They won't stop calling me!

[optimist]

The facility I work in had an organized 'Wound care dept' consisting of 2 nurses during the week and myself on the weekends. We are the only ones that do wound care in the building because we recieved special corporate training and can provide consitancy with care and documentation. Something happened recently that caused the facility to lose both of thier weekday nurses at the same time. Since then the scheduler/don/admin have been blowing up my phone begging me (on my vmail) to come in and help since Im the only one left that knows all the proper documentation (anybody can read the TAR, but few know how to properly measure and describe). I havent returned their calls for several reasons 1)I dont feel like its my place to run in and rescue them, they should have had a plan in place before they let those nurses go. 2)With all of the drama going on in that building, Im afraid to do anything above what is expected of me for fear my head will be the next to roll 3)pulling extra shifts there does not earn you any brownie points or incentives, its just kinda expected and 4)I rather enjoy my weekdays off with my babies. So how do I get them off of my back. So far Ive just been ignoring their phone calls (and they are getting crafty using their personal cells to call me now). I hate to make up some excuse but Im not sure how honest to be in telling them I dont want within 100 feet of that place till saturday??

Thanks

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I find this very interesting. Your time off was denied, so in retaliation you refused to come in for any other shifts. Which means that your co-workers might also be denied time off because someone won't cover. Which means they might stop picking up shifts.... etc. Alternatively, if everyone were willing to pitch in a little bit more when they are able (NOT ALL THE TIME, just sometimes), everyone would be happier, you might have gotten your time off and you wouldn't be so bitter about it all.

While I still place a lot of value in the "team concept" and like to help those who will probably return the favor or those who are simply in a major pinch.............you can go too far with this too.

I know how the person you quoted felt when they said "Nah" to making things good for others for awhile. I've said it before and I stand by it:

There are two groups in nursing, and only two. Not everyone fits on one category or the other, but pretty darn close to it.

Group 1: Always calling off. Never happy with the schedule. No matter what days they have off the schedule was made wrong. Constantly asking for "favors" and needing this/that accommodation for w/e the emergency of the week is.

Group 2: The accommodating crowd. The ones that come in when group 1 calls off. The ones who change their schedule so group 1 can make it to w/e emergency appointment they can't miss. Rarely asks for favors or schedule changes.

Now, if you spend a lot of time acting like group 2, then realize the favor is not being returned on the rare occasions you need one.............why not quit giving it away free? Take a break from being the hero and let Group 1 go awhile with having to pull their weight. I've done what the person you quoted did before, and yes..........attitudes changed after a few Group 1's found out I was declining to accommodate them.

"Teamwork" implies a two way street. If you find yourself on a one way street with all the traffic headed one direction, never coming from the other side...........phffft.......be done with it, pronto.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Right. You know, I read through most of this thread. For those people who seem to think that you are required to even answer your phone on your day off....uh, no. Now, I usually do answer my phone and say yes or no to a shift. However, the fact is, a day off is a day OFF. They can call if they want, but it's my choice whether or not I'll take the call or let it go to voice mail. You don't owe them anything on your day off, and that includes answering your phone.

All the guilt trips are too much. We have thousands of unemployed nurses. These problems could be easily solved.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

There are two groups in nursing, and only two. Not everyone fits on one category or the other, but pretty darn close to it.

Group 1: Always calling off. Never happy with the schedule. No matter what days they have off the schedule was made wrong. Constantly asking for "favors" and needing this/that accommodation for w/e the emergency of the week is.

Group 2: The accommodating crowd. The ones that come in when group 1 calls off. The ones who change their schedule so group 1 can make it to w/e emergency appointment they can't miss. Rarely asks for favors or schedule changes.

Absolutely. The people who "need" the most switches are the least likely to help out others when they need a switch. I've helped people that I know aren't going to help me out. I figure putting out that good karma will hopefully help when I need a bit back. But believe me, I only put myself out to work for someone else if they're someone that does the same.

And really, I'm someone you should want "owing you" a few favors. I actually LIKE working holidays. I shouldn't have to work nearly as hard as I've had to for the few times I've needed a schedule change.

[Psychtrish39, BSN, RN]

RaspberrySunlight

PomegranateMountainView

GrapeDipInThePool

?

I am getting thirsty.. I am reading but sitting this one out LOL .. but learning I learn from everyone on this site... and how we argue and then come to an understanding wish it was like that in the real world more often...

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

To illustrate the points mentioned: I was called today to work and I already have FT shifts. I also worked OT last week to cover an unexpected shift. I declined. Another nurse who routinely asks for favours just had 3 weeks off. When they asked her to work, she said "No I'm busy." Well, she works like 8 shifts a month. I'm maxed out. I lost it. "Tell her she should help out too! She has loads of time off."

She had to go in. Fair is fair and enough is enough. It's ok for everyone else to rearrange their life and not her? Bull****!

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

To illustrate the points mentioned: I was called today to work and I already have FT shifts. I also worked OT last week to cover an unexpected shift. I declined. Another nurse who routinely asks for favours just had 3 weeks off. When they asked her to work, she said "No I'm busy." Well, she works like 8 shifts a month. I'm maxed out. I lost it. "Tell her she should help out too! She has loads of time off."

She had to go in. Fair is fair and enough is enough. It's ok for everyone else to rearrange their life and not her? Bull****!

Well, to be fair, NEITHER of you HAD to go in. If you were both not scheduled to work that day, neither of you had the obligation to go.

That being said, I think it would have been courteous of her to offer to, or to just say "yes" when asked. However, I DO know that it does irk me when just because I took a week of vacation that I am allowed to take, then that means that I "have" to then pick up more hours because of it. Kind of eliminates the point of taking vacation, if you ask me.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Except the boss is away, everyone else has another job, and there is one nurse. So if she didn't go in then the nurse on duty would have worked 24 hours, which can't happen. So unfortunately, it came down to 3 of us, and 2 flatly refused.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

Except the boss is away, everyone else has another job, and there is one nurse. So if she didn't go in then the nurse on duty would have worked 24 hours, which can't happen. So unfortunately, it came down to 3 of us, and 2 flatly refused.

I can see your point, then. It becomes a different situation when the facility (or wherever you work) is so small.

Glad she stepped up to the plate.

[Mulan]

Except the boss is away, everyone else has another job, and there is one nurse. So if she didn't go in then the nurse on duty would have worked 24 hours, which can't happen. So unfortunately, it came down to 3 of us, and 2 flatly refused.

Agency?

[Katie5]

The facility I work in had an organized 'Wound care dept' consisting of 2 nurses during the week and myself on the weekends. We are the ONLY ones that do wound care in the building because we recieved special corporate training and can provide consitancy with care and documentation.Thanks

This..

Perhaps may be the reason they keep calling you.