Overtime

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey guys, I had a couple of general questions regarding overtime. Is there a specific specialty/type of nurse that sees overtime more so than others? I've spoken with some nurses and they say that overtime is becoming a thing of the past, or a rarity. I've also had others tell me that it is typically offered based upon seniority. Could I get some insight please?:)

Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Onc.

I'd say look at PRN or agency for extra cash. One hospital system I worked for had its own in house agency and could send nurses to several hospitals. But then they got into a huge fight with an insurance company and censuses dropped and many of those agency nurses looked elsewhere. That was a rough summer. That dispute is long since past and the agency is hiring like crazy.

It will depend on the hospital or medical facility that you work for. It will also depend on the policy and procedures.

Specializes in ED.

I start my first job as a nurse in January, and I'm actually required to work OT every other week (ER). From what I gather, on top of my mandatory OT, I also have the opportunity to work extra hours on weeks when I'm not scheduled to work OT.

Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

I'm scheduled overtime every pay period but in my time at my current facility I've never gotten it. I usually end up being called off 1 or 2 days. I'm thinking of picking up a prn job to supplement my income.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

if it is based on seniority then it would be unionized probably. We do not offer OT except in rare situations and then whoever says yes gets it. Most people do not want to work that many hours.

I work at a smaller community hospital on the medical floor. Right now, due to high census and an employee out on FMLA, I could pick up at least two shifts a month if I chose. A few months ago we had sudden extra bills for which I didn't want to dip into our savings, so I signed up for an extra shift every week. To guarantee is get extra shifts, I notified the nursing supervisor to call me if they needed extra staffing. I also contacted the directors of all the units I have floated to in the past and let them know I could pick up extra hours...I could have worked every day of the week. Our hospital has a policy against using agency nurses, so if one floor is understaffed, the director will send out a hospital wide email, asking if anyone Wants to pick up extra hours.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Really depends on your skills and how flexable you are. I feel perfectly comfortable working anywhere from PICU, to ER, to cath lab, to med-surg, to CVICU to rehab. That being the case I could work every singe day if I wanted. Some unit is alwasy short. When I want OT I just call the nursing supervisor (if they haven't called me already) and let them know I am available. Alwasy get a shift that way. If you want OT become competent is an many units as possible and be willing to work in any lower level of care. A med-surg nurse shouldhave no problem going to rehab or long term care. An ICU nurse should be able to go to step down, med-surg, rehab, etc. If you DON"t want to work OT do the oppisit.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Depends on the unit. Some of our units always have shifts available so it's easy to pick up OT there. Lately though, we have been experiencing a decrease in patient census so a lot of us are having to take call and therefore are losing out on hours.

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I have to strongly disagree with the statement: a med-surg nurse should have no problem going to rehab or long term care.You must have not worked in either lately. Most people can not jump from having 4 or 5 patients in an environment with very few regulations to having 20 patients in an environment that has more regulations than the nuclear power industry.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I have to strongly disagree with the statement: a med-surg nurse should have no problem going to rehab or long term care.You must have not worked in either lately. Most people can not jump from having 4 or 5 patients in an environment with very few regulations to having 20 patients in an environment that has more regulations than the nuclear power industry.

*** Yes you are right I haven't. I was refering to the in hospital rehab and LTC units (since we are talking about OT, not per diem or agency) where the nurse would not be faceing a new charting system and many things would remain the same for them, like same number to get ahold of pharmacy, how to figure out who the doctor on call is etc. My hospital regulary floats med-surg nurses down to rehab & LTC units and they seem to do just fine.

I agree that throwing a med-surg nurse into a strange LTC or rehab faciliety wouldn't work so well.

Rarity, ha, for the past 12 weeks my hospital has done everything shy of offering full-paid trips to vegas to get people into work! Seriously, anytime, any day, they are literally bending over backwards to get people in to work. The first few weeks were great, we get overtime and bonuses (I work in a great facility) but now anything less than the max they have given out won't get people in. Even raising the bonuses isn't helping, people are just so tired. I've worked 4-5 shifts a week (12 hr shifts) for the past two months, and that is the same for most of my peers!

I am worried because I work in a Pedi CICU (and we do all the pedi ecmos) and RSV/Flu season hasn't even hit full swing yet!

Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

the operatin room. they have call, and there is always OT

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