I was offered a position at a hospital I had worked at as an agency LPN, and I accepted. My agency was wonderful and knew that I was looking for a permanent place, so they let me go, w/o charging a fee. It was for float pool, but due to poor staffing, I somehow am still working 48 hrs a week (four 12's back to back, w/ weekends off).
Yesterday I received a call from the house supervisor, who told me that my shift was cancelled(I work 7p-7a, so this call was around 4p). So, I grabbed a few friends, told them I was off for the night, and went to catch a movie, followed by dinner. After I had gotten to dinner, and remembered to turn my cell phone back on (had it on silent during the movie), I noticed I had a voicemail. The VM stated that "One of our LPNs called and quit, and I know you were called off, but we need you. Come in ASAP".
I called the nursing office, but no answer. I hadn't worked in a few days(fri-sun, and then was cancelled on monday), so tonight a friend calls to check on me. I was then informed that I was labeled a no call no show:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire and I have to work dayshift tomorrow to meet with the house sup and the nursing director at the hospital to explain myself.
I know I posted this as a vent thread, but was I wrong? I was told I was cancelled, went out to a place where I couldn't use my phone, and then they decided they needed me. I wonder if this will result in disciplinary action? Getting an LPN position in a hospital is hard in my area, and I don't want to lose my job, but I fear what tomorrow brings. Any advice? I really love this job...
Even if they had happened to get in touch with you that evening.. it would simply be a matter of them ASKING if you would work. They had already cancelled you and you have no obligation to even agree to come in after that IMO. *shrugs*
Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.
At my hospital when someone is called off, the hospital still has a "grace" period where they can call you back in. It is not the same as being on call. I have heard of many hospitals having this.
I worked at a hospital that might call you off, but you had to hang around the phone for a couple of hours (never stated how many) just in case they needed you to come in after all. Sometimes I did get called back in. But if your hospital didn't tell you about a policy like that, then you should not have to be held responsible for believing them when they called you off.
We have 4-hour cancels and all-shift cancels...it's self explanatory.
If there's no policy, you're not a piece of meat they can put on the hook until they decide they need you.
Either you're canceled or you're not, or they should pay for call...which is invariably a bad deal 'cause they typically pay a buck or two to keep you on a leash.
Something similar happened to a nurse I know. The charge nurse called her off for four hours (3p-7p) at 1pm. The nursing supervisor called her at 215 to tell her she was no longer called off and she had to be there at 3p. The nurse wasn't actually under any obligation to come in, the supervisor just messed up and tried to cover herself. The nurse came in anyway, but was a little late, but she didn't know she didn't have to come in. Some people are just sneaky.
Anyway, I'm glad you kept the voicemails, and I hope everything's fine.
I'm sure it's infuriating and even a little scary that you're being accused of something you obviously didn't do, but try not to stress yourself out over this! Unless you've had problems at work and they are looking for a reason to get rid of you, I'd bet it's just a misunderstanding.
Something similar happened to me once except I had called off sick and the supervisor forgot to write it down so it looked like I was a no call no show. Our policy requires us to call off to the supervisor and she will then relay to the floor, but I always call off to both just to make sure the floor knows before the shift starts that I won't be there (just in case the supervisor doesn't get them the message for some reason). The next day I went to work and the manager called me in and I was floored that I had been listed as a no call no show. I explained I had called off both to the floor and the supervisor--she double checked and sure enough, it was a simple oversight where it just didn't get recorded properly. As long as your hospital doesn't put you on call rather than doing a true call off, you should be fine. And if you were called off by mistake, you have the voice message to prove it wasn't your mistake.
As a per-diem RN, I have been canceled or put on-call many times...as simply stated above...if you are put on-call, you remain available and are paid a certain amount for your time on-call per your facility's policy...if you are canceled you are free to do as you want....
I went in for my 7a-7p shift, and talked to the house sup and nursing director. It was a misunderstanding, and they didn't even want to hear the voicemail! I made it VERY clear that I was upset, and was informed that this particular house sup(the one that left the VMs), was being closely watched as it is. Thanks to all of you for your support, as this could have been a tragedy! FYI: I asked if they have a grace period or anything like that for call-off procedures. I was told that being called off at my hospital means just that: You're off. Thanks again!
I went in for my 7a-7p shift, and talked to the house sup and nursing director. It was a misunderstanding, and they didn't even want to hear the voicemail! I made it VERY clear that I was upset, and was informed that this particular house sup(the one that left the VMs), was being closely watched as it is. Thanks to all of you for your support, as this could have been a tragedy! FYI: I asked if they have a grace period or anything like that for call-off procedures. I was told that being called off at my hospital means just that: You're off. Thanks again!
So Alive, LPN
Glad to hear that is resolvd and you don't have to worry about that anymore!
Straydandelion
630 Posts
Even if they had happened to get in touch with you that evening.. it would simply be a matter of them ASKING if you would work. They had already cancelled you and you have no obligation to even agree to come in after that IMO. *shrugs*