Just want your opinion on whether or not you would call out for this.
I took a new job, which I sincerely regret because I hate almost everything about it, except for the kids I care for. The job itself, the hours, some of the team members etc. I love caring for the population, but all that stuff coupled with a 2 plus hour commute each way is making the job insufferable! I am of course in the process of looking for a new one...
I have been schedule on nights this week after being on days for a few weeks and today is night number two and I have slept a whopping three hours in about 36 hours. I tried sleeping today and woke up after about 2 hours and I could not go back to sleep, so I ended up just getting up.. Because my commute is so long and the shifts are 12 hours there isn't more time for me to try again, thus I am truly beyond exhausted, to exhausted to safely drive or care for patients. If this were you would you call out? I am on orientation and I don't want to get fired for calling out, but at the same time it means I don't count as a body on the shift.
Thank you everyone for the comments. I did call out sick, as again it just wasn't safe for me to care for patients or drive! Alas the applications and resumes are out there, so I am hoping I find a closer to home job soon, that doesn't involve flip flopping shifts and catty people stuck in an office space the size of a small closet!
annie
I was once offered a Day/Night position. I figured I'd be chronically exhausted, as sleeping during the day was impossible for me. I got no more than a couple of hours.
There was an open 3-11 shift, which I promptly took. Problem solved.
Get a straight shift. Even straight Nights would be better than Day/Night rotating.
Just to clarify the actual physical commute driving, with little to no traffic is 50 minutes which is more then doable. The only time I get this is when its a saturday or sunday shift that starts at 7 am, otherwise its horrendous. I figured it wouldn't be nearly as bad as it is during the off shifts (11a-11p and 7p-7a) but it is unfortunately. I also try and take public transportation to avoid having to sit in the traffic, as I find it a little more relaxing, the problem is is that it takes 2-3 hours going that way. No easy solution
I have tried to work with the manager, as the traffic is a bit less during off shifts and it takes 1.5 -2 hours instead of more during those times, but she says she cannot do it. I was actually told could work 11a-11 pm during my interview once off orientation, and clearly that was missinformation. I was also told I would do a couple nights per a schedule (it is actually 6 plus a schedule), and that there would only be 2 or so call shifts per an entire schedule (there are usually 1 to 2 a week for each person!).
Just to reiterate my decision to leave is NOT just based on commute time, its the team dynamics and the job itself, and the schedule which they were not honestly about during my interview. Since I started 5 plus people have left, the team has very poor morale and it isn't getting any better anytime soon.
The city where this job is, is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, as in a 1 bedroom apartment in a slummy part of town cost about 2000.00 a month. A hotel room is 200.00 plus a night, so those are not options. I own a house in the woods and prefer that, and I would never live in any city! I have always wanted to work at this hospital, thus I accepted the job knowing that it may not work out, or it may end up being my dream job. It hasn't worked out, so I am looking for a new one. There are many people in this world who have taken jobs only to realize it was a big mistake... it happens!
Annie
Are there any call rooms? Or could you get a room in the Nurses' Residence if there is one. You could go there immediately after your shift and maybe catch a nap before you drive home.
Nurses gets sick too. People act like nurses don't need eat piss or cry. Listen hospitals will run just fine with or without. If you need to call out just do it appropriately.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, home care, corrections and psych.
Nurses gets sick too. People act like nurses don't need eat piss or cry. Listen hospitals will run just fine with or without. If you need to call out just do it appropriately.
They won't "run just fine" but your butt isn't the one on the chopping block if you make a mistake because of exhaustion. It's well past time for hospitals, nursing home, etc. to understand that the more they take advantage of their staff the higher their lawsuit exposure is.
Just to clarify the actual physical commute driving, with little to no traffic is 50 minutes which is more then doable. The only time I get this is when its a saturday or sunday shift that starts at 7 am, otherwise its horrendous. I figured it wouldn't be nearly as bad as it is during the off shifts (11a-11p and 7p-7a) but it is unfortunately. I also try and take public transportation to avoid having to sit in the traffic, as I find it a little more relaxing, the problem is is that it takes 2-3 hours going that way. No easy solution
I have tried to work with the manager, as the traffic is a bit less during off shifts and it takes 1.5 -2 hours instead of more during those times, but she says she cannot do it. I was actually told could work 11a-11 pm during my interview once off orientation, and clearly that was missinformation. I was also told I would do a couple nights per a schedule (it is actually 6 plus a schedule), and that there would only be 2 or so call shifts per an entire schedule (there are usually 1 to 2 a week for each person!).
