staffing tried to trick/bully me in today!

Silicone · Apr 20, 2005

Folks: No one should have to hide behind caller ID and answering machines. I always pick up and when I say "no", it means just that. I don't play hidey hole games with anyone. Thank Goodness I work in a place such tactics are not tried. I would not be able to tolerate such things. This is truly disgraceful. Betweent this and the "mandating OT" thread, I am really, really GLAD I work where I do.

Hiding? I don't think so.

Just because I have a front door doesn't mean that everyone who walks up to it gets to come in my house.

The phone is no different. Just because someone has access to my phone number does not mean they get to interrupt my peace and quiet anytime they feel like it. My personal time is my own. My answering machine is set up so that calls go straight to it - the phone doesn't even ring. When I'm sleeping or want some peace and quiet, the volume is off. If I'm expecting a call, the volume is on. Friends and family know to leave a message.

Caller ID and answering machines are tools I use to make my life more enjoyable.

Samantha

Dragonfair · Apr 20, 2005

Our staffing office calls and begs but it is handy to have others to answer the phone. The famous thing ours does is calls you in then floats someone to another floor for hell treatment. The moral in our hospital is so far down it won't ever come up. I love nursing it is the idiots who started out as nurses and live in their lilly white castle offices and forgot how to care,:angryfire just grab the money. I'm not Bitter????????:angryfire

xrockstheheart · Apr 20, 2005

They try everything and don't be surprised. That's why you should have an answering machine or an answering service. So they can leave a message. You should also have an excuse as to why you can't come in, like, sorry, i've been drinking. :chuckle

LPN1974, LPN · Apr 20, 2005

A similar situation happened at our facility a couple of years ago. My co-worker on night shift had just had surgery when she was scheduled to come in--all they wanted was a warm body to help cover the shift. So I spent the whole night doing rounds, pulling trash, etc. BY MYSELF. I was not happy. (I couldn't ask my coworker to help--she wasn't supposed to lift anything). This same co-worker was routinely scheduled to work on days when she'd had chemo, so she couldn't do her job effectively. And one night I was left to work ALONE the entire night. My boss called to let me know she was looking for a babysitter so she could be there with me, but she never showed up.
Thankfully this boss is no longer employed there. Wonder why...:icon_roll

And I guess they paid HER just like they paid YOU.

They let her come in just so it would look ok on PAPER...just to cover themselves. How unfair and what a crock.

NHs are notorious for doing that to their employees.

The one I worked in is a well known chain, across the USA.

Well staffing got to be so bad at night.....sometimes we had 2 CNAs on the night shift for about 75 or 80 patients. We should have had at the LEAST 4.

We had one CNA who was late aLOT. He was supposed to be there at 11pm, and would not show up until time for his rounds at 1am. When he did arrive he'd give the excuse he "overslept". Now isn't THAT convenient?

We had no way of getting in contact with him, only number he gave us was for an elderly lady who lived a ways from him, so she couldn't be expected to get out in the middle of the night and go to his house to try and find him.

And management just kept on allowing this bull to continue.

These are just a FEW of the reasons that I quit working there as a part time job.

Sorry for getting off the subject. I just had to say my piece about this place I worked at. I still have bad memories of that place.

xrockstheheart · Apr 20, 2005

we need to come up with a code for all the hospitals and nursing supervisors that do this. so nurses can know exactly what facility we are talking about.

like, H, for hospital, then the unit, then the zip code. the same with the nursing administrator, so we can protect ourselves from these people.

Namaste4All · Apr 20, 2005

As a student nurse looking to decide where I want to work, I beg you to come up with a coding sytem to help us all avoid the bad places. This could even work to force them to shape up.

we need to come up with a code for all the hospitals and nursing supervisors that do this. so nurses can know exactly what facility we are talking about.
like, H, for hospital, then the unit, then the zip code. the same with the nursing administrator, so we can protect ourselves from these people.

LPN1974, LPN · Apr 20, 2005

My, God, how could a code work?

There are too many places where this happens. We have 3 nursing homes in my town, how would you know which one I was talking about, unless I gave you the specific name, which I can't do on this board?

You just have to do your own investigation of any place you apply for a job at.

Go in and ask questions, ask about ratios, talk to other employees already there, look at the patients to see if they look well cared for.

Notice the SMELL, especially in nursing homes. If it smells like urine all the time, there's a BIG problem.

You just have to investigate these places on your own.

I work at a state job, It has some problems, but not nearly what the nursing home had where I worked at. And not nearly the problems stated by others at some places they've been.

I guess I'm pretty blessed to work where I do.

mattsmom81 · Apr 20, 2005

The famous thing ours does is calls you in then floats someone to another floor for hell treatment. The moral in our hospital is so far down it won't ever come up. :angryfire

OOH... hate when they take advantage of our team spirit... and use us to staff the whole hospital... :angryfire

I've learned to call my coworkers on the job to make sure the staffer is not manipulating me, as we do try to cover our unit and help each other out.

ldkrn · Apr 21, 2005

I get called often (but not harassed thank goodness) on my days off. I simply say no thanks and they move on. I will not run myself into the ground for an employer. Like they care. I look at it this way. There are many opportunities out there. Nursing is my career and I intend to continue with it as long as possible. My current position is only a job ... and if necessary it can be replaced.

There's no excuse for harassing people, and even less for lying to them. I guess I have a much lower tolerance for abuse than most people, because I would have given notice the next day. When I interviewed for my next job, I would have told them exactly why I quit the last one. There's a nursing shortage, folks! We don't need to put up with this nonsense.

Genevieve RN · Apr 21, 2005

Wow, I just read all of these stories and I am shocked. geez.

I have caller i.d. I always have my machine pick up when the work number comes on. If I speak to them, they just beg and it's annoying. If it's my boss, or a friend from work I just call back. Gives me a minute to collect my thoughts anyway. Caller I.D. is a godsend.

Mandylpn · Apr 21, 2005

I bet I can top that, how about showing up for your shift as a nurse and being told you are working as a CNA for the shift? :thankya: it happens where I work. :nurse:

Nurse Ratched, RN · Apr 21, 2005

I bet I can top that, how about showing up for your shift as a nurse and being told you are working as a CNA for the shift? :thankya: it happens where I work.

Happens sometimes at the hospital where I work, too. I don't sweat it too much - it's a nice change of pace every now and then. I enjoy the personal care stuff and don't worry about having to pass pill and chart. And they pay me the same regardless. I'll scrub toilets if that's where I'm needed (and as long as they're not just adding it on top of my regular responsibilities.)

As regards the lying to get you in, I never cease to be amazed at the stuff I read. I feel very comfortable saying no when I don't want to work/am not scheduled. No excuses needed. And if I have a copy of the schedule and I'm not on it, ain't no way someone is getting me in with those tactics.