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Reality Unscripted
Extra Shifts R Us

You've just finished your fourth twelve-hour shift. You're exhausted. You're looking forward to a few days off. All you can think about is sleep. After a day of unconsciousness, you'll try to catch up on laundry, errands, and friends. The hours off already feel too short.

That's when you see her.

Your supervisor is headed your direction. She has that "I need a favor" look in her eyes. You swear under your breath, consider running for the exit, and then force a weary smile. She's got you cornered, and you both know it. You know what's coming. The father of one of the other nurses died this morning. She'll be off the rest of the week. As you hear the words "I was wondering if you'd be willing to pick up an extra shift while Lori is out," you panic.

It's a feeling I know well. Because I work part-time, I'm often asked to fill in. After many deer-in-the-headlight experiences, I came up with a strategy to help me navigate the oncoming request. I give you this sanity-saving line as a gift:

"I'm not sure what my schedule is, but I'll be happy to check it when I get home and give you a call tomorrow."

The beauty of this comeback is 1) you've given your supervisor hope; 2) you get to go home without the commitment to come back; and 3) you have the opportunity to get some sleep and think about what you should do.

It may very well be that working the extra hours is the worst thing you could possibly do for yourself.

That's OK. It could be that the patients are really better off without you. On the other hand, by tomorrow you may be feeling revived. When someone is in crisis, like poor Lori, we want to do whatever we can to help.

Whatever you decide is fine. The key is to make the decision after you've had a chance to think about it. Not when you’re cornered. That way you don't end up feeling resentful if you do help out.


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2 Responses to “Extra Shifts R Us”

  1. dede Says:

    It is essential that nurses engage in self care to proevent not only personal burn-out but medication errors and other events that can and do jeopardize patient safety. Nurses are natorious for putting everyone else’s needs before their own which can lead to a multitude of health issues both physical and even emotional.
    If you’re just starting out, take care of yourself, if you don’t you won’t be your best for your family or your patients.

  2. Shay Says:

    we do put others before our own needs…
    the only problem that i can see with this comeback is that if your manager is like mine, she’ll be HAPPY to check your schedule for you in her office while you wait…

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