So fed up with my coworker

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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?

Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.

This post irks me in so many days. How do you have the audacity to be offended that she doesn't want to work extra. She's working her required hours, anything more is up to her discretion and choice. And for you to say that it's laziness just takes the cake. You have your own work ethic and she has her own. Just because she's not working extra doesn't make her lazy. She has plenty of young children that needs care and you used the word lazy? Like are you for real?

Her personal life is her business. Her financial life is her business. So stop complaining about her business and mind your own. If you can't get your days off its not her fault. If I get a message asking me to come in when I'm home and I'm just lounging around, it is up to me whether I want to or not. I worked my required shifts, even if I don't have anything going on, I can refuse. It is my choice whether I want to pick up EXTRA. No it's not laziness if I don't want to, no it's not because I'm rich. My life does not revolve around work and I like to enjoy my days off even if it's just sitting at home. So just imagine the stress of having that many little ones and having co workers that talk about her behind her back.

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

You and your coworkers are directing your anger at the wrong target. If you can only get PTO approved when you find your own coverage by a per-diem employee, then your problem is with management. I feel bad for the per-diem nurse, she is working in a toxic environment created by you and your coworkers' gossip.

Actually, I admire the fact that a woman raising 4 small children still has the fortitude to work ...any days í ½í¸Š

Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.

You know girl I know it is frustrating but you do not know what is going on in someone's personal life. What you said about her and lids(whatever)is so distasteful. Unfortunately people like you make the work place environment toxic for some people. You don't know what she is going through in her personal life and what you have said never mentioned that she did not come in for her scheduled shifts. I don't have kids yet but I tend to understand that beyond what we see at work people have their own lives to live and personal problems that they don't show you at work. She is not obligated to take those shifts as long as she covers hers. I know it's frustrating but try to be less judgemental and critical of others.

Specializes in Hospice.

4 kids under 5 isn't full time work? You're kidding, right?

I may be misreading your post, but you seem to be saying that your co-worker owes it to you to rearrange her life to meet your needs. Is that really what you mean?

If it is, then I think you're way out of line.

Having to find your own coverage for pto and sick time tells me a lot about your employer's attitude toward staff. That's where the problem lies. It's not your coworker's responsibility to compensate for it.

Start a union drive.

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)

As others posters have said, she does have a full time job - her children. Someday, you may understand.

Maybe she is "rich enough" to just work here or there, or maybe they budget well, live frugally, coupon like mad. Staying home most of the time with four young children saves far more money than you would think.

I worked per diem for many years. young children, no family to help, a husband who worked wacky unpredictable hours and was often (unpredictably) away. Daycare where I live is $1000 a month, full time. More for kids under age 2. She has FOUR children. Arranging per diem childcare - ever try it? I would have had to pay full time to secure a spot so Iwould have childcare for occasional days. Heck, no! Instead, I worked when I knew my husband would be home. I was able to work enough to maintain my license, until circumstances changed and I was able to work more.

as I said, someday, you may understand.

Specializes in General Internal Medicine, ICU.

She works on a prn basis--that means she works when she can, not when it is convenient for you or your other co-workers. As long as she is meeting the obligation for shifts worked as a prn nurse, she is free to arrange her shifts as she sees fit. She chose to be prn because it fits her life, and as long as she is working her end of the deal with your employer, you can not begrudge her for not working when you want her to work. It is not her job to make sure shifts are covered; that's your employer's job.

Like others have said, you are misdirecting your anger and frustration. Sounds like your unit isn't staffed properly and that's an issue that has nothing to do with the prn nurses not picking up the shifts you don't want to work.

I didn't mean to come off with such an attitude. I was really hoping that maybe someone had an idea about how to address this with my boss. We (my coworkers and I) all would like the situation to change, and I really just thought her working a few more shifts a month would make a huge difference. We can get PTO off but have to get it approved before the schedule comes out. Its after the schedule comes out that we have to find our own coverage, which is near to impossible.

