How many hours can a nurse work.

[kappykatlpn]

Hello everyone.

Does anyone know how many hours legally a nurse can work in Michigan? Where I work some of the nurses are working 20 to 24 hour shifts. This seems extremely unsafe to me. I have tried to Google it and can't really find anything specific.\

thanks!

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

I worked with a Fillapino nurse who is a "workaholic"...she did not take a day off and I am not kidding.......for 4 months (January-April)....that's 12 hour night shifts.. she will take a month off in and go home for the entire time. Then she starts again.

But the hospital does have a 16 hour limit on the shift, unless there is a emergency, like when we had a hurricaine. Then we took turns working and sleeping whenever we could.

[kappykatlpn]

We work 12 hour shifts, and when the next nurse calls off or there was not one scheduled then we have to stay over, this is where some of the nurses and doing 24 hr shifts. All management has to say is "they can do it". I miss the days when we had management that would actually come out on the floor and help in situations like this. I know after 12-16 hr shift I am tired, just seem unsafe to me. And the more I read it just seems the same all over the place. I love being a nurse, does something really bad have to happen for management to wake up?

[hkrntobe]

It is my understanding that you have to have 8 hours off in a 24 hour period by law. Would you mind sending me an e-mail with where your work? Sounds like your facility could benefit from a few good new grads willing to pick up some of the time. Are they hiring???

[hkrntobe]

Ok. Maybe you should contact the person below to get something sent to you in writting...

California Employee Rights Advocate

United Employees Law Group

65 Pine Ave Ste 312

Long Beach, CA 90802

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [email protected]