So fed up with my coworker

Nurses Relations

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Hello everyone! I used to post here last year when I was graduating nursing school but cant remember my screen name. You all helped me so much, I was hoping for some advice once again.

I work at a small hospital that only staffs around 10 RN's. We all bust our behinds working extra shifts due to being short staffed. Here is where my issue is. We have two as needed nurses who work to fill in holes in the schedule, but we are still short.

We have one as needed nurse however who isn't willing to work any shifts for anyone and it really irks me. I am work my three days but if I ever need a day off, she never agrees to cover, like ever. She works only a few times a month. She has 4 kids under 5 years old I think and she's always using that as an excuse not to work. It really puts all the rest of us in a bind when she refuses to cover.

I don't even know why my boss keeps her around honestly, you can tell she doesn't like being there even when she has a scheduled shift. We (all us full timers) talk about it all the time. What good is having as needed employees if they aren't pulling their weight when we're short? I do not get it. Its not fair, I want to be able not to work but unfortunately I have bills to pay. I asked her once why she doesn't pick up more shifts and she just said "because I don't have to", which is really rude in my opinion.

Another thing, she gives the boss the days SHE wants to work and the boss schedules us around that. She doesn't pick up weekends or holidays ever so I am really dreading my December schedule since the other as needed nurse is leaving in a few weeks.

I really want to bring it up with my boss. I don't think its fair at all, I just don't know how to approach the subject with her. Any thoughts? Would you tolerate this from a coworker?

I'm not really sure I see the problem. I have a prn job as well and am only required to work 3 shifts in a 6 week period. No holidays or weekends though I often do work then. I have 4 kids. Granted they are age 6-12. I also have my full time job. I give my boss the days I can work for the prn schedule. That's the point of a prn job.

I could totally understand the concept if she had another full time job! You seem like you pull your weight and then some. Maybe my gripe is just with people who seem lazy-ish, and also management for dragging their feet.

If I am completely honest however, it seems like some people just do not want to work and for the life of me I just don't understand it and I guess its a pet peeve of mine.

Any PRN nurses- Why work in the first place if you only do a few days a month? Why not just stay home? I guess if I was rich enough to afford to work here and there, I wouldn't really see the point of it. (no snark intended, genuinely curious)

It is not her obligation to pick up extra days to cover you or any other employee. She chose to be prn for a reason. Are you really going to give her grief for not picking up extra shifts to be with her children?

I work part time to have a hand in raising my child and rarely pick up extra days unless there is a critical shortage. That's a personal choice and a hit to the finances but people make the choices they do for good reasons.

Her not picking up extra shifts is really none of your business. Focus on the things you have control over. End of story.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

PRN does not at the request of FT employees. Shes meeting her responsibilities working ONE shift a month just not the shift you want covered. Why is hosting a big family dinner at home any less valid than a coworker that shows up to dinner the next town over? Did she sign up to work the day after thanksgiving? No, then working that shift is your responsibility not hers. Your anger and distaste are absolutely directed at the wrong entity. I'm sure your dislike for her & her schedule is very obvious. Quite frankly if you had that attitude towards me and talked about me with coworkers as you post here I would always decline to cover your scheduled shifts. . You get PTO a per diem does not. As a FT employee I make requests for time off needed not expecting a per diem I think so lowly of to cover when I decide I don't want to work.

Your understanding of the role of a per diem employee is clearly inaccurate. They are not there to cover your last minute requests to change shifts. Plan ahead. Yes small children is a valid reason to take a PRN instead of a FT job.

OP, the issue is not with this PRN employee, the issue is with you. You clearly do not understand the role and obligations of a PRN position. It is not to cover shifts for you (or any other staff nurse) - it is to cover shifts for the employer. This employee is meeting her obligation to her employer, according to you. Usually, requesting time off (before you are scheduled to work) puts the onus on the employer to find coverage, for which they look to their PRN (or part-time) employees.

Also, stop asking her to work for you. If she wants extra shifts she will pursue them on her own. If you need a day off, sumbit it in writing to your staffing office like everyone else does.

Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.
I could totally understand the concept if she had another full time job! You seem like you pull your weight and then some. Maybe my gripe is just with people who seem lazy-ish, and also management for dragging their feet.

If I am completely honest however, it seems like some people just do not want to work and for the life of me I just don't understand it and I guess its a pet peeve of mine.