The reason I didn't ask for the day off in advance is that Friday is my normal day off. I have probably worked maybe 5 Fridays since I was hired. I fully thought I would not be scheduled. My boyfriend and his family go camping that weekend every year and I just really wanted it to become a tradition for us as a couple.

I know that family is important to everyone and having a bunch of kids is hard work. I shouldn't have said lazy, what I meant by that was I cant even fathom the amount of free time someone who works a few days a month would have. Working an extra shift once in a while is no big deal to me I guess.

I haven't worked before getting my RN. I graduated high school, went to college and went to work right away. Maybe I am just not used to people being able to come and go as they please in regards to work.

And I guess I DID have the wrong idea of her position. It lists her as "as needed" or casual so I assumed that meant her job included being available when she was needed to cover holes in the schedule.

Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.
I didn't mean to come off with such an attitude. I was really hoping that maybe someone had an idea about how to address this with my boss. We (my coworkers and I) all would like the situation to change, and I really just thought her working a few more shifts a month would make a huge difference. We can get PTO off but have to get it approved before the schedule comes out. Its after the schedule comes out that we have to find our own coverage, which is near to impossible.

The reason I didn't ask for the day off in advance is that Friday is my normal day off. I have probably worked maybe 5 Fridays since I was hired. I fully thought I would not be scheduled. My boyfriend and his family go camping that weekend every year and I just really wanted it to become a tradition for us as a couple.

I know that family is important to everyone and having a bunch of kids is hard work. I shouldn't have said lazy, what I meant by that was I cant even fathom the amount of free time someone who works a few days a month would have. Working an extra shift once in a while is no big deal to me I guess.

Really though....are you truly being honest with yourself if you think she has a ton of free time? There isn't anything to address....the most that can be done is ask her if she'd be willing to sign up for extra shifts. Unless they change the entire policy, I'd imagine they can't make her do anything. So unless you're going to address staffing as a whole and address the need for more full time staff, your best bet would be to mind your own business.

And you wanting to go camping still isn't her problem, still isn't more important than her plans, isnt a more legitimate excuse to need time off, etc.

I still think you don't get it. Maybe one day when you have more real world experience or have kids you will, though.

Specializes in Cardiovascular Progresive Care Unit.

I know that family is important to everyone and having a bunch of kids is hard work. I shouldn't have said lazy, what I meant by that was I cant even fathom the amount of free time someone who works a few days a month would have. Working an extra shift once in a while is no big deal to me I guess.

You are seriously making me laugh. I'm 40, I have no kids and I would never ever dare to say that mom of 4 under 5 has plenty of time off because she is working only a few days a month. Seriously girl, grow up.

If my coworker that has a newborn agrees to work for me I'm thankful. If not, I am ok with it too. I recognize how important for her/him is to spend every minute with their child.

She has no obligation to work for you or your coworkers.

Try looking at it this way-she is covering that one day a week that you and one of your full time coworkers have off, so that you can work only 3 12 hour shifts a week with no mandatory overtime. Learn to plan ahead and ask off early and let your family and friends know that they need to plan ahead too so you can make it to important events. Do favors for your coworkers when they need time off and you can help them out, and they will return in kind. Don't be the one pouting and complaining that they can't get time off; if you and your cronies are sitting around complaining about other nurses it's no wonder you're short staffed. No one wants to work with a bunch of whiners!

I could never afford to stay home with my children but if I had 4 under 5 I sure would have until they got older. Trust me, there's nothing lazy about a mom staying home to take care of that many little kids. She's working alot more hours than you are.

Specializes in Oncology.

You can't fathom how much free time she has? Maybe offer to baby sit for her for an hour. You'll have a very good idea of how much free time she has.

I don't know hospital nurses that have guaranteed days off, particularly new ones with guaranteed Fridays off. When you work a 24/7 job, sometimes traditions get missed.

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