Vent. Should I feel bad about not picking up shifts?

[KalipsoRed21, BSN, RN]

I work in a busy little ER. We are often short staffed. I hired on part-time mid-shifts which means I'm required to work two 12 hour shifts in a week. When each 6 week schedule comes out I generally pick up one shift a week to make myself 'full time' hours. But I HATE being called and asked on a day that I'm at home and off, if I'd be willing to come in.

I never agree to come in when I'm called like this. I understand that they need help and they have to ask, but is it poor of me to not agree to this?

I have, in the past, agreed to stay for 12 hours after picking up 7. I don't mind staying if I'm already there, I just hate coming in if I hadn't planned on going in at all.

Furthermore, since spring is coming kind of early this year, I didn't pick up a third day for the up coming 6 week schedule. How come I feel so guilty about this? And why is it that my co-workers seem jealous that I only work two days a week? No I don't have another job. Why? Because I've spent the last 4 years paying off as much debt as I possibly could so that I wouldn't be trapped into working a whole lot! Working part time I can pay all my bills, put some in savings, and still have enough to 'play' with on my days off. To be clear here I make $2000.00 a month after taxes and insurace. I know it's not a lot, but I didn't want to be a work slave so I keep my interests low cost or free. I don't like working for other people. I like working on stuff for myself.

Why is this wrong?

And it isn't like I'm not an active participant at work. I do a Kids Clinic for girl/boy scout troups. That was a project that was assigned to me by my employer. I know it isn't a committee, but it is advertisement for the hospital and takes a few hours every couple of weeks for me to do. Why is that not enough? I live an hour and 10 minutes away from my job! Why isn't what I do enough?

[Wise Woman RN]

Heck, no, don't feel guilty... staffing isn't your job or responsibility. and if guilt works, why hire more nurses?? Enjoy your days off... jmho..

best,

Wise Woman

[Always_Learning, BSN, RN]

I don't feel one bit guilty. I am going to school as well as working, and although I have been called and asked to come in almost every day for the last couple weeks, I mostly cannot. When will I complete school work, if not on my days off? And even if I don't have school work and just want to rest, that is perfectly acceptable. I need to rest, or I will likely get sick/burnt out/not feel well, which doesn't help my co-workers in the long run. If there is a staffing issue, I feel it like everyone else, but it is not my responsibility to fix it singlehandedly, nor can I.

You are not wrong. Don't be made to feel guilty when you are holding up your end of the bargain for how many days you agreed to work. Extra is just that...extra. And it is your choice to pick up extra or not.

[Neriah]

You make your committment, so there's nothing more to obligate you.

If you don't want to do it, than don't.

Other's expectations are their luggage not yours.

[rn/writer, RN]

If you can't resist feeling guilty, don't pick up the phone.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Do not feel guilty. I don't... anymore. It took a while for me to realize that they were taking advantage of me because I felt guilty. When they call to ask me to come in, they never have anything good to offer anyway. "Do you want to work tonight to come off tomorrow day?" We don't get paid night differentials when we work them, so there is 0 incentive for me to do this. My facility recently started using this robot call system and I would get calls to come in on days when I was already working. The final straw was when I was working 2 nights in a row... and got called while I was sleeping after the first night to see if I could work the second night. The number the calls come from was immediately blocked following this.

[beckster_01, BSN, RN]

It sounds like you have earned yourself the right to work your two days a week and be done with it. I'm sure your co-workers are jealous, but so am I! That is definitely not your problem, and don't let yourself be bothered by it. If management seems to pressure you into picking up shifts, I guarantee it is BECAUSE you are part time and they won't have to pay you much overtime. I am surprised that if they are short staffed as regularly as it sounds, why they wouldn't just hire another employee.

I always screen my calls from work. That way I can honestly think about whether or not I want the shift, without feeling pressured on the phone. There was a time when I literally switched back and forth between days and nights about 8-9 times in a 2 week period, all in interest of being a 'team player.' Let me tell you, it is definitely not worth it! I am all for picking up the occasional shift, but my own health/sanity comes first.

[merlee]

DO NOT FEEL GUILTY. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY. You are not obligated to work one minute more than you are contracted for. Not ever. When we all start saying "NO" then just maybe they will start hiring enough staff.

The exception is a true emergency, not just plugging in holes weeks in advance.

The M-F'ers (Monday-Friday admin types) need to find a way to fund more staff positions.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

I never agree to come in when I'm called like this. I understand that they need help and they have to ask, but is it poor of me to not agree to this?

No. Why would you feel guilty?

I often pick up extra shifts, but not because I am some altruistic super RN; I need the money.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

DO not feel guilty. I have posted about this before but my unit was very short staffed. I worked 48-60 hours a week almost every week for months. Some of my co-workers worked up to 72 or more. The people who did this seemed to be the martyr types not the ones who really needed all that extra money. If you didn't come in you would get dirty looks from managment and the kiss up co-workers. Talked to about being a team player,flexible, etc....... Eventually almost everyone got sick of all the overtime /mandating shoved down our throats and they hired more people. It doesn't seem like your unit is as short. I don't blame any one for not comming in on their day off. Of course they have to call you and anyone on the list, esp if you do do ot occasionally. I used to feel reallllllly guilty for not working everytime my floor was short, now I do not really care as much. Especially if it is a long term problem managment is well aware of.

[AnonRNC]

You were hired for two days a week. That's the end of your obligation. The fact that you sometimes pick up a third day is very nice and helpful to your empolyer.

[vinsonmm]

You'd think that if every time they call you refuse, not to call any more?