Scheduling harassment

[NurseDisneyPrincess]

This is my fourth job so far. I made the jump for a pay increase, and I've been here for around eight months. When I interviewed, I made sure I let them know my schedule and what I was available to work. I told them I wasn't available on weekends and that I wasn't interested in any over-time (I said this so they would know not to call me on my off days- my sister who is also an RN told me it's a more polite way to let them know you don't want to be called on your days off) I started working, I liked the unit and everything was fine and dandy...

Until I started getting calls CONSTANTLY to come in. It started the second weekend I was off and has not stopped since. The ringing off the wall, the pressuring phone calls that start on Friday and normally persist all the way up until Sunday afternoon. It's incredibly irritating. Part of me wants to just block my work number. It's not as though I don't have the lady balls to say no, I do, but how many times can I say that I can't and that I'm not interested? I think what makes me more angry is the fact that they always want an explanation as to why I can't come in. At first I would struggle to come up with excuses. "I've already had several glasses of wine. I'm sorry!" "I'm actually visiting my sister and she's two hours away! I can't. I'm sorry". Then after a while I realized I was being ridiculous and just started telling them the truth; that I was off work and just didn't want to work. Yet, the phone calls persist... I understand that it's frustrating to be understaffed, but my coworkers just call in constantly and there just aren't enough nurses... I'm already tired of picking up the slack once I'm there that I don't want to pick up the slack on my off days too.

My coworkers drive me bonkers as well. They always want to switch days off! I don't know how many others have weekends off, but I'm thinking it's not many. I'm constantly asked if I will switch. "Little Johnny has a baseball game this weekend. Will you switch with me?" "I have a baby shower on Saturday, want to switch me days?" From bat mitvahs to pet shows, I have heard it all. I feel a little bad, but at the same time, I ASKED FOR MY DAYS OFF FOR A REASON. I'm unavailable on weekends. I'm not interested in switching. I try not to be rude about it, but I'm always asked time and time again. Explaining that I'm unavailable doesn't seem to hit home for anyone.

I'm thinking I got spoiled because my past jobs included a mid-sized hospital and a dialysis clinic. I just had never experienced this before. Being short staffed? Yes, on the occasion. Getting bombarded with requests to switch shifts and come in? No. One would be fine, but multiple calls? Noooo.

I'm not sure if it's anything to quit over, but it is driving me up the wall. I'm starting to just turn my phone off on my days off.

Anyone else struggle with this?!

[Steffy44]

I can't believe they even hired you if you refuse to work weekends. Even our nurses who have been employed for 30 years still do their mandatory every 3rd weekend. We're a large hospital in the metro and there are a lot of nursing schools so they can be very choosy on who they hire. Our staffing is so serious that if you call in on your weekend you will be rescheduled for the next one. Keep calling in and you're fired. Now on days off...don't call me. Unless I'm on call I don't answer. I don't mind switching with my co-workers with some notice but don't abuse me. This is my second career and I have a military retirement check coming in. I don't care to do extra time!

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I honestly don't know the details' of anyone else's schedule. I can only speak for myself. During the interview I let them know my availability. They agreed. For me, it's less about "deserving" and more about negotiation. Of course, I had a job at the time. I was perfectly fine with walking had they not been able to accommodate my request (and previous places I interviewed with had certainly done that). I'm not sure how my coworkers negotiated/requested their schedule or if they did at all.

I say good for you that you negotiated. Nurses are traditionally bad at this, especially female nurses. I have negotiated better pay and shifts as well in the interview process and it has worked in most cases. For what it's worth, any resentment I received was from female nurses, the male nurses were impressed that I did so.

Negotiating works best when you aren't desperate for the job, you have to be prepared to walk away or at least be very convincing that you will walk. Obviously, it helps if they are needing to fill that position quickly too.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

You should not be insisting to have every weekend off. That is inappropriate. I worked as a bedside nurse for 13.5 years and ALWAYS had to work weekends. I was coordinator of our hospital's stroke program for 6 years. During that time, I had every weekend off. And, yes, I felt extremely fortunate.

It isn't inappropriate if she negotiated it, they agreed and she has it in writing.

[24hourshift]

Perhaps you've never been on the other side of that phone marathon trying to cover a shift. It's the ones who never want to come in and help that seem to complain the most about working short. This is how the nursing profession is right now especially direct care. As a DON in a long term care facility I can tell you I would not think of hiring a nurse who thought she did not have to work weekends at least to fill in. i don't want to work them either, but I'm going back in right now on a Friday night after a 14 hour day, on my 6th day this week. My license is on the line as well because of the staffing crisis. This is why we burn out. I hate to say that to fill today and tonight's shifts, some people got three separate calls/texts this week from 3 different people to see if they could cover, did their plans change, do they need the overtime/insentive and differential bad enough to come help. Some just won't give an inch. I feel the same way you do, I don't want to hear that phone ring and don't want to be asked. I hate to even try again, but if I don't and something happens because of staffing I have to answer for it.

**added: since when do we walk in and tell the employer what hours we can work...this is a result of the desperation in hiring felt when a facility is very short staffed. I've been there when having so many openings, you take what you can get and a person can make their own schedule. I feel your pain with the constant phone calls, but if you choose to stay in nursing, you'll have to learn to mitigate it.

[NuGuyNurse2b]

^ uh different story altogether. OP was hired with the understanding she was not to work weekends. She negotiated, her employer approved it. You scenarios are completely different...

[Agatha12]

It is very annoying that they harrass you with the calls. Maybe speak with your line manager? It shouldnt happening and they have no right to do it. As for swapping shifts, thats unfriendly and will not make you popular never to swap shift. Do they know that you dont work weekends because you want to enjoy youth? Its your right not to work them but dont expect that your colleagues will not be resentful. I though you study or have childcare issues. I swap shifts occassionaly with colleagues but never nights. I made clear that I am unwell after nights and they understood.

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

You should not be insisting to have every weekend off. That is inappropriate. I worked as a bedside nurse for 13.5 years and ALWAYS had to work weekends. I was coordinator of our hospital's stroke program for 6 years. During that time, I had every weekend off. And, yes, I felt extremely fortunate.

It isn't inappropriate if she negotiated it, they agreed and she has it in writing.

I also negotiated a "no nights, no weekends" schedule at the last place I worked, and didn't feel the least bit guilty about it. They wanted my skills so they met my requirements. That facility used to be chronic short staffed and sent out mass texts and phone calls constantly. I just didn't answer unless I wanted the OT.