Who is responsible to find shift coverage?

[rn865]

I work in a small, privately owned urgent care. There are two nursing staff (use term loosely because I'm fhe only nurse left and the rest are MAs) and one doctor working each day. Our nurse manager was fired a few months ago and being the only nurse left, i was handed the position as interim. Basically the extra responsibilities would be to order supplies, make the schedule etc in addition to working my own 3-12hour shifts per week.

a situation came up where one of the MAs asked someone to cover her and that person said yes, only to take it back after a few days. I got into an argument with the first MA because i told her it is her responsibility to find someone to cover her shift since the other one cannot, otherwise she needs to come in. She cannot find anyone else. For her, since i am "manager" i should be responsible. Obviously, we do not have a traditional manager-employee setting because I work as staff as well. The month before i make the schedule, i let them put in their requested days off with the agreement that once it is scheduled, it is their responsibility to work their shifts.

Am i in the wrong here? The reason i cannot work is i am scheduled at my other job already (which i've had for 2 years before this happened). She cannot work because she has a test coming up (going to school for nursing).and she is not prepared.

oh, and I'm working 9 days in that two weeks already to cover her other shifts.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

It's her responsibility of course. However, as you know, it will come down to you, the manager, as having not covered the shift.

While I understand that you have been thrown unprepared into this situation, I don't think that you should be arguing with an MA. Yes, you are also staff at times and your management position is presumably temporary, but you are currently in charge and you are the "Nurse" in "Nursing Staff."

Who do you report to? Is there any advice/support to be had from that person?

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

I would make her work. Its her shift. Her coverage fell through, it is back on her.

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

As the Nursing Supervisor in my small clinic: I am responsible to do the schedule, take sick calls, and find coverage.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

As the Nursing Supervisor in my small clinic: I am responsible to do the schedule, take sick calls, and find coverage.

But this isn't a sick call. It's known well in advance that the MA "can't" work because she wants to study for her test. I think that's a whole different scenario from finding coverage for call-ins.

[Nurse Leigh]

Actually I tend to think that the MA who agreed to cover the shift made a commitment and should honor it or find coverage. In my experience once you've agreed to take a shift from someone else it is yours.

[rn865]

It's her responsibility of course. However, as you know, it will come down to you, the manager, as having not covered the shift.

While I understand that you have been thrown unprepared into this situation, I don't think that you should be arguing with an MA. Yes, you are also staff at times and your management position is presumably temporary, but you are currently in charge and you are the "Nurse" in "Nursing Staff."

Who do you report to? Is there any advice/support to be had from that person?

Unfortunately there's hardly any distinction with an MA and RN because we all do everything from front to the back. And this MA was hired only a couple months after i was hired 4 years ago. We are close so my husband thinks maybe she is taking advantage of that.

The only person I report to is one of the 6 doctors who is the actual owner. I'm planning to draft a little policy regarding this and other matters and have it looked over/approved by that doctor. This will make everything clear and will also benefit the two new employees we are about to hire. Honestly, it looks like they have no plans of finding a new manager. I am grateful that I was given a chance to do this but I was not prepared nor do I want to give up my other job because of this.

[OCNRN63, RN]

It's on the MAs to work it out. I tend to agree with Nurse Leigh; if the second MA can't work, she should find coverage.

[rn865]

As the Nursing Supervisor in my small clinic: I am responsible to do the schedule, take sick calls, and find coverage.

Do you work as staff nurse as well like i do? If I was a traditional manager or supervisor who oversees the schedule, then of course thst would fall under my responsibility. Unfortunately, we do not have that setting.

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

Yes I agree it is not a sick call. I would make her work unfortunately. Her coverage fell through. And she needs to learn how to manager her time better for studying outside of work so that she does not need days off of work to study. Yes I do work as staff nurse as well.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

If it were my unit, if am official time change went in and the second MA was on the schedule then it is now her shift and she needs to find coverage or take it as a call off. If no official time change went in and it was a verbal agreement then it goes back on the first MA.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

If the person agreed to work her shift, then she should be the one penalized. You cannot agree to work a shift and then turn around and say you can't!