They won't stop calling me!

Published

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

Specializes in Med/Surg.

Also, how "exhausted" the OP is or not from working weekends is COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT. It's not about being exhausted. It's about being able to work the hours she was hired for, and those hours only. People generally take positions that have hours that accommodate the other facets of their life.

Lastly.......I would like to know what creed you speak of. I agreed to nothing that required me to sacrifice myself, or that meant my life was no longer my own but belonged to other people (read: patients).

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
This is kind of a...."backwards" apology, since it then goes on to acknowledge that not everyone has the same "view" (read: loving the profession, etc). So, anyone who DOESN'T come in whenever asked, answer every cry for help with staffing, be a martyr... does NOT love their job, their patients? FYI, they're not YOUR patients, you don't *own* them. They are people, placed under your care when you are functioning in your JOB.

It is what YOU chose. Most would not agree with placing their JOB (not their "calling," sorry) above their children. If that's how you feel, fine, that is your prerogative...but in NO way should that be the expectation placed on every person that decides to become a nurse. It is both unreasonable and unattainable.

I had a great talk one time with a previous boss of mine. I was working 12 hour night shifts at the time, 3 days a week. I had taken an on-call position in a new department, to supplement that. The requirement was to be on call 40 hours per month. Doable. However, since it was a new program, it was very difficult to complete orientation...I would take the call hours required, but would not get called in, therefore could not get my training. I met with the director of the program to discuss the issue (she also happened to be our CNO). Essentially, she expected me to carry the on-call pager WHENEVER I wasn't working. I told her this was not feasible; if I just got done working a 12 hour shift, and had to come back that night, I couldn't be on call during the time in between (that's one example). I told her that I was taking the hours of call I was expected/required to take. Her response was, "this is not an *expected* hours only kind of job."

I walked out of that meeting feeling like complete cr@p. I relayed the convo to my boss, and he told me not to let it bother me. He said, she was the type of person that work was her LIFE, to the detriment of her husband and (now-grown) kids. He said, "I love my job, and care about my staff, but work is NOT my number one priority in my life. It comes somewhere after my marriage, my kids, my church, and that there is nothing wrong with that." And let me tell you, this man was a FANTASTIC nurse, and manager (we ALL cried when he left, and ironically, he left because he did not agree with the corporate changes that were happening, and he was powerless to be able to improve anything). He told me that there is NO reason at all to feel guilty for taking your own time for yourself, your family, or anything else important in your life (and he was TOTALLY RIGHT).

Now, the director that replaced him was his complete opposite. She went as far as to say, TO STAFF, "it shouldn't matter if you work holidays, you're single." So, because I'm not married (she didn't say this to me, but to a fellow unmarried coworker), I should be perfectly happy to work every holiday? That sort of thing. Completely disrespectful of her staff as people. She is one thing I DO NOT miss about that job!!! My time and my family are very important to me. I took good care of patients, I was dedicated to doing the best I could for them, but at the end of the day, it didn't run my life. They're not going to be the ones holding my hand when I'm taking my last breaths. No one ever looks back on their life and thinks, "I should have worked more hours when I had the chance."

Thats the part I had to learn in "Time for some introspective thinking."

On another note though: I think you should change your screen name. I think you are more of a StrawberryHurricane or a BlueberryTornado.

Or, how about BannanaGust.

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It most certainly is. I'm still feeling it now even though I've taken steps to correct my approach to things. Hope it isn't too late.

You and me both...

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Thats the part I had to learn in "Time for some introspective thinking."

On another note though: I think you should change your screen name. I think you are more of a StrawberryHurricane or a BlueberryTornado.

Or, how about BannanaGust.

I'll take the name change under advisement. :) Cherrybreeze is my absolute favorite dessert, though, so it'd be hard to get rid of.... ;)

I agree, sometimes hearing someone else say it is what you need. I felt SO low after being told that essentially, if I wasn't giving of myself 24/7 to my job, I wasn't good enough. He knew exactly how I felt, and knew exactly what to say. I had been an RN maybe, 3 years at that time? 4? Not long enough to not feel guilty, at any rate. I've never forgotten that conversation.

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I never recited that tripe, and I sure as sugared beets never signed anything to that effect. Therefore I cannot be held to such hallmark greeting card standards of "professionalism." ;) What I would do is keep my commitment. I would work exactly what I promised to, I would never shirk my responsibility and not be where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there. Neither would I be there when someone else was supposed to, greeting card suggestions notwithstanding.

I agree, sentimental slop whoever wrote that also wrote the song "Mother"

M is for all the thing she gave me...o is for...blah, blah...makes me want to puke!

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
I'll take the name change under advisement. :) Cherrybreeze is my absolute favorite dessert, though, so it'd be hard to get rid of.... ;)

I agree, sometimes hearing someone else say it is what you need. I felt SO low after being told that essentially, if I wasn't giving of myself 24/7 to my job, I wasn't good enough. He knew exactly how I felt, and knew exactly what to say. I had been an RN maybe, 3 years at that time? 4? Not long enough to not feel guilty, at any rate. I've never forgotten that conversation.

RaspberrySunlight

PomegranateMountainView

GrapeDipInThePool

?

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
I agree, sentimental slop whoever wrote that also wrote the song "Mother"

M is for all the thing she gave me...o is for...blah, blah...makes me want to puke!

At first I was like "Eh?" cause I thought you meant the other Mother song:

MOHTER

NOT ABOUT TO SEE YOUR LIGHT

AND IF YOU WANNA FIND HELL WITH ME

I CAN SHOW YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE

TILL YOU'RE BLEEDING

OOOH MOTHER

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Momma.....Just killed a man....Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he's dead....

...Momma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true. Momma's gonna put all of her fears into you. Momma's gonna keep you right here under her wing

She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing. Momma's will keep Baby cozy and warm...

Mothers, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys...

Edit to bring it back on topic: These are a sampling of lyrics that one could start singing when they answer the phone for the millionth call trying to get one to come into work. If you can manage it with a funny accent, maybe they'll think you changed your number!

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I have the charge nurse phone number listed as do not answer. Along with several other numbers so I never know who is calling and thus never answer.

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I wonder if the "creed" she was referring to was the Nightingale Pledge? Which, by the way, was not penned by Florence Nightingale.

"I solemnly pledge myself before God and presence of this assembly;

To pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully.

I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug.

I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling.

With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care."

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Specializes in LTC, Disease Management, smoking Cessati.

Just say NO! don't let them intimidate you. It is their responsibility to find someone suitable for the job.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
Momma.....Just killed a man....Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he's dead....

...Momma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true. Momma's gonna put all of her fears into you. Momma's gonna keep you right here under her wing

She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing. Momma's will keep Baby cozy and warm...

Mothers, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys...

Edit to bring it back on topic: These are a sampling of lyrics that one could start singing when they answer the phone for the millionth call trying to get one to come into work. If you can manage it with a funny accent, maybe they'll think you changed your number!

Wonder if my old voicemail message would do the trick for OP?

"Hello, you've reached [insert first name]. I have caller ID so: I either can't come to the phone or I looked at the caller ID and don't want to talk to you. So, leave a message and I'll get right back to you, unless I didn't answer cause I don't want to talk to you."

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