What would you say?...

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I'm trying to get a feel for what fellow nurses would do in the situation that was just handed to me...any comments are appreciated.

My facility requires RNs to take a certain number of "core classes" per year. We do these on our days off, and we are paid for them. We do self-scheduling and we make sure to write "class" in the day so we can have off. It was approved 3 weeks ago for me to go to this class tomorrow and work the next three days after and the weekend (evening shift)

I just got a call from my charge nurse (2030 the night before) that I may get a call in the morning...and if I do...I have to work day shift on the floor. And not just my floor...but any of the 3 floors my manager is responsible for.

There was no word of on-call pay, bonus pay, etc. My facility does not to mandatory OT...but this is manadatory OT...I'm already scheduled my required hours this week...and they are telling me I HAVE to come in if I am called. Mind you, I'm a med-surg nurse...we don't get on-call!!

What would you do/say? This is being decided by my unit manager and the nursing supervisor. I simply don't know my options and I'm afraid if I speak up I will be fired.

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just call in sick

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Although that would work...I like to save my sick days and points for when I am sick...I'm always worried I will get sick (prime flu season) and I like to know I won't get fired when I am sick.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

This is the part of nursing I don't like. They know that right now, everyone needs a job and they use that against you by threatening, that's if they haven't already done that. At times, I feel these sneaky thing mangers do... is slavery

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Careful ...

You and another allnurses.com poster may very well work at the same place ...

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I would not answer my phone.

I would go to the class.

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You shouldn't have answered the phone at 2030, keep that in mind, and don't answer your phone from now on.

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I'll say the same thing I said to your coworker? in the other thread:

You have every right to say NO.

"First of all, hospital policy states you cannot change my schedule with this short notice. Secondly, you know perfectly well that it is against policy for you to force me to work overtime. Third, I have an important commitment after the class which I have scheduled in advance that I am not going to miss. I'm happy to be flexible with notice, but I think you are well aware that what you are asking is not only against hospital policy, but completely unreasonable."

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Specializes in Oncology, LTC.
Careful ...

You and another allnurses.com poster may very well work at the same place ...

Yes, this sounds eerily familiar...I would look at the other poster's thread and take our advice from that post!

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Yea we both posted a thread without knowing we were until we looked at the board after it was done. Oops sorry for the replicas but we r both-needless to say- p*ssed! Yea next time I won't answer...the only reason I did was because they called twice in a row and I thought something was wrong.

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Sorry but my work only gets to do this once then they only get the answering machine from then on. I would not answer the phone and state that your school/professor insist on cell phones off. You might have study group before class. There are a number of perfectly valid reasons that you were unable to receive the call or go in. Remember it is not your issue it is theirs. They are not paying you to solve their staffing issues you are placing your grades on the line if you do not attend class. I always volunteer frequently for overtime so that they cannot complain when I am not able to work.

PS. If it is important enough they will leave a message.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

My work has gotten sneaky where they will use people's cell phones to avoid the dreaded _____ hospital showing up on the caller id!

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