Any PRN nurses- Why work in the first place if you only do a few days a month? Why not just stay home? I guess if I was rich enough to afford to work here and there, I wouldn't really see the point of it. (no snark intended, genuinely curious)

Is this for real? Are you her personal accountant on the side, too? I'm pretty sure you have no concept of how much of a job it is to raise 4 kids....let alone 4 under the age of 5. Cripes, I don't have any kids myself but I know working full time has to be easier than that.

You don't seem to get that she is pulling her weight. She's working her required shifts. Your management isn't pulling their weight in proper staffing. Leave her the heck alone now, would you?

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I could totally understand the concept if she had another full time job! You seem like you pull your weight and then some. Maybe my gripe is just with people who seem lazy-ish, and also management for dragging their feet.

If I am completely honest however, it seems like some people just do not want to work and for the life of me I just don't understand it and I guess its a pet peeve of mine.

Any PRN nurses- Why work in the first place if you only do a few days a month? Why not just stay home? I guess if I was rich enough to afford to work here and there, I wouldn't really see the point of it. (no snark intended, genuinely curious)

She has a full time job not that it's your business--raising her children. Why does it matter to you that her lifestyle puts her children first and work per diem? Perhaps her family financial planning lets her spouse work full time and she works a shift a month to pay for extracurricular activities and incidentals. She has created a life m, as have many others m, that does not necessitate her to work full time.It is not your place to judge her choices nor is it any of your business you really need to focus your energy elsewhere and not on a nurse that chooses to work per diem. Do you know for a fact that she doesn't work elsewhere? And even if she does not, how is that any of your business? Are you upset that she makes more hourly than you since not entitled to benefits?

Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.
Your anger and distaste are absolutely directed at the wrong entity. I'm sure your dislike for her & her schedule is very obvious. Quite frankly if you had that attitude towards me and talked about me with coworkers as you post here I would always decline to cover your scheduled shifts. .

Seriously. I have NEVER done favors for people who are so blatantly salty.

I could totally understand the concept if she had another full time job! You seem like you pull your weight and then some. Maybe my gripe is just with people who seem lazy-ish, and also management for dragging their feet.

If I am completely honest however, it seems like some people just do not want to work and for the life of me I just don't understand it and I guess its a pet peeve of mine.

Any PRN nurses- Why work in the first place if you only do a few days a month? Why not just stay home? I guess if I was rich enough to afford to work here and there, I wouldn't really see the point of it. (no snark intended, genuinely curious)

(1) Maybe she doesn't have to work FT and chooses to devote her energies to raising her brood. That's not my personal lifestyle choice - but it's a perfectly valid one.

(2) It's really none of your business why she works. Maybe her family needs supplemental income with the flexibility of PRN scheduling. Maybe she needs play money. It doesn't really matter - she's meeting her obligations per your facility policy and her lifestyle choices are none of your concern.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
OP, the issue is not with this PRN employee, the issue is with you. You clearly do not understand the role and obligations of a PRN position. It is not to cover shifts for you (or any other staff nurse) - it is to cover shifts for the employer. This employee is meeting her obligation to her employer, according to you. Usually, requesting time off (before you are scheduled to work) puts the onus on the employer to find coverage, for which they look to their PRN (or part-time) employees.

Exactly. OP you are projecting your problems on to a per diem employee who IS meeting their obligations and has no obligation to switch shifts with you. Did you ask for the day after thanksgiving off in advance? I knew my holiday schedule when I worked in the hospital rotated every three years. Plenty of time to make arrangements for time off. Thanksgiving is two weeks away.

Specializes in L&D.

She does have a full time job--raising her kids...I'm guessing you don't have any kids? When my kids were younger, for me to work, we had to use daycare...That's 425$ a month per child....more for an infant.....and that's depending on where you live. California? a bigger city....going to cost you more. So for childcare she's more than likely looking at 1600-2000$ plus a month. It doesn't make a lot of sense to work full time if you are paying that sort of money. So you work when you can.....when your husband is off, or you have a relative available, etc. Maybe she home schools her kids....but even if she doesn't, it's not really anyone's business. At my FT job, a PRN person works Sundays only....and has 5 kids at home, and usually doesn't pick up any extra shifts......I don't begrudge her that. She is PRN and that's what she wants to work and is available for.

Specializes in Oncology.

She has four kids. She probably works a few days a month to get out of the house and away from the kids once in awhile, bring in a little extra money, and keep up her skills.

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