CUT OFF

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

Yes we have to watch overtime but it is not a recent phenomenon, rather the powers that be jump all over the Managers about overtime.

Then it tightens up and slowly it reverts back to how it was-then the powers that be jump........you get the picture!

It is a very easy way of controlling money by cutting back on the overtime or cutting back on those who abuse the system.

People will dilly dally along and not clock out until they have completed their social conversation and this costs companies a lot of money which could be put to better use.

I can justify overtime when we have staff shortages as there is a need, what I cannot justify is when people clock in 15 mins early and clock out 15 mins early every shift as it adds up to a fortune in overtime.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

Overtime is nonexistent at my workplace right now due to low census and too many employees. In fact, management is doing plenty of calling-off and cancelling of peoples' shifts.

My status is PRN, so being cancelled and called-off comes with the territory for me. However, it has reached the point where full-time staff is being called-off more than once per pay period.

However, during times of very high census, management seems to justify all the overtime that people want.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

thank you both for your input in this subject. however, i'm afraid this is a sign of the times that we're living, also i agree with those who tries to work the system to their advantage by clocking in 15min. early every day, as a matter of fact we had a meeting just for this purpose and memos were send to all nursing staff addressing the matter. although, i have noticed that some of my staff had to resource to an additional part-time work outside our facility in order to break even if you will, which in term saddens me.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2012

There is one CNA at my facility who has been told to cut the overtime big time. She can no longer list herself as available without prior approval. All fine and well to save money, but if there is a need for a sitter, it's better to call her in if she's available than pull a CNA (or me) off the floor. And it would be nice to hire one more CNA prn if not full or part time.

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xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

This is a trend in all aspects of nursing as far as I can tell. You are just expected to work short staffed. It isn't fair to us OR the patients.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

OT? It is a thing of the past here on the mainland. Oh you'll get it now and then for sick calls and staying over but it's dwindled to nothing for the most part. Canceling nurses has been going on for quite sometime and and customizing staff is key to managing a fiscally responsible unit. The ED is usually left untouched as the ebb and flow is unpredictable but all other units are subject to cancelling and being placed on call according to who's turn, license mix and patient acuity.

Where I worked the staff was not paid for those 15 extra minuets and it was against policy to clock in early. Approval was required by myself or the supervisor for approval of ANY incidental OT.

It has been like this for along time. I was being canceled from an ICU in the early 90"s.

PennyWise · Jun 14, 2012

OT is still allowed on my unit, with a few stipulations. They seem to have found a "happy medium" with regards to when to allow it.

There is a point system they use to reward nurses who help cover shifts that are short handed. If you come in on an off day you get a point. You can redeem these points for gifts (pens, coupon for scrubs, meal tickets).

Now, if someone is doing major OT, but has a lot of points..........its obvious they got it by helping out when the unit needed them.

On the other hand, people who accrue a lot of OT but not points are obviously trying to beat the system by staying late or clocking in early etc etc.........

A couple people have been weeded out this way.

We all float down here.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2012

When I worked in the hospital, there was no overtime. Staff nurses were considered "salaried" so if you stayed an hour or 2 after your shift due to an emergency or a day when you didn't have time to chart anything, any time after your shift ended, you were working for free. And, of course, as a staff nurse you couldn't just come in 2 hours late the next day like someone in a true salaried position (your manager) could to make up for that time. Nurses were regularly scheduled for 48 hrs/week and got paid nothing extra for it.

If someone called out and they were desperately short, they'd try to find people who would come off another shift to come in. If they couldn't find someone to do that and the choice was pay over time or work under unsafe conditions, they'd choose unsafe staffing any day.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2012

we used to get mandated all the time. about a person a shift or more. last few months hospital census has been down . rarely are we cancelled because the hospital as a whole is still short nurses so mostly we get pulled/or floated. or only cancelled for 4 hour blocks. which is the worst.