CNA Overtime Question

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

Where I'm at, overtime starts after eight hours in one day. Employers generally don't schedule you for overtime unless they're desperate, so I'd say four 15 hour shifts a week is not realistic, in most cases.

Missingyou, CNA · Nov 30, 2014

I agree, regular 15 hour shifts are rare unless you are asked (or mandated) to do a double to fill in. Don't count on it as a regular shift.

For me anything over 40 hrs in a week or beyond 9 hours in a day (unless regularly scheduled to work 12 hr shift) is considered overtime.

Group homes for mentally retarded are a little different (and usually don't require a CNA). There can be some pretty odd hours, including shifts where you are able to sleep (at a different pay rate) as long as you can immediately respond to a resident's need.

raspysunny · Nov 30, 2014

Thanks. I still can't figure out how I'm gonna be able to make a living on only 8 hours a day. I can only work 4 days a week. I have 3 children and I'm going back to school. From what I've gathered I should expect an hourly rate of anything from $8-$12 an hour and it quite scares me.

Any insight on pay and how to make the best of it. I'm at a loss.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

Federal law says that overtime is paid after 40 hrs in a week. Some employers may pay after 8 hrs or 12 hrs in a day depending on what their normal schedule is, others may not. It is only REQUIRED to be paid for hours above 40 in a week. I can pretty much guarantee you that you will not be given 4 15 hr shifts in a week. I've never heard of such a thing as a 15 hour shift. Shifts are usually in blocks of 8 hrs and sometimes there are 12 hr shift options. 4 15 hr shifts/week is 60 hrs week which would be 20 hrs of overtime. There's no way they're going to pay for someone to do that much overtime when they can just hire a part-time person to cover those 20 hrs or have per diems fill in. There really isn't ever a shortage of per diem nurse aides with all the nursing students looking for that kind of experience.

raspysunny · Nov 30, 2014

Hopefully I get lucky and get into a facility with lots of overtime. Just got off the phone with a friend of mine and she said she does all the hours she wants. She covers vacations, days off, no shows and sick days for other nurse aides. They love the fact she takes all the hours when they don't want to.

caliotter3 · Nov 30, 2014

This depends on the labor laws in the state where you work.

Missingyou, CNA · Dec 1, 2014

You can probably pick up a part time shift somewhere and then pick up hours.

There is also the option of doing home care in addition to working part time or per diem somewhere else.

Home care is pretty flexible with hours but that really depends on the agency you work through. Some will have alot of hours to offer, some not so much. The other down side to home care is that you can loose a "regular shift" at a moments notice if the client goes into the hospital or whatever.... But the plus is you can pick up or refuse a shift according to your schedule.

~you may even get some study time in while working if your client is sleeping...

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Dec 1, 2014

Federal law says that overtime is paid after 40 hrs in a week. Some employers may pay after 8 hrs or 12 hrs in a day depending on what their normal schedule is, others may not. It is only REQUIRED to be paid for hours above 40 in a week.

State law says otherwise, in California. We get overtime for more than eight hours in one day ....even if it's the only day we work that week.

raspysunny · Dec 1, 2014

Thanks guys, for the input. I need to seriously hurry up and become an RN.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Dec 1, 2014

State law says otherwise, in California. We get overtime for more than eight hours in one day ....even if it's the only day we work that week.

State law can be more generous than Federal law. Just can't be less than federal law. Federal law is over 40 hours worked in a pay period. As you know in CA state labor law says any hours over 8 per day is OT

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2014

State law says otherwise, in California. We get overtime for more than eight hours in one day ....even if it's the only day we work that week.

When state law and Federal law differ, the law that offers a greater benefit to the employee trumps the other. So you are very lucky in California. OP doesn't say what state she is from but let's say she is in California- I can't imagine an employer that's legally obligated to pay 1.5x for any hours worked in excess of 8 and 2x for any hours worked in excess of 12 to regularly schedule an employee for 15 hour shifts.