Work calling 3-4+ times a week to come in

Nurses General Nursing

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My work calls at LEAST 3-4 times a week to cover call offs and empty shifts. I have not gone in due to various reasons, mostly due to health issues. I am young, single, and have no kids, so everyone thinks I should come and do it. I am not open about my health issues at work, so nobody knows, not even my manager. I am also in school full time and simply don't have the time. I am afraid this is going affect my performance review, but my health and schoolwork come first. What do y'all say when they call you and give you the guilt trip?

Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
My work calls at LEAST 3-4 times a week to cover call offs and empty shifts. I have not gone in due to various reasons, mostly due to health issues. I am young, single, and have no kids, so everyone thinks I should come and do it. I am not open about my health issues at work, so nobody knows, not even my manager. I am also in school full time and simply don't have the time. I am afraid this is going affect my performance review, but my health and schoolwork come first. What do y'all say when they call you and give you the guilt trip?

Why do employers shift the responsibility to the staff rather than hire enough nurses to cover all shifts? It seems that if your facility is calling you multiple times each week to cover for call-offs or unscheduled shifts, it should dawn on SOMEBODY that there's a need for more nurses, permanent or temporary, scheduled or per diem.

It shouldn't matter if an employee has children or not, is going to school or not, has health issues or not, is young or old or single or married---your time off is your own and your employer should respect that. I can understand it if there's an emergency or if it's only occasionally that they call you, but several times a week tells me that there are some serious issues with the corporate culture. It sounds to me like they value nurses who are martyrs and are willing to put off all other responsibilities to come to work.

Many times, also, nurses are not good about saying "No." I think you are right to stand your ground, especially if they're calling you so frequently. Unfortunately, the acute job shortage seems to give some employers an excuse to behave badly and take advantage of nurses.

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

Don't let them give you guilt! Repeat after me, "No, I cannot work that shift. I have plans." If you know that there might be a day of the week that you are more available, give it to your nurse manager or post it on the schedule, etc. That way, when they call, you can say, "Remember, I'm only available for extra shifts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, due to school commitments."

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This job and my old job would call once and that was it. Sometimes if I answered they would beg. But if I couldn't, I couldn't. I have kids, I go to school and sometimes I just need a night off. Just have a few excuses available if you need to give one or like others have said, go with the "I have plans I can't change" . I've never known anyone to get fired because they couldn't work when called - it would be almost like biting off their nose to spite their face. Now they need to fill your shifts.

I agree with Moogie. If they have to continue to call so often, when will it hit them that they need some additional nurses???

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Specializes in ICU, MICU, SICU.

Some days I get 3-4 calls a day from an automated message asking me to work the 7p shift. I never, ever, ever answer the phone. Well, I do answer it if I'm in the mood for OT (almost never). If everyone stops answering, they'll get the point that we are understaffed and hire more people... yeah, right :)

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Specializes in ICU, Cardiac.

Don't answer the phone - let them leave messages. There are days that we get 2 - 3 calls a day for help. My answering machine is my friend. Now if the voice on the other end offered an incentive, such as double time for me changing my plans, I may pick up......

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The staffing office is placing calls to Everyone not currently on duty. It is Not personal in any way. There shouldn't be any problems declining overtime. And please,,SKIP the guilt trip, we already feel guilty about too many issues that are not our fault!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
What do y'all say when they call you and give you the guilt trip?

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

Repeat as needed until they get the message.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i bought my first answering machine in 1984 because the staffing office would call three times before the start of each shift. "can ruby come in to work in micu?" then "can ray come in to work in ________?" (ex-husband was a float nurse.) then "if ruby or ray could come in" or "if ruby and ray can come in, i'll make sure you work on the same unit." those were 8 hour shifts. nine phone calls every single day on our days off; sometimes more. sometimes micu would be calling me when i was actually at work in sicu. call screening saved my sanity. now i don't answer the phone unless i know who's calling and i want to talk to them.

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Specializes in PCCN.

Call Screeninggggggggg!!!!!!

I usually come up with some excuse once I do see the secretary at work(they put her up to it) i seriously do not feel guilty. Ever.

I must say they usually don't call that often. maybe its nice to have a large employer and be only a number :lol2:

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Specializes in Hospice.

Don't feel guilt , i often say no. I get called that much as well and i have kids....they Call everyone. I no longer answer calls unless i know the number because the scheduler calls from other phone lines ;)

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Specializes in ER.

I'm with Ruby. Having gone through this a few times I say check your job description first for any written requirements. Let them know the phone calls are disrupting your private time and you are not available for extras especially since you are at school. they will ignore your wishes, but you can say you gave them a chance. Then get a new phone number and don't give it to work. Let them know you are available by email, and you check that more often than you check your messages anyway. They will counter with the need to get hold of you in an emergency. But the hospital is required to have a written protocol to deal with that. You are not on call 24/7 for vague hypothetical disasters. If a real emergency pops up they are welcome to send the town cop round to your house, and you will come in as soon as you are available. Otherwise, no dice.

I came to just dread the ringing of the phone because if I picked up it was a big guilt trip, and asking why I couldn't come in. There was also the threat of mandatory overtime where if they got you on the phone they would just tell you to cover the next shift or it was your job. I still hate phone calls, and it all started with that harassment. Put your foot down. If they are calling 3-4 times a day they just need to get their act together. If they don't do it, you protect yourself.

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

Just a funny sidenote. I bet alot of you don't remember when everyone didn't have an answering machine, or caller ID, but I do. While working LTC, long ago, we finally got an answering machine. Well, the DON, at my then workplace, would call alot to fill in call ins. The DON, would fly off the handle at a drop of a hat, always wondered if she needed hormones. I can still remember the tongue lashing I got the first time she called my house to get me to come in, and got our brand new answering machine, instead of a person at the other end. She was livid the next shift I worked.

But my opinion is, if you can't go in don't answer the phone. Don't let them make you feel guilty, your time off is your time off.

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