[nicurn001]

The bottom line is that this policy is illegal , the management is trying to bully staff , into acquiescence and accept working off the clock rather than really staffing to acuity and safety .

[bollweevil]

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeHomeRN

Consider yourself very lucky. About 98% of end-of-shift OT is caused by poor staffing ratios combined with endless charting--which isn't done DURING the shift due to time constraints..

And you probably don't usually get bathroom or meal breaks, either, I'd guess.

[diveRN]

Originally Posted by bollweevil

And you probably don't usually get bathroom or meal breaks, either, I'd guess.

Actually, about 90% of the time, I take an hour for lunch (two combined 15 minute "rest periods" and 30 minute lunch) and use the restroom whenever I need to. Of course if I have a pt going south or am getting an admit, I plan accordingly.

My post turns the topic away from the original post, so I'm not going to press it, but I'm still curious about why all the added time. Am I busy? Most nights, yeah, but other nights there is time where I'm struggling to find things to keep busy with. I'd say that one, sometimes two shift in six, the unit will be very quiet so much that I'll get to crack a book for at least an hour. We sit right outside our pt's room so we can watch monitors and do other things.

[iluvivt]

It is true that you should never clock out and continue to work,even if is just charting. What employers can do is require you to get an overtime slip signed and if you do not get it signed they can say you did not follow work instructions. That is what they do at my place of employment. Sometimes I can not get anyone to sign it so I just blow it off and do what is best for the patient. I refuse to work for free and I sign out when I am done, It is illegal for anyone to alter your punches or change your timecard without your permission.

[Batman24]

Never clock out until you leave. God forbid you get hurt you can't collect WC. You also aren't covered under hospital insurance if you aren't on the clock. Either of these two things occur and the hospital will be lying through their teeth that they never said to clock out and you will have an unnecessary mess on your hands.

My employer hasn't tried this as of yet. I work with great nurses and support staff who are mature and competent professionals. If we can't get out it's because we were totally understaffed which is par for the course. Trust me we would love nothing more than to clock out on time after putting in over 12 hours. I'd gladly forfeit the O/T but it's just not realistic.

[psalm]

It is rare indeed to have my 30 min. lunch AND two 15 min. breaks in my 8 hour night shift, very rare! It's not my time management, it is life. When the pts. all want their PRN pain and/or nausea meds and they are IVP and I want to get that done so the day shift nurse can get started w/o doing that...