[paulla29]

This happens all the time at the facility I work at. Our relief is occasionally late also. Even though we have three management nurses none of them will take report and count narcs so we can get out of there. The late nurse is never reprimanded either.

Most times breaks are unable to be taken, we are too swamped. All the time you're rushing around to get everything done, we have management standing right there, saying "make sure you punch out on time!" Many times I have told them then maybe you'd like to help us with our work? Pick up just a few tasks would be a big help. They would actually laugh and walk away. So now, when they say that, I tell them what needs done yet, and ask them which tasks do you want done the most, because that's all I will have time for. I know it's important for everything to be done. Facility policy is that the next shift is supposed to take care of anything that isn't done by the prior shift, but this is never done. It is so frustrating.

[Mimi2RN]

We clock in and out, including for breaks. We have been threatened that we will not be paid for OT unless the lead nurse has signed out on a special form to say that she approved our OT. I haven't heard if that has happened, OT is not unusual since we went to computer charting.

[Chaya]

Wow. I had no idea this practice was so widespread. Nearly3/4 of all respondents say this is happening at their facility!

[n7sa5q]

As usual I am the odd person out! Maybe it is because I am new to the practice and only work a few days each week. Either way, I LOVE TO WORK! If I were told that there was an issue with the process and management was concerned over the over time and lunches, which did happen when I was a CNA, I would just clock out and finished caring for my patients. Grant it, I have not had to do this at Scott and White as an LVN. They do, however, account for lunches and such with adjustments in pay and chromos time. I just don't concern myself with the issue. Either way, I have a job I love and I will have the pay necessary to meet my needs in the end. My patients know I will be there when they need me and management knows they can count on me to complete my work. I just consider it my nursing right to help the team to meet goals set by management and manage my care as a professional. Yes, this means that I don't always get paid for working, but overall the majority of people in the U.S. do not get paid for the hard work they perform for others. Just as owners of small businesses, musicians, and artists work an honest living and in the end can not afford to feed their families. I feel that I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to care for my families needs with the career I have chosen. It does come with some unfortunate sacrifices. I am willing to accept that. Have a blessed day!

[Ariesbsn]

We were told in ICU that the number of people who were clocking out using the "worked through lunch" option was excessive because there were 2 people who used it in a 3 month period.

[RNgonewild]

Administration has been severely cutting the overtime. There is a place to put a request in for extra shifts, but there hasn't been any posted for over a month. Two months ago the overtime was flowing freely, but now it seems they have decided they are in the red. Being a relief Charge Nurse I used to be able to call in nurses for time and a half if I needed them, now I have to go through managers around and around and am pressured to overstress(overload) the nurses I already have on shift. Then I tell them if I dont get an extra nurse in they will paying the ones that are here double time after the 12 hours they worked to finish up the computer charting,etc. It seems as if the computer charting has cost us more time and overtime than when we were handwriting in charts and more orders get missed because the nurses are ignoring the charts altogether!

[nu2id]

Our facility is just now starting to pay attention to all the overtime we have had. We have to document in an edit log why we have overtime. If we put down "no lunch" we better have a better reason than staying over for 30 minutes. The ironic thing is most of us put down took lunch as a reason for staying over at the end of our shift. Charting and pt care are also big reasons to stay over or not be able to take lunch. Hopefully administration will see the link. It does seem that computor charting has taken alot more of our time.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

Originally Posted by n7sa5q

If I were told that there was an issue with the process and management was concerned over the over time and lunches, which did happen when I was a CNA, I would just clock out and finished caring for my patients.

No offense, but that is not very smart. What happens if you are injured off the clock? What happens if an incident occurs with you off the clock?

If you love your job so much, you best stay ON the clock until you are ready to leave. You might one day end up regretting your choice otherwise.

ETA: By the way, if you think you're helping your employer out by breaking the law, think again; it could very well come back to bite them in the butt: http://www.google.com/search?client=...=Google+Search

[paulla29]

My facility has a written policy that if we are off the clock, we are not to be on the floor working. Another reason for a write up.

[prepacuornurse]

Originally Posted by brian

I've been hearing of nurses getting counseled or warnings about overtime, for missing lunch breaks, late admissions, and misc other reasons... and/or hospitals requiring you to clock out on time, then you have to submit your overtime separately with documentation why you had to have overtime.

Is your facility warning staff for overtime, for missing lunch breaks or other reasons?

We'd love to hear your experiences and feedback!

Please feel free to share your experience regarding and answering the poll questions.

My facility rarely has the staff to give lunches or we get 15 minutes in sometimes a 12 hour day.Also we may work 12 hours a day for 3 days and when it comes to thursday and friday they make you leave before you get overtime.Nice huh?