OVERTIME situation

Nurses General Nursing

Published

My facility requires nurses to sign up for overtime slots that cannot be filled through regular staffing. We just had two people quit on my unit, and 3 more will be on maternity leave very soon, pretty much all at the same time. In other words, the OT to sign up for goes up proportionately. One can only imagine that on an 11 bed CVSU, the OT required to work is heavy with all these factors considered. Our 1st OT slots to sign up for are called "Additional Hours." Then when somebody quits, they come out with more slots called "Additional Additional Hours." Then if somebody breaks their leg and can't work for awhile, they call the OT "Additional Additional Additional Hours." Am I crazy, or is this ludicrous?

I just wanted to know how other facilities are fulfilling their OT requirements? I realize some faclities are not required to do OT due to Unionization, contracts, etc. We have gotten more hours from our PRN dept to help us out with the increased amount of hours we are doing, but it really isn't enough in the long run. Between me taking two graduate classes this semester, and working full time, plus having to do all the overtime, and spend time with the family before school starts full time, I'm wondering if I can do it all. I've considered taking a travelling position, but this would require a big move and I don't want to be labeled a trader like the past two who have quit.

What are other faclities doing besides utilizing PRN staff to decrease the amount of OT hours worked? My supervisor also claims she cannot hire anybody at this point, because there is nobody to hire. I am not too sure about that one.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

When our hospital ran into that situation (we are not union), they used travelers - still have them in fact on some of the units.

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Specializes in ER.

Would you rather be labeled a traitor or be labeled dead? Hospital admin will work you as much and as hard as you allow them to. If you and others continue to work regardless of the risks, they will continue to let you. I worked in an ER once where you never got a minute break. Admin was very proud of the fact that they would PAY you for that dinner break you never got. They said it was cheaper for them to pay you the "extra" 30 minutes than pay someone to cover it. Of course they completely missed the point that in a 12 hour shift you needed a few minutes to throw down some food to keep your blood sugar up and your brain functional. Having to pitch in every now and then in an emergency is one thing, but when it becomes the norm with no end in sight, then it becomes a big problem. Your facility could hire travelers or agency if they wanted to, but it is cheaper for them to just kill the existing staff. Or at least that is how they view it. I learned a long time ago that we (nurses) are simply numbers on a schedule in the big picture and they will do whatever they can to make those numbers work, and loyalty only goes one way. I don't mean to sound cynical, because I am not. I love nursing and love working in the ER. I just choose to be in control of my life and choose to do so as a traveler. Good luck.

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I just wanted to know how other facilities are fulfilling their OT requirements? I realize some faclities are not required to do OT due to Unionization, contracts, etc. I don't want to be labeled a trader like the past two who have quit.

What are other faclities doing besides utilizing PRN staff to decrease the amount of OT hours worked? My supervisor also claims she cannot hire anybody at this point, because there is nobody to hire. I am not too sure about that one.

Here is the secret. It is true she can hire no one. NO one wants to work there. They do not even apply because of the reputation of this facility.

And why do you care what co wokers say about you after you leave. What kind of person talks this way about someone who is doing what they have to do for themselves and their family.

Labeling you a traitor is saying you are disloyal. So far they have shown no loyalty to you.

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I am about to try and get into nursing school and I want to know one thing...

When yall talk about this , do you mean they call you on your days off, etc. to come into work ??? Do they sign you up on your days off without asking??? I have no problem with working hard, working long shifts, working holidays, covering for people on occasion etc. but I DO have a life outside of work and always will. I refuse to give up time with family, constantly cancel plans etc. for a job. Someone fill me in. THanks !!!

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Oh yes, they'll call every day. Call when you're sleeping; how they expect someone to come in to work when they won't even let you sleep, I don't know. I've been scheduled more days than I should have been. Put on the schedule without my knowledge. Been lied to. They will play all kinds of games to get one to work. They will threaten, intimidate, etc.

One has to just say No, and mean it, and don't give in. No is a complete sentence.

I utilize caller ID and an answering machine. If work is calling, I let the machine pick up and then either ignore or return the call if I feel like working.

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I utilize caller ID and an answering machine. If work is calling, I let the machine pick up and then either ignore or return the call if I feel like working.

That is what my MIL told me to do. (she's a nurse)

More questions:

Do they 'expect' you to answer the phone on your days off ???????? Do they give you flack if you don't answer the phone ?? Can you get fired for saying no ?

I am not shy about turning off the ringer and not answering the phone when I am sleeping. ;)

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They will threaten, intimidate, etc.

.

This disturbs me. How do you handle it?? What kind of threats/intimidation??

I have been in sitatuations/jobs where they expect the job to be your "life". I don't like that. It can be a big part, but my husband and my home are the most important things,plus my own physical/mental health. I hope I don't sound lazy, I am not, but there have to be boundaries.

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Again, it's crap like this that keeps me in union jobs. I have never had a problem saying no to ot I didn't want. Mandatory OT is bulls&^*. I signed up for full time work, that's the only commitment I have to my employer. Why are they keeping the unit census up if they can't staff it? Mandatory OT is just asking for nursing errors.

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I've heard in the past, that if you answer the phone they expect you to come in. (You can still say no, however.)

Sometimes the threats, intimidation are looks, tone of voice, bullying manner, other comments, etc.

One RN I know said she felt like her job was in jeopardy if she didn't come in, though I really don't think that was the case, the manager wanted her to think that though so she would come in.

Hospitals, agencies, they are all alike, they act like they own you and you are expected to come in anytime they call.

You have to be able to say no and be firm about it.

I have learned how to do that, but I still find it easier to just use the caller ID and the answering machine.

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Do they 'expect' you to answer the phone on your days off ???????? Do they give you flack if you don't answer the phone ?? Can you get fired for saying no ?

Oh they expect you to run to pick up the phone day or night. Doesn't mean they're gonna get it. They whine and complain. They threaten poor evaluations (not a "team player"), they try to make you feel bad - telling you how your co-workers are working short because you wont come in. They really lay it on thick if you work with babies or kids. Anything to try to make their problem your problem. Paying a staff nurse OT is a lot cheaper than getting an agency nurse ($$ is ALWAYS the bottom line). Still, they are responsible for adequate staffing of the unit. They pull nurses from other areas, they pull travel nurses (who are unfamiliar with the facility anyway) all over the hospital - whether they are experienced in different areas or not. Administration will go to ANY lengths to save their precious dollars so that upper management can get their bonuses and salary increases.

I don't feel the least bit sorry for them having to contract an extra traveler or use agency nurses to maintain adequate staffing. After all, if they treated their own staff a little better and paid them a lot better - they would not have staffing problems. They could increase nursing salaries by a considerable margin and still pay less than they wind up paying agencies for extra nurses and travelers. One day, most likely long after we all retire, they will figure that one out.

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Oh they expect you to run to pick up the phone day or night. .

Good grief. So you are basically always "on call" ????? This gets even more disturbing.

I have no problem with screening my calls and no problem with saying no, I have plans. But I do get nervous when the subject of firing, etc. comes up. Can theylegally do that ??

Do they call you on every day off ?????? That is downright bizarre.

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