Worked 24 hours/3 consecutive 8hr shifts

U.S.A. California

Published

Recently, experienced working 24 hours straight, I'm the RN Supervisor in a skilled Nursing Facility 99beds. I'm getting conflicting information about it being against the law and that something should have been done to relieve me. I Called/texted all the RNs in our building even our DON and ADON. Nobody was available. I know that we can't abandoned our patients until no one comes but what happened to me, was it against the law? Need input guys. Thnaks..

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Have you spoken with HR?

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Not yet... but our payroll dept asked me if there was a mistake with my clock ins and out. I told her no and I did work 24 hours straight

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

And u r in CA? I thought that was one state that does have strict regs regarding staffing.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
And u r in CA? I thought that was one state that does have strict regs regarding staffing.

We do. However, some facilities, like anywhere, believe they are above those laws.

OP, I would get in touch with HR, because I don't believe this is legal, but I'm no legal/HR expert. It certainly isn't safe! :)

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Anyone know which law governs our working hours?

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I went in to work a 11-7pm shift one night and was expecting to be relieved at 8am. At 7:10am the charge nurse came to me and asked could I work 7-3p-no problem for me. Then at 3pm -i am waiting for my relief and no one shows up-the charge nurse came to me and pleaded with me asking if I can stay 4 more hrs-I asked if that was legal and she said as far as she knew-20hrs is the max hrs to work unless you have bad weather and you are staying over, but somewhere in that time one should get some sleep time. I was fine with the 20hrs but once I got home and hit the sack I didnt wake up until 10am the next morning. I think every state has its own laws regarding working hrs.

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I just wanted to add to my above comment that as a general rule "it will be considered abandonement if a nurse leaves without signing off to another nurse-so if there is no one to sign off to -then you will have to stay until your patients are covered and I guess even if that means working 24 hrs.

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Wow, that is crazy! You might want to google "California Labor Laws" and a government website opens up with all the laws. Can be kinda hard to navigate though cause our profession falls into a lot of the "exceptions" haha

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