Text messages from nurse manager

Nurses Relations

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I am always getting asked by my nurse manager to change my schedule around and work a different day. Most of the time if I decide to work an extra day they will low census me one of the days just so I won't get overtime, it's that way for everyone else too. I used to get phone calls and voicemails. Now I'm getting texts. I enjoy my days off and I don't like being asked frequently about switching my schedule. I know I need to be flexible and I will sometimes help out. When I first started work as a nurse I would help out a lot more because I was suckered into it by their begging, I thought I sort of had to because I was a new nurse and didn't want to be on their list of people they didn't like. When I get the text messages asking if I can work a day that I wasn't scheduled sometimes I respond and sometimes I don't. My question is, Am I wrong or rude for not respond to the text messages?

I think it's easier to say no when being asked to change my schedule, but I also see it as unprofessional. Whenever I need to send a message to the nurse manager I always send an email using my email address provided by my facility. HR was trying to keep up to date with our contact information, they were asking us for our personal email and facebook. I'm sorry but my facebook and personal email are for my family and friends only, seems like they are just trying to be nosy and keep up with employees. The only reason they have my cell number is because I don't have a landline.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse.

It strikes me as highly unprofessional. I worked recently for a company that the person that scheduled you only communicated with employees via text. I don't find it easier to say no when asked to work extra, because she would send texts directly to you and then I found I feel obligated to answer a direct question. Texts also got miscommunicated with the nurse manager as well.

Another job would call me at noon (I work nights) wanting me to come in and if I told them I had a doctor appointment or what not (as was the case once) I basically got called a liar by the nurse manager. After that, I only gave my home phone number and then I wouldn't answer if work called. I don't need them calling my cell phone on my days off pressuring me to come into work while I'm out hiking or at the pool. No thanks.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

My manager asked people to use texts to make requests and keep him up to date, so that he had it in "writing". Problem is, I don't text. Don't need it. Won't pay for it. The hospital has official email for a reason.

Unfortunately, they do have my cell number and started using it instead of my landline; my voicemail specifically says "please be aware I rarely check messages". Which is true, I often don't know where it is or if it is charged.

Can you spell "luddite"? :roflmao:

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Check another box for unions. We cannot be low needed at managers' whim.

It is perfectly OK to answer "No" to any request or not answer calls from work on your days off. It also perfectly OK to help someone out if they ask, but if they punish you with an involuntary low need later, forget that noise.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I think it's easier to say no when being asked to change my schedule, but I also see it as unprofessional. Whenever I need to send a message to the nurse manager I always send an email using my email address provided by my facility. HR was trying to keep up to date with our contact information, they were asking us for our personal email and facebook. I'm sorry but my facebook and personal email are for my family and friends only, seems like they are just trying to be nosy and keep up with employees. The only reason they have my cell number is because I don't have a landline.

You do know why they want your Facebook page.....I wouldn't give it out either

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

Oh my....did we work together for a bit?? Lol. This was how it was for a while at work (and still kind of is but not as CONSTANT). Some of us nurses would help but after a while we all started to say screw it. Let the managers clean up a mess they've gotten us into (I work home health so it seems reasonable to start refusing new referrals when every nurse is already working OT).

Anyway I finally got to where I'd just say no or not respond. I worked my time. I deserve days off just as much as management. But THEY sure don't give up their days off to work extra but us lowly little worker bees are?? Got to where it felt like a slap in the face in insinuating that our family and free time wasn't as important.

Did I mention management is exempt from all holidays, weekends, and call anyway? Yet we are expected to work 50+ hours a week because they won't turn new patients down? Yeah. Not gonna happen.

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Squirrley I used to be the "caller inner" of staff. When I am at a nurses station that just got 5 admits and the nurses are begging me to get more help it is hard for me to worry about Nurse Suzie's feelings because she gets upset and thinks it is unprofessional for me to call her.

Sure I probably won't waste my time calling a nurse who I know always says no. And it doesn't bother me that some nurses do always say no. As it doesn't bother me when the nurses who sometimes says yes says no.

I'm certain your not replying convays the message to the manager however how difficult is it to type no, or even sorry no, and hit send?

What is your solution when a unit gets hit with a lot of admits? Or a nurse has an emergency and needs to be taken off the schedule for the next few days?

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PS. Where I worked management did come in when the s**t really hit the fan.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

It depends on your unit. My coworkers and I frequently communicate with our manager via text message, particularly

if we're on call. I do like there's an electronic trail with messages. I only call if it's really important, or I expect to be writing

more than a few lines.

Overall I find texts less intrusive on my days off, as it's my usual way of communicating with people.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I disagree that you "need" to be flexible. I don't work in the hospital anymore, but when I did, if I was scheduled to work, say, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday I scheduled my week around working Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. Maybe I have a doctor's appointment Tuesday or a yoga class to go to or a date with my couch watching Maury Povich. Either way, it's my day off and I don't "need" to be available to work. I was one of those who also only gave my home phone number to work and wouldn't give out my personal email address. I wouldn't have minded texts but I would also not respond to them if I didn't want to work. My work had some stupid robot calling system and they would just send mass calls out every time they needed someone to work- they'd call you at 2PM when you worked the night before asking you to work the night shift you are already scheduled for tonight. Yeah, I blocked the number those robot calls came from after that happened.

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I truly think it is rude on their part. If the shift needs are posted on the unit then that is the way for staff to sign up and if no one signs up then that is their problem. I don't give out my cell phone number to anyone at work. My land line at home can take a message and also screen for me. It is my choice to answer or not, just like with anyone else who calls me. If they keep it up after you have asked them not to, you may pursue it further by saying they are harassing you. You are not obligated to work any other than your scheduled shifts and if you pick up overtime, you still have to work those scheduled shifts. Tell them to hire some staff!!

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