There IS life outside of the hospital, don't let them dictate your life over work. Remember: work to live, don't live to work!
I work full-time; 3-12 hour shifts/week. I do not need extra money. I do not feel guilty for not picking up extra shifts. It is just as important for self-care as it is to work. If I have 4 days off in a row & they need help - I will pick up an extra 8 hrs if I don't have other plans. But my time off is as important as the time I work. Everyone needs to be aware how important self-care is - that's why I have worked for so many years and have not burned out.
I started traveling, and made a commitment to myself. Promised to love myself first as much as I love my patients and coworkers. I was neglecting myself. At the end of the day, my health, my mental state, and my financial independence matters. I live below my means so I don’t feel the need to work more to make more money. I only pickup if I have nothing going on with my personal schedule.
Laugh hysterically when I ask if there is bonus pay, they say no and I say good luck. I’m guessing you’re new but YOU come first
Establish boundaries for yourself. When you are off, that time is for you. Focus on doing doings for yourself on those days
You must learn to balance your work and your home. If you burn yourself out you remove your desire to be a productive member of sosiety and if you are not able to handle nursing - just try to find another job that pays you as well!
It’s important for you to care for yourself so that you can appropriately care for your patients and your colleagues. Sometimes, the only way to care for yourself is when you completely disengage from everything stressful, and that includes work. When your mind and body are well-rested, you have greater capacity for patience, understanding, and empathy. You are also apt to making better and safer clinical decisions, so don’t feel guilty for not taking additional shifts, particularly when you’re already exhausted. Self-care is not selfish!
It’s MY life I just say NO without explanation.
I learned after becoming a director of a busy telemetry department, that it is okay to say no. The person responsible for scheduling is going to take as much as you will give regardless of how it affects you personally. The other piece that is important to remember is that they move on after you say no, to the next nurse and then the next until they find someone that will do it. It's not personal. It's numbers. Additionally, they usually have it in the budget to hire travelers that can take up the slack for those staffing inadequacies if they must. Keep taking care of you. They need you to be at your best when you are there. :)
