quarterly, I don't even see 'em.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

The people who can't say no do indeed have a problem to solve and it isn't their employer.

THIS.

I have no issues saying no, or not answering at all; I don't have issues calling out either, when I need to (which is rarely).

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

It's nice to help sometimes, but the chronic under staffing that exists is not your problem. Setting boundaries and making time for personal interests is important.

I say no without a thought. Better yet, I ignore the calls if I know that I don't want the shift.

[Vwpenn]

I dont have a problem saying no by any means. Its when they still repeatedly call or text even after you said no. I think saying no once is good enough. But yet they come back with call back pay.......no! Then its call back pay plus 5....... No! And then call back pay plus 5 with guatenteed 4 patients........NO!!!!!!! I know sounds like a sweet deal right! Well usually once you get in there, were really slammed can you please take a full team?? Trust me lessoned learned the last time i went in. Never again! But how many times do you have to say no before its harrasment! Geesh!

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Instead of going the the dance of answering the phone, saying no and then continuing to say no during the desperate pleas and bribes that are usually a joke I have found that it's just easier to not answer the phone. Then I will listen to the message and on the rare occasion that the bribes to come in actually make it worthwhile I may call back. Of course by that time somebody else has usually accepted the bribe, so at least I don't feel quite as bad about not going in.

Not to hijack this but...what kind of bribes does your management start to offer when they get really desperate to fill a shift? The last one that my work pulled was calling me during vacation, wanting me to pick up a 12 hour shift from nights into days, even said in the message that there was literally nobody on the previous shift that could be mandated to fill the hole. This was a weekend night into day shift besides! They were kind enough to offer a different day off that we happened to be overstaffed for a change... in the middle of the week. Um...no thanks! I was actually a little insulted that they would think I might be gullible enough to accept that!

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

what kind of bribes does your management start to offer when they get really desperate to fill a shift?

I was offered "a bunch" of meal tickets. While I wouldn't turn them down (if I could have picked up the shift) this is not very much of an incentive given our cafeteria.

I do my best to screen out work calls and not answer. If I can go in, I will call back. If I can't or don't want to go in, I won't call back. If I do accidentally answer, I don't have a problem saying "no, I have a whole bunch of plans today." And I agree with the OP--saying "no" to work is not that difficult!

[theothers]

I started working in the hospital as a CNA when I turned 18. At first I came in whenever they called and felt guilty/anxious if I said no. I got over that pretty quick when I realized the floor would ALWAYS be short. I also don't make excuses or elaborate. "No, I cannot work today. Thank you." And that's about it.