How do you feel about coworkers who refuse to work overtime?

Nurses Career Support

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I'm curious- how do you feel about coworkers who refuse to work any overtime? I don't like working overtime--at all. I don't mind the holidays, don't mind every other weekend because I know it comes with the territory, but ask me to work an extra shift? No thanks. 5 nights a week is enough.

But I also understand how helpful it is. At my facility, we're constantly getting call outs and running short. When we get a call out and someone volunteers to do OT, it's such a relief. So this makes me feel bad, because I feel unwilling to make that sacrifice. I've done it a couple of times, and am more willing if I'm asked ahead of time (not the same day) if I can come in 4 hours early, but I rarely do this either.

But on the other hand, I feel it shouldn't be our responsibility. I feel if more people refused OT unless they really wanted it, then it will eventually force the employer to hire enough people, make the schedule better, call in agency, make it more enticing for people to pick up OT/less likely to call out. I don't know, something. Why should it fall on us?

So personally, I try not to feel guilty about it, but truthfully,getting text messages/calls in the middle of my sleep/day off bums me out a bit, because I do feel that bit of guilt for refusing to do it. I also worry that it makes me a much less desirable employee for continuing to refuse. Is this worry valid?

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

I am not at all bothered by nurses who choose not to work OT. I am bothered by nurses who don't show up when they are supposed to for regular shifts.

Why in god's name are you recieving text messages and calls? Get the free app Mr.Number. It allows you to quickly and easily block and unblock any number. I usually block my hospital's number as I leave after my last shift, unless I need / want to do OT, then I don't block them.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I appreciate it when a coworker works OT. I'm one of the ones who frequently does, but by no means do I judge those who don't. Especially if you are there 5 days a week. I wouldn't pick up OT in that case either. It's not your fault they can't keep a unit staffed.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I very much appreciate the nurses that enjoy the OT, and I am not one of them. I occasionally volunteer to stay late or come in early, but I never pick up a shift on my day off unless I am getting something pretty valuable in return. Fortunately we have enough nurses that want the overtime that it doesn't becomes an issue. I haven't heard any nurses openly complaining about other nurses for not picking up OT.

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I only wish that an employer offers me overtime because I benefit from working overtime. However, I do not like it when an employer wants me to work overtime and also sign a waiver letter so that they do not have to pay me the legally owed overtime pay. In that circumstance, I am likely to refuse.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Mental Health.

Don't feel guilty about not doing the overtime. If you get "burned out" then you are less effective for your patients. In my facility there were 4 pages of overtime every month. I did it for a while until the hours started to impact my health. I know that some of it might be that I am an older nurse, but I saw younger nurses get exhausted, so it wasn't necessarily age related. I never minded "emergency situations, " but after a while it was every week three or four times. People started getting sick, called in which added not only to our chronic short staffing, but added to an increase in overtime. In some jobs there may be a number of nurses who like overtime, which helps to balance out the ones who don't. Work places are good about preaching work/life/home balance but then they expect a nurse to just be available all the time.... You as a nurse have to take care of yourself, so that you can work, be there for your patients and for your family.

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I'm a CNA and my work always call me in on my day off. They likely call in same day which I never pick up shift. I don't like an unplan situation. My weekend alway plan ahead so I rarely be able to work. However, I feel so guilty sometime.

I want to say that I totally understand your feeling :)

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I refuse to volunteer for overtime and will only work it if it is mandatory.

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One of the places I worked would try to guilt trip you or pull the "well I'm more willing to do favors for someone who will do me favors." My, am I glad I'm not there anymore. But, in that place we had waves where we were horrifically understaffed and there were OT sign up sheets passed around every shift, then we'd slowly get fully staffed and people would get fed up and leave again. It wasn't a pleasant place to be. I did a lot of OT in my first year but I burned myself out and had to stop.

But I've never heard anyone say anything about someone not picking up OT. It was more like, "wow, so-and-so called off again? When is she getting fired."

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I'm a CNA and my work always call me in on my day off. They likely call in same day which I never pick up shift. I don't like an unplan situation. My weekend alway plan ahead so I rarely be able to work. However, I feel so guilty sometime.

I want to say that I totally understand your feeling :)

Why do you choose to take their calls?

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I am not at all bothered by nurses who choose not to work OT. I am bothered by nurses who don't show up when they are supposed to for regular shifts.

Why in god's name are you recieving text messages and calls? Get the free app Mr.Number. It allows you to quickly and easily block and unblock any number. I usually block my hospital's number as I leave after my last shift, unless I need / want to do OT, then I don't block them.

They like to use the text messaging system for sending out notifications for mandatory nurses meeting and in case of an emergencies--they make sure that we get the texts. Thanks for the app recommendation--at least I can block the number now when I sleep!

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Thanks for the responses, it's good to know people in general aren't bothered by it. It's been a nagging thought for a while. I get tempted every now and then for the extra money, but find myself shaking my head again...is the money worth being there another night/shift? No....

I also noticed that most of the call outs we get are from people who work a lot of overtime/working 2 jobs.

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