Should I feel bad for not picking up shifts?

Nurses General Nursing

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I started a per diem position at a brain & spinal cord injury rehab a couple months ago. This company has 3 different locations in town, but I was only trained for 6 days at "Location A". On the last day of my training, they tell me last minute that "Location B" needs coverage the next day. Management tells me to finish my training over there (which at this point there's 2 hours left on the shift). I think to myself, I've trained for 6 days, and it's the same company, so it should be ok right? Wrong.

For the two days that I picked up at Location B, my life was hell. 2 hours was not enough to prepare me for the havoc. Nurses are always quitting at this location, calling in, and running around like you wouldn't imagine. I can see why people are always quitting. I thought I had seen crazy, but this place is something else. They even had an LVN (with no CNA certification) pick up a CNA shift one day. When I was there, I got my head ripped off by a family member because I didn't do things how she wanted them done. She made a big scene and talked bad about me to EVERYONE. Then all the other patients & families were extremely rude to me. I know my worth as a nurse, but boy did I feel pathetic those days.

I'm more than willing to pick up shifts at the other locations. Unfortunately, the other locations are the ones that are fully staffed with no days available. Location B keeps calling me asking me to pick up shifts. Out of 19 available shifts that they have for June, I've only picked up 2. I am also taking summer classes which are demanding. So I keep rejecting these shifts because they interfere with school, or because I just don't feel comfortable going back. Even nurses with years of experience leave almost in tears.

Is it wrong for me to feel guilty for not picking up at Location B? Sometimes I feel obligated but then I think about my license and my sanity.

You have to take care of yourself, before you can take care of anybody else. Place sounds like a Hades hole.

May I suggest another PRN gig?

Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

As a per diem RN who was hired to float to 4 locations and trained on all 4 locations I stopped floating to one location for reasons of physical safety. The manager of that location tried to make me feel bad, but I talked to my float-pool manager who fortunately had my back and agreed that given the specifics of the incident that I should not return to that facility.

Sometimes I feel guilty that I can't pick up as many shifts as a location or locations would like me to, but ultimately their staffing issues are not my problem. I pick up what I can, and have learned to say "no" when I can't (or don't want to).

In your situation either ask for more training at Location B (it may or may not be better with more than 2 hours of training under you) or talk to your manager about your concerns of working there and state that if they can't address those concerns you won't pick up shifts at that location.

As an aside. An LVN does not need a CNA cert to act in that capacity. We can always take on the role of a more limited scope of practice (everything a CNA does is with in the scope of an LVN or RN), we just can't work in a broader scope than our license (e.g. the LVN can't replace an RN).

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

No, you should NOT feel guilty, not even for a minute. Refusing to answer the phone or saying "No" when they call you to take a shift at location B won't make you any friends in management to be sure, but your time is YOUR time and if you ignore them or say "No" enough times they'll probably stop calling you. That sounds like the assignment from Hell. Don't do it if you don't want to.

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Honestly, you should feel guilty... for allowing yourself to miss your own very single life because of someone else's professional problems.

You wrote that other nurses avoid the Location B as a plague spot. Unless you still want to give it a shot - with more PAID training requested - there is no reason for you not to follow the crowd. Make it clear for the HR and do not take shifts in B unless YOU feel like it.

Sometimes it helps to make a story about some school/hobby/family obligation which doesn't allow you to be on short call.

BTW, you made my day with mentioning license problems for not picking shifts being on PRN and in place nobody wants to work. I'd heard some even more extravagant things about the subject, but this one definitely makes it in top 10.

Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Sometimes it helps to make a story about some school/hobby/family obligation which doesn't allow you to be on short call.

I actually find the less I say the better. a "No, I'm not available that day." or "No, I have plans already." Doesn't leave them an opening to try to negotiate or beg. They don't have to know that my plans for the day are going to the river and laying out in the sun.

Specializes in ER.

Look at the letter you got as an offer of employment. If it only states location A you aren't under any obligation to do anything for B. I wouldn't train more for B or do any more shifts for them because they will end up floating you on your regular shifts for A to cover B. I would also be clear that you are not available for B to any staffing clerks. You can say its because they don't have supportive staff, or the assignments are too heavy, or that you want to concentrate on the one unit. they will likely tell you that floating is expected, but if its not in writing, its not enforceable.

