ambulatory surgery center hours and such

[kjorris]

Hey all! I work in an ASC (in the OR) in Florida and I love the work, our doctors and most of the people I work with. We are a fairly new ASC (open about 1 1/2 years) and are owned by about 12 local surgeons. We are finally getting busy and are now being told by "management" that in an ASC setting there are NO regular work hours (up until now I have worked 6 - 2:30 cause that's what time I was told to come in and leave upon being hired) and that the staff has to stay until all cases are done and all patients are gone. We are also being told that ASC's don't hire extra staff to ensure lunches and breaks to staff and if we don't get lunch until 2pm, deal with it and be happy we have a job. I would love any info that anyone can provide. This is my first ASC (I came from a hospital) and I am not sure if what we are being told about lunch and regular hours are true or a way to make the staff be quiet and accept what is being told to us! Thanks everyone for your input :)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Well, you can't exactly leave a patient alone in the OR because your shift is over, so yes, I can see having to stay until cases are done since typically there is no second shift in ASCs. Are you getting paid overtime for when you are staying late? Since this is owned by the surgeons, they can set the rules to whatever they want as long as they are not breaking any laws. So if the law says you must have a 30 minute break if you work at least 6 hours, then you are only required to have a 30 minute break. There is no law specifying when said break must occur. However, if I were in your shoes, I'd run for it. These people only care about themselves, not about the staff. Hours and an attitude like that quickly lead to burnout.