Forced Overtime???

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi! Does anyone know if it is legal to be forced into working a double shift? A pm shift nurse was forced to also work thru the night shift becasue of a call in. The nurse manager was called and told her " well I'm not coming in" Of course this is on a weekend. Just curious.

you have something called a life...

it's there for living...

do not feel pressured...

when the call, say no

if they mandate you, quit

we as nurses should not ever put up w/ mandating!

I just started a new job with this policy. Legal? I don't know. But the way it was explained to me in the interview was that there is no "on-call" system, one an as needed basis, so anything over your scheduled eight hours for the day is concidered "on-call" and you are paid accordingly. As I am still in orientation, I don't have a good idea of how much "on-call" there really is, but the money is good. My old facility was dealing with manditory downstaffing and requesting that people take extended leave or retire early, of course with benes. There was talk of laying off nurses (crazy I know) but I am a newbie here so extra hours to help pay student loans is fine by me, as long as it is safe, and rotated. If management was smart they would have some sort of sign up list for availables, people who want the extra time/money, trying not to burn out the others who have priorities in their responsibilities, like their children and such. Or use agency. Just my inexperienced idealistic opinion.

Indeed acuteobrn, many facilities have worked out somesort of list or other means of spreading OT around. However, sometimes the working enviroment is so abusive and turnover so bad and staffing gets so thin that the list is useless. Many facilities do very well with a list like that, if it is a fair minded supportive enviroment the list will work like a charm. PS It also helps if the list has a little carrot in it like a bonus for filling open slots.

Very, Very common in LTC. I've been "mandated" many a time. See some postings on the geriatric board. My DON never works the floor. And their are no back up nurses. Quit now... it probably won't get better.

What are you guys complaining about? Don't you know a job is what you make of it? Nurses are paid so much, mandated OT shouldn't be such a big deal, right? You are all babies. ;) ;) ;)

I hope to God you guys know I'm teasing!!!

Man, Furball, I was just about to reach through my computer and strangle you! Good thing I didn't fly off the handle 'til the smileys and your last line!

Although I'd been a nurse for 12 years, I'd never heard of mandatory OT until I was told at the end of a dayshift that I would have to stay another shift or be fired for patient abandonment. (3 of us were chosen to do this based on seniority - or lack thereof...)

My 5th grade child was home alone which was barely tolerable for a few hours after school, but out of the question for 11 hours and until after midnight (long commute, single parent).

Fortunately for me, someone volunteered and since I had the most seniority of the 3 "chosen ones" I didn't have to choose between my job and my child.

I turned in my notice the next day. As a matter of principle, I will not work at a facility that staffs with mandatory overtime - even though my child is now an adult.

Several states have pending legislation banning mandatory OT. Let's all help ensure it passes!

lol Nell....glad I can still breathe!! :)

I was really just responding, sarcastically, to a thread I read a few days ago that basically stated that nurses complain too much and don't realise how good they have it......written by someone(s) who isn't actually a nurse....yet. Kinda irked me...oh well.

It's amusing that people can read through all these 1000's of posts and still not get that nursing today is rough.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35302

Originally posted by hogan4736

you have something called a life...

it's there for living...

do not feel pressured...

when the call, say no

if they mandate you, quit

we as nurses should not ever put up w/ mandating!

Thankyou!!! I am so tired of managers and supervisors laying a major guilt trip on me when I refuse to "help out" when they are short. Yes. I do have a life and I love my work but am NOT married to my job as some people would like me to be.

He, He, He, :D

Oramar, that carrot was the convincing factor that lead me to this hospital over another one;)

I am now begining to see both sides, one where they were taking hours, sometimes an entire schedule from people to make sure the full timers have some hours and benes, and now this place with manditory OT. Like I said, I am a idealistic newbie, in need of extra cash. However, I would NEVER sacrafice my kids (I have two youngins) or patient safety for the almighty $. I am also not one to "bend over" and put up with bsmanagement that encourages the low moral. I think that there are times when management is too far away from the actual clinical area, have seen it myself, they walk around in skirts (that is what we nicked-named em') directing what should be done, but not getting into scrubs to help the staff out let alone feed us. That was back in the day though, now that place is trying to run on the minimum and the nurses are greatful to have any hours. However this is OB, the pendulum will swing this summer and fall, with an increase in patients. You know how it goes. Me I roll with the punches but keep my dignity and will not be abused. Again a newbie statement, talk to me in a few months when I am off orientation, caught up on bills and taking call.;)

In my neck of the woods, mandatory OT does occur. The staff has also been intimated ....making one feel guilty. I have had to stay & work double shifts numerous times because a nurse failed to show up or called out.

I understand in an emergency...okay..sure everyone feels obligated to help out. This year when we got all that snow..I was there for 2 days straight (did not go home during this period).... because there were not enough nurses to work the shifts (there are some nurses & managers that lived within walking distance of the hospital....I had a 40 minute commute!). Anyway, I was expected to come in the next day....which WASN'T my original shift to come in. I said, I worked 2 days straight (working 2 shifts)...I need to be off, call someone else to come in. I need off to get sleep & shovel the mountain of snow in my driveway (so I could get my car in the driveway!!). At the time, my husband was away on business, so I had no one else to help me shovel. The nurse manager said she would try to find someone. Well, by the time I got home that evening, she left a message on my answering machine telling me I HAVE to come in. I was steamed! Worked doubles the past two days, slept for a few hours on a crappy hospital cot & desperately needed to sleep in my own bed & get much needed rest to tackle the snow.

I called back & left a message for the manager to call me. Her reply was if I didn't come in to work the next day....I would not get paid for the previous 2 days that I worked! I said...I believe that is illegal...she didn't say a word...she then said..well, I will get back to you. I said, don't bother calling me back...I had approx 4 hrs of sleep & little food....I need to be OFF...call one of your staff that lives close by, use your flex pool, call agency..I don't care. At of the end of that month..I gave my resignation.

I was acutally forced to stay over last night. After doing a 12 (7a-7p) hour shift. I was told that I had to stay until my relief came at 12pm. I was very upset and refused to come in today. It also happend on me Christmas day last year. However, I was forced to stay 24 hrs. I was threatened with patient abandoment if I left (there was a snow storm no one could make it in....likely story).

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