Just to reiterate my decision to leave is NOT just based on commute time, its the team dynamics and the job itself, and the schedule which they were not honestly about during my interview. Since I started 5 plus people have left, the team has very poor morale and it isn't getting any better anytime soon.
The city where this job is, is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, as in a 1 bedroom apartment in a slummy part of town cost about 2000.00 a month. A hotel room is 200.00 plus a night, so those are not options. I own a house in the woods and prefer that, and I would never live in any city! I have always wanted to work at this hospital, thus I accepted the job knowing that it may not work out, or it may end up being my dream job. It hasn't worked out, so I am looking for a new one. There are many people in this world who have taken jobs only to realize it was a big mistake... it happens!
Annie
I know your immediate issue was solved but the cost of living you quote here is simply not true. I live in the city you're speaking of and my mortgage for a 3BR house is less than what you say rent is for a 1 BR apartment in "a slummy part of the city." I live in a residential section of the city that is nowhere near slummy. I have friends who own a 2 BR condo in a nice part of a neighborhood you might consider "slummy" and rent it out for ~$1300/month. I lived in an apartment in the city for 4 years before I bought my house (in an area by a lot of colleges) and rent was less than $1000/month. I have stayed at hotels by the airport when I had early morning flights and wanted to maximize my sleep for less than $80/night. We just got married and none of our out-of-town guests paid anywhere close to $200/night for a hotel room. And I just checked Priceline and there's an Express Deal today for the Hilton in Back Bay for $96 as well as a deal for the Park Plaza for $65 for tonight.
Everyone thinks this hospital is their "dream" employer until they actually work there.
I know your immediate issue was solved but the cost of living you quote here is simply not true. I live in the city you're speaking of and my mortgage for a 3BR house is less than what you say rent is for a 1 BR apartment in "a slummy part of the city." I live in a residential section of the city that is nowhere near slummy. I have friends who own a 2 BR condo in a nice part of a neighborhood you might consider "slummy" and rent it out for ~$1300/month. I lived in an apartment in the city for 4 years before I bought my house (in an area by a lot of colleges) and rent was less than $1000/month. I have stayed at hotels by the airport when I had early morning flights and wanted to maximize my sleep for less than $80/night. We just got married and none of our out-of-town guests paid anywhere close to $200/night for a hotel room. And I just checked Priceline and there's an Express Deal today for the Hilton in Back Bay for $96 as well as a deal for the Park Plaza for $65 for tonight.
Everyone thinks this hospital is their "dream" employer until they actually work there.
Are you talking about MGH?
I stayed at the Back Bay Sheraton this summer, and it was over $200 a night.
I stayed at the Back Bay Sheraton this summer, and it was over $200 a night.
No, a different Harvard hospital in Boston. I'm not saying there are no hotels in the city that cost over $200/night but saying that "hotels start at $200/night" is untrue.
umm, this has nothing to do with the commute, and more to do with the fact that I got no sleep and it was unsafe for me to drive or care for patients! Nothing to do with my commute, I just literally couldn't fall asleep because I am not used to sleeping during the day, and flip flopping between days and nights certainly isn't helping. Also as an added bonus we had a meeting Thursday morning AFTER a 12 hour night shift and were forced to stay another hour and 15 minutes which is just ridiculous! Post the minutes, but don't make your night shift stay 13 plus hours!
Please read the entire original post before accusing me of not going to work because of my commute time!
Annie
Deflect all you want, but you can't deny that you missed out on at least 4 hours of sleep r/t being on the road during your COMMUTE
Kooky Korky, BSN, RN
5,216 Posts
I was once offered a Day/Night position. I figured I'd be chronically exhausted, as sleeping during the day was impossible for me. I got no more than a couple of hours.
There was an open 3-11 shift, which I promptly took. Problem solved.
Get a straight shift. Even straight Nights would be better than Day/Night rotating.