I work in an LTC 30 miles from my home. The town where the LTC is located is very small and they don't have a hospital, doctor's office, or medical lab...the closest is in the town I live in. People who live in my town and work at the LTC are expected to deliver labs to the hospital and to pikc up equipment from the hospital when needed. So far, I have refused to do it. We are not on the clock once we leave the building, so any deliveries / pick ups are on our own time. I am not big on the idea of having potentially infectious fluids in my car...what if I got in a wreck and the fluids were spilled...what if something just leaked...what if something happened and I didn't make it right to the hospital to drop things off? Also...there are many times when there is a 15-20 minute wait to get things dropped off to the right person and get paperwork done.
I probably wouldn't object if we were allowed to stay on the clock while delivering labs, but I don't think we should have to do it for free. Also, I live on the opposite side of town from the hospital, so it is inconvenient to drive clear into town to take things to the hospital.
It is usually not an issue during the week because there is plenty of staff who can either leave to take things or who live here and don't have a problem with being a delivery person.
Are there regulations about transporting labs? What about the labor laws regarding working off the clock?
Well...I've made it pretty clear that I am not going to deliver their specimens...they can either do it when they take residents into town for appointments or one of the salaried people like the administrator can deliver them. They told me I am being a drama queen when I mentioned things like having an accident, having something come up and not being able to get the speciment delivered on time, and having to wait an hour at the hospital to find someone appropriate to give the specimens to. But so far, that is my only complaint about this job, so life is good!
Absolutely refuse. Not only for liability reasons, but just for the principle. Let them hire a person to do this. I could see if it were a one time thing, I might do it, but they are using the staff so they dont have to spend more money. Would they do the same for you? If you needed money one week, or every week, would you be able to stay ovetime for the extrs money, if they had enough staff and didnt need you? You can bet your life the answer is NO..... I think they have real nerve even considering asking someone to do this off the clock, with no compensation, no matter WHERE the hosp/lab is in relation to the persons home... unbelievable!!!!!
You need to demand to be paid for your time, and mileage. If it puts you into overtime, perhaps they'll reevaluate their policy of using you as a free courier service.
Absolutely refuse!!!! And definitely check out OSHA regulations - they have a rule for arm rests so they must have a rule for this.
I have taken a specimin that our hospital couldn't perform to the next town (45 mins away) BUT I volunteered, I was paid for gas and I got to leave work early plus they paid me until my shift was supposed to end. I volunteered because we had no empty beds and call lights were lighting up like a Christmas tree. And 5 mins after I left we were under a tornado warning and all those pts had to go to the basement. So glad I went. :)
I think you are right on point and what nerve for them to expect you to do this in your personal vehicle on your personal time without any reimbursement whatsoever! Let me guess, the other nurses don't have a problem with it? I wouldn't even get into the OSHA thing, it's just a matter of principle. Once you are off the clock, you are free to do or not do whatever you want and you are certainly not bound to run work errands in your own car.
Of course the other nurses do it...I think they were all caught off guard and didn't think to say, 'no.' For routine labs, there is always someone who can run into town...for the non-routine labs, someone can either leave for a bit or they can call the administrator to do it.
Specializes in LTC,Med surg-Telemetry,alzheimers,home h.
I would refuse too big time! My time your dime as they say, as well as their need to pay for gas, and perhaps some of my insurance...and nope, no infectious things in my car (except me and my kids! LOL!).
Now I worked in an LTC, and most people went to a hospital that was rather nearby, that hospital had a lab pick up van.
But...some went with another company and hospital that is over 45 miles away! Since the pt is private pay...they would be responsible for their own labs by getting an appt., planning for labs/equipment deliveries in advance (to quell any issues before they were a acute issue!) and if worse comes to worse...family or a rep for the pt (Like a POMA) had to deliver/retrive. It was not up to the staff at the facility to do this!
We also had some issues about last minute MD appointments too. They wanted all the nurses to be licensed in the company vans to take people to the MD in these last minute cases. I declined...because either that darn van was in the shop (it was alway in the shop), or it was out doing something else and they demanded we use our own cars! NO WAY!
I told my supervisors the truth...I hate driving, I only do it if I have to...only locally, and frankly I would charge a service fee close to what a code one ambulance would...so why not use them or a taxi, or our ambulance companies comfort cars...which offer big time senior discounts! They never asked me again! LOL! And infact I was quite helpful on getting services through our ambulance companies senior program for discounted travel! That was helpful big time!
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flashpoint
1,327 Posts
Well...I've made it pretty clear that I am not going to deliver their specimens...they can either do it when they take residents into town for appointments or one of the salaried people like the administrator can deliver them. They told me I am being a drama queen when I mentioned things like having an accident, having something come up and not being able to get the speciment delivered on time, and having to wait an hour at the hospital to find someone appropriate to give the specimens to. But so far, that is my only complaint about this job, so life is good!
:)