When NOC calls off...

Wow, I would have said no too, and stuck to it.

Why did they call the sick nurse back- what was she expected to do? And they called all staff three times? please....

When they wouldn't give a $100 bonus it would be all over- the DON can come in herself and work if she is going to be that cheap and bullying.

Hmmm I might offer to stay as a last resort for the $200 bonus, but otherwise I've notified the person in charge of staffing that they have a sick call, and my shift is over. Unfortunately once you've done something like that the BON won't bother you but you'll lose your job, and they will probably report you to the BON, that's a lot of stress. She did have options to get appropriate staff, just didn't choose to use them, so any ramifications are not your fault.

They had no business having you call people repeatedly or the nurse that called in sick. Any place that did that with me and I would quit. Those nurses' time off is just that.

It would be nice to say that you shouldn't have to stay, but in some areas, facilities can "mandate" you and require you to stay. As well as make your life difficult with the BON, because you cannot "abandon" your patients.

But the first time that they did it, I would do it and warn them "never again". The second time or if they indicate that you should expect to stay over in the future, I would find another job.

It's not at all unusual to get calls on days off to see if we'll come in for an extra shift, or early for our shift. That's how they cover unplanned absences and surges in census. I don't mind getting calls to see if I'll come in and cover, because they also know that "no" means just that. It's a huge rare exception that they call the same nurse twice, and THAT is to offer her a bucketful of money to please take that shift. Hardly an imposition.

However, what you're talking about is obscene. YOU were responsible for finding your own relief? Are you suddenly a staffing administrator in addition to your nursing duties? I suppose they're paying you for that, too...?

The first pass through the phone list, when it looked like it was going to be difficult to get you relieved, the checkbook should have come out. And someone offered to do that shift, for consideration of a little extra pay, and your DON said NO??? That tells you they don't give a bloody hoot about their staff. She wasn't interested in finding you a replacement, she was interested in doing it for free (essentially, since SHE didn't find you coverage, and she wanted the nurse doing OT to get no consideration for that).

Me, I'd be printing out my resume and taking a walk.

Wow, that is just crazy! I can not believe that you are responsible for making calls and staffing your unit. At my hospital we have a separate staffing office that handles all of this. If someone calls in sick, they make all the calls. If no one agrees to come in, we can stay extra for overtime plus incentive pay. We are NEVER obligated to stay past our shift.

I agree with those who suggested you get your resume and take a walk!

~Todd

Would someone tell me what NOC means?

I only know it as "nursing outcome."

NOC=night

I am not sure where it came from...nocturnal?

Wow, that is just crazy! I can not believe that you are responsible for making calls and staffing your unit. At my hospital we have a separate staffing office that handles all of this. If someone calls in sick, they make all the calls. If no one agrees to come in, we can stay extra for overtime plus incentive pay. We are NEVER obligated to stay past our shift.

I agree with those who suggested you get your resume and take a walk!

~Todd

Not crazy at all in LTC, in my experience. A lot of the crap they fling at nurses would never fly in a hospital setting. Just IME.

To the OP - sounds like the DON was ducking her responsibilities. Unprofessional and ridiculous.

same thing happens at the long term care facility I work at. One of our noc nurses was just fired.So they are hustling to cover noc shifts there are 2 nurses who work pm's that are now doubling shifts pm thru noc...NOW they have decided to have the A.M. nurses pass thyroid meds..are you kidding ....I get to work and the mar is flagged with all these before meal meds to pass...I surveyed 5 facilities and no matter wether the A.M starts at 6 or 7 NOC nurse passes thyroids and other pre meal meds....I told this to administration ..so now they have decided to move the time of breakfast to 8;30...are you kidding?? I am so angry the 2 nurses staying over are simply incompetant ...I am so angry...one of those staying over actually cut a 5 mg coumadin thinking she could guestamate a 4 mg...what an idiot...what times do other facilities pass???...we have a noc nurse who has no problem she follows CNA's on last rounds and passes the meds....A.M nurse gets in at 6;30 you need to fillout assignment get report do count get ice and med pass supplies from kitchen AH!!!

After the receptionist leaves I am responsible for answering all incoming phone calls to the facility. That is on top of my 27 patients / no worries though - they got us a cell phone. Whaaaatttt???? Ridiculous. If you take a call off you "own it" responsible to somehow someday cover the shift. I was calling around begging CNA's to cover third shift on another unit - not even my own! When I came back I had two on the floor - fantastic.