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.
I started a per diem position at a brain & spinal cord injury rehab a couple months ago. This company has 3 different locations in town, but I was only trained for 6 days at "Location A". On the last day of my training, they tell me last minute that "Location B" needs coverage the next day. Management tells me to finish my training over there (which at this point there's 2 hours left on the shift). I think to myself, I've trained for 6 days, and it's the same company, so it should be ok right? Wrong.

For the two days that I picked up at Location B, my life was hell. 2 hours was not enough to prepare me for the havoc. Nurses are always quitting at this location, calling in, and running around like you wouldn't imagine. I can see why people are always quitting. I thought I had seen crazy, but this place is something else. They even had an LVN (with no CNA certification) pick up a CNA shift one day. When I was there, I got my head ripped off by a family member because I didn't do things how she wanted them done. She made a big scene and talked bad about me to EVERYONE. Then all the other patients & families were extremely rude to me. I know my worth as a nurse, but boy did I feel pathetic those days.

I'm more than willing to pick up shifts at the other locations. Unfortunately, the other locations are the ones that are fully staffed with no days available. Location B keeps calling me asking me to pick up shifts. Out of 19 available shifts that they have for June, I've only picked up 2. I am also taking summer classes which are demanding. So I keep rejecting these shifts because they interfere with school, or because I just don't feel comfortable going back. Even nurses with years of experience leave almost in tears.

Is it wrong for me to feel guilty for not picking up at Location B? Sometimes I feel obligated but then I think about my license and my sanity.

Two things: First, staffing is not your job. They had issues before you came aboard and will after you leave (should you decide to do so.)

Second, yes you do have a license to protect if you aren't sufficiently trained and competent in the tasks that they are asking you to perform.

No one should be "pressured" or bulldozed into taking extra shifts. You need to take care of yourself first, so that you can do the best job you can on those scheduled shifts for which you work.

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
I started a per diem position at a brain & spinal cord injury rehab a couple months ago. This company has 3 different locations in town, but I was only trained for 6 days at "Location A". On the last day of my training, they tell me last minute that "Location B" needs coverage the next day. Management tells me to finish my training over there (which at this point there's 2 hours left on the shift). I think to myself, I've trained for 6 days, and it's the same company, so it should be ok right? Wrong.

For the two days that I picked up at Location B, my life was hell. 2 hours was not enough to prepare me for the havoc. Nurses are always quitting at this location, calling in, and running around like you wouldn't imagine. I can see why people are always quitting. I thought I had seen crazy, but this place is something else. They even had an LVN (with no CNA certification) pick up a CNA shift one day. When I was there, I got my head ripped off by a family member because I didn't do things how she wanted them done. She made a big scene and talked bad about me to EVERYONE. Then all the other patients & families were extremely rude to me. I know my worth as a nurse, but boy did I feel pathetic those days.

I'm more than willing to pick up shifts at the other locations. Unfortunately, the other locations are the ones that are fully staffed with no days available. Location B keeps calling me asking me to pick up shifts. Out of 19 available shifts that they have for June, I've only picked up 2. I am also taking summer classes which are demanding. So I keep rejecting these shifts because they interfere with school, or because I just don't feel comfortable going back. Even nurses with years of experience leave almost in tears.

Is it wrong for me to feel guilty for not picking up at Location B? Sometimes I feel obligated but then I think about my license and my sanity.

This makes NO sense. Why would not picking up a per diem shift place your license in any jeopardy??

This makes NO sense. Why would not picking up a per diem shift place your license in any jeopardy??

She feels obligated, but then thinks about her license and sanity.

No, it's not worth your license or your sanity. If the conditions are as bad as you say; avoid this place at all costs. Personally I wouldn't work at either location because it sounds like they weren't being truthful with you as far as what their staffing needs were.

Nope not at all. If you are uncomfortable there then you are not going to be the best nurse you can be. You need to be able to walk into the facility with the confidence to know you can do what needs to be done. If you are losing sleep over it then ditch it. There are a million other nursing jobs you can do.

Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

You're killing yourself over a job that would replace you in a heartbeat, and without a second thought, if you quit tomorrow.

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