My mother in law went in for a routine procedure last week. There were complications and now she is in the ICU on a breathing machine and sedated. My wife is a wreck at home and wants to go see her tonight to visit so I need to be home to watch the kids while she goes since they have a strict visitation policy in the ICU because of COVID.
So I am a nurse at a local nursing home. I was called today by the staffing department and asked if I could stay for the evening shift because someone had called out last minute at 2:15 pm when I get off at 3 pm. I explained why I could not stay this evening and they said okay. They called back at 2:30 pm and said they could not find anyone to relieve me. I again explained my situation and told them I could not stay tonight. They simply hung up. At 3:05 pm when the night nurse called down to find out who would be working the floor with her tonight they said it would be her and I. Again I called downstairs and told them I could not stay tonight. They replied that I should call my boss (administrator of nursing) and then hung up. Now I’m waiting on a call back from my boss so I can explain the situation while my wife is crying at home because visiting hours stop at 7 pm.
I’m so angry right now but I can’t afford to lose this job as I’m the breadwinner of the house. This is ridiculous how jobs can just think it is okay to force employees to stay for an extra shift.