Forcing extreme hours

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Can a company schedule you to work 16 hour shifts, back to back, all the time? Schedules are made for a month ahead of time and the shifts are 16 hours up to 20, 4-5 days a week. Is this even legal? This is home health ped's. I'm going nuts at the thought of this!:banghead:

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Specializes in ICU.

As far as I know, 16 hours is the longest one can work continuously, with at least 8 hours between shifts. Is this a live-in situation or something?

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Is it legal? Sure... as long as you get paid premium OT.

Is it wise? No.

You can work 24 hours... I've done it more than once. Very hard but very profitable.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Depends on state laws and company policy. My state's law is that one may work up to 20 hours in a 24 hour period, and then must have an 8 hour break. So working 7am-11pm (or some other variation of 16 hour shifts) several days in a row would be legal. Wise and good on one's body? Heck no!

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No, it is a home health 16 hour allowance nursing care for Medicare pt. I am just in awe that they think it is obsurde for me to question and refuse doing 16 hour shifts like that. I have a life AND a family. They also say no outside calls OR cell phones. So what happens if the kiddo is hurt or hubby has an accident. The home doesn't have a phone so I am shut off from everything for 16 hours a day. I guess I will be looking for something else. Somethings just aren't worth the money!

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