Is overtime putting a strain on you and your patients?

Nurses Activism

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Is overtime putting a strain on you and your patients? -For many other occupations where public safety is at risk, laws restrict the number of hours and amount of overtime employees can be required to work. But not so in health care--until recently. SEIU members are mobilizing in support of state laws that would prohibit mandatory overtime for hospital and other health care employees. State laws restricting mandatory overtime in health care have already been passed in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington and are under consideration in 17 other states. Meanwhile, federal legislation is under consideration to prevent excessive hours for interns and residents in the nation's hospitals.

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Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

dude! I though I was going to do a 13 hour shift the other night! i was Psyched! but it ended up as an 8 hour shift. I felt so bad about it. it was some deal with my work permit, that I couldnt work over 8 hours I was bummed. I want to do overtimes I'm saving up to move out. Overtimes make me happy!!!!

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In Texas mandatory overtime is defined as working more than your scheduled hours. So if you are scheduled for 50 or 60 hours you are not in mandatory overtime. Neat little loophole, huh?

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my sis in law told me last nite she will have 40+ hours overtime for this next check...........

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Mandi overtime is really ROUGH when you are not 17, but rather 35 (or more) and have OTHER COMMITMENTS than WORK, like family and all that goes with it. Not only that but all "that money" you make is not nearly enough, especially when the government gets hold of it...see the more OT you make, the more they TAKE. It quickly becomes obvious it is a BAD deal all the way around.

MANDATING or somehow foisting overtime (like the post on OT in Texas) on an already overworked nursing work force is dangerous to both the nurses and the patients we serve. I have come to the conclusion that I won't work overtime, period! I only needed a year or two in nursing to see how dangerous and unacceptable it was to me. Hence, being per diem. They will use you up and spit you out faster than you can say the WORDS "mandatory overtime". I feel for those of you in these awful situations. How many ways can we get screwed by the suits and the gov't? They get more creative every year.:(

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Originally posted by FutureRN_Mandi

Overtimes make me happy!!!!

Me too, I like the extra cash. However, the OT mentioned here is MANDATORY OT. How about being told to stay on MANDATORY OT on Christmas day? Your Birthday? The day you're heading outta town? Any other day you simply don't wanna?
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