Double Shift

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Specializes in Pediatric.

Do any of you work in facilities where pulling a double (16 hours) is common?

If you do, and you're scheduled to report after the double (for instance you worked 0790-2300 and then are scheduled for the day after 0700) does your facility let you cancel yourself?

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I've worked 19 hours on call before and still had to show up at 6:00 am for my shift. I was the first one to go home though.

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Specializes in Pediatric.

Yeah, they used to let us cancel, but are putting in a new policy against it.

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I average one double shift per week at my LTC facility and often it is the day before a regular shift. I work days so it goes 0630 to 2300 and back at 0630. I rely on public transit and won't get home until midnight....but the tradeoff is that the next day sure feels shorter!

I started drinking coffee in the mornings to manage the sleeplessness, and I can't cancel myself.

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I never had to work a full double when I worked LTC but, for they people who did they were expected to show up for their next shift.

At my current job I got stuck working a 17.5 hour shift once. (It was awful) I left at 5:30pm and was scheduled to come back in at 8pm. When I left I asked when they wanted me to come back to work since I wouldn't be back that night and they were confused as to why I wouldn't be working... they had put no thought into the fact that I'd only be off 2.5 hrs.. I ended up coming back in at midnight I think.

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We are mandated to 16.5 hr shifts every pay period right now and our nursing aids can be mandated twice per pay period.

We get in trouble if we call in for the following shift even though it's only 7.5 hrs to get home, shower, eat, sleep, forget trying to spend time with your family.

I wish we could be relieved of that following g shift but we are too short staffed right now.

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We are mandated to 16.5 hr shifts every pay period right now and our nursing aids can be mandated twice per pay period.

We get in trouble if we call in for the following shift even though it's only 7.5 hrs to get home, shower, eat, sleep, forget trying to spend time with your family.

I wish we could be relieved of that following g shift but we are too short staffed right now.

Not sure but doesn't the Labor Board or OSHA have something to say about this? Doesn't the law require a certain minimum amount of time off between shifts?

Mandated? What does that mean exactly? Forced to stay? Disciplinary action if you don't stay?

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I'm wondering the same. How can it be required to be back at work 6 hours or so after working 16-18 hours? There has to be an OSHA rule or something, right? That's only a few hours sleep in the best of situations, after maybe staying up all noc or something. Doesn't sound safe. Can't a manager work the floor?

I've worked a double twice now in my 6 months as a new RN, (which turned out to be 18-19 hours, no breaks) but both were unplanned and were because the nurse on the following shift called in sick. Once I made my DNS go buy me dinner (well okay, she volunteered). But I only did it because I was promised the following day off. One or two of my fellow RNs and a few more CNAs do regularly scheduled doubles, but I don't think any of them are mandated to do so.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I used to do 3 or 4 doubles a week. Was the manager from 7-3, passed meds from 3-11 and came back the next day. It wasn't fun, but the pay checks were. I was young then....in my 40's. Couldn't do it now.

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If I did a double I would make a deal with the scheduler to be off the next day or if my weekend off was coming up I would work the next day, but have a 3 day weekend. So I was able to have some flexibility in my schedule.

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Specializes in Pediatric.

Thanks for everyone who answered. The problem a lot of people have been having- is getting overly tired and making mistakes during those 16 hour shifts. (We're not a long term care center and its a frenetic pace.)

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I never agree to work a double unless I am off for the next 2 shifts. I have an hour commute 1 way and can't function too well on less than 6 hrs of sleep. If they won't or can't accommodate the next day off, it's a no for me. If they ever start mandation, I will start looking for another job. I can always go back to accounting ;)

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