Hello guys, I've been a registered nurse a long term care facility for 6 months. I have accumulated sick days and vacation days that I never used. Yesterday I called in to my director of nursing to tell her that I will not make it to work tomorrow because I have to take my mom to the doctor for her colonoscopy exam. She told me it will be considered a no show no call if I don't come in tomorrow because the state is there. Since I've been there I never heard of such a thing. I never called in sick before either. My cousin was suppose to take her but something came up. I called her at 6pm the day before to notify her so she could find someone to fill in my spot. That way it gives her more time to try to find someone to fill in for me. After she told me it would be a no show no call, I told her that I will tell my uncle to take her instead. He is 68 years old and could barely drive that is why I didn't ask him in the first place.
So the next day I show up to clock in and sign my name on the folder, I notice that someone sign their initials on my name. I ask what it was all about. They told me that they were waiting for me to call back to see if my uncle could take my mom. It doesn't make any sense to call them back if I already told them Im going to tell my uncle to take my mom. Not only did I waste my time driving to work, I was told to go home.
I don't know why she made a big deal out of it when she said she can't take call in when state is here, but the next day there was a PRN nurse filling in my shift for me. I wanted to ask you guys is that possible that it could be a no show no call just because state is there.
That is not the first time she done this. She told one of the other nurse that she needs a doctor note to use as a sick day. From my understanding a nurse could use their sick day without any explanation on what happen. Just call in 2 hours before hand to tell whoever is in charge or doing the scheduling to fill someone in. I know it is an inconvenient sometimes, but there are real emergencies. I'm a new nurse so I don't really know what are the rules are to use as a sick day. I look up my paid leave balances and I have 24 hours (3 sick days) and 26.5 hours (vacation days). I know that I have to give notice 30 days prior to my vacation and 2 hours notice for sick days.
When I worked LTC, it was understood that calling off those days was unacceptable. You could call the DON unreasonable, but if one nurse was allowed, we all would have. The survey terrified all of us.
My DON wasn't mean. Wasn't ruthless or heartless. She was just thinking of a survey where all the experienced nurses were out, and she had to staff with PRNs.
The whole no call no show threat was pretty stupid. But I kind of feel for the DON. In this one instance. For that one week.
imintrouble, BSN, RN
2,406 Posts
When I worked LTC, it was understood that calling off those days was unacceptable. You could call the DON unreasonable, but if one nurse was allowed, we all would have. The survey terrified all of us.
My DON wasn't mean. Wasn't ruthless or heartless. She was just thinking of a survey where all the experienced nurses were out, and she had to staff with PRNs.
The whole no call no show threat was pretty stupid. But I kind of feel for the DON. In this one instance. For that one week.