how does it effect you??

Trauma Columnist · Jan 7, 2003

1. family - if I elect to do OT - its because it doesn't interfere. Have had occasions when high medical bills forced me to work OT and same applies - but my youngest is 17 too.

2. physically/psychologically - you get tired. I'm 44 now and try not to do 16 hours, but can if I must. I am pretty fried at the end of that and I work ER.

3. economical - easy one - you get more money

4 socially - not too much otherwise I wouldn't sign up.

jschut, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2003

I can say it definitely effects my family the most. Since I am not here from 7p-7a anyway, then I sleep, working OT really cuts into my time with the kids and hubby.

From another standpoint, when I do work OT, I can choose the hours I come in and when I leave, so I can take a child with me for a few hours and spend some one on one. I work in a LTC, so this is easier, and the kids get to visit, and the folks get to visit.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2003

Background. I just left home health after 11 years because of uncompensated overtime to the tune of 20 to 30 hours per week.

1. Family-I barely saw my family which showed up in behavioral issues with my kids.

2. I was literally exhauseted. When I left I had not had a day off in 6 weeks.

3. I had no social life

4. When you figured my hourly wage with all hours suffered to work it was between 9 to 13. per hour. I am a BS prepared RN.

I left hands on care because I could not work between 60 to 70 hours per week and be paid for less than 40 hours. We were not paid for drive time or documentation time or on call phone time which those factors accounted for half of my week.

I hope this information helps you. If you need more information my email is [email protected]

renerian

ebeRN · Jan 7, 2003

thanks for all the replies...

the longer the better....

my study is based on the quality of life of a nurse so thats why i have those four aspects...

thanks again

and keep them coming:)

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Jan 7, 2003

1. Family - hubby understands, he says mo' money! But there is the lack of companionship for both of us, the things I usually take care of that don't get done, mending, feeding the dog, etc that somebody else has to do, etc. Makes worry for me afraid things won't get done.

2. Physically/mentally - I can't do it like I used to. I am 42 and note a big difference in just the past 3 years. In 2000, I worked bookoo overtime to pay for my daughter's wedding and to buy myself a new car. I worked 50/60 hrs a week for months and while somewhat tired, had no problem doing this for literally eight or ten months. Now if I work one day over I feel like heck on a stick for two more days. I feel more put upon and resentful of it even if it is voluntary on my part.

3. Social - most of my socializing is done with church folk, and I try not to work shifts that will interfere with my churching. If it does, they are understanding, but it still aggravates me to no end.

4. Economically - I cannot work more than 2, 3 at the most in a

pay period or it just gets sucked up in taxes. Usually if it is involuntary OT I spend it on something to make me feel better for having to fool with it. If it is voluntary, it is usually for a reason, such as car, wedding, baby etc.

Glad2behere · Jan 7, 2003

KaroSnowQueen is right. The older one gets it seems there is a new squeak somewhere in the old bod, and OT really exacerbates it. Harder to recover physically, and that spills over psychologically and effects your life in layers...homelife, sociallife, etc.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 7, 2003

I will probably sound like a really odd duck here but nevertheless, here I go. I don't elect to do overtime but on RARE occasions. Thus, I hold per diem jobs, as long as I can do so. Reasons?

I want to see my family, especially my kids as they grow up cause this time does not last.

I don't want to give any more money to Uncle Sam than I already do. Too much overtime, and it is hardly worth it....and does not put you ahead that much financially, believe me.

Social; not much time for a social life if all you do is work, is there?

Physicially/Psychologically: These are really TWO separate issues, but they don't affect me much cause I don't do overtime. Back in the day, before I knew better, I did loads of it. What it got me was a sore back, legs, feet. Headaches. Chronic poor sleep. And numbing of my mind. I did not enjoy it. Had NO time to enjoy the so-called "good money" either.

I guard my time VERY carefully. I finance only the life I wish to work for. I don't live in a great house, (very small gov't house actually, being military), I don't have the best of clothes. My car is paid for. Most of the reason I DO work is to finance the extras for the kids, like schooling for my son, sports programs, which are expensive, and our little trips to the ocean, mountains, or wherever we decide to go. Outwardly, I live a mediocre life by many social standards. But that's ok. I LIVE nonetheless, watching the kids grow and taking time to try to appreciate life before it passes me by.

Scavenger'sWife, RN · Jan 7, 2003

Glad to add to your stats:

1. Family: I work 12 hour shifts usually. It is a medical floor, very, very busy. So it has impact on my family by the time it takes me away from them during the time at work, but also in the way it affects me AFTER I work the OT. That is b/c I spend *that* much more time to recover from the emotional and physical toll it takes upon me to work at ALL, especially OT. I have been married nearly 31 years and it takes time away from my husband but also from our elderly parents. I feel guilty sometimes about the amount of time I spend at work, even if I volunteered.

2. Phys/Psych: I will be 50 this July. That is not *THAT* old, certainly, but it sure is when one considers all the health problems that a 50 y/o may have: arthritis, HTN, asthma are my probs. I have found out the ol' body doesn't wake up all eager to jump into the day the way it used to as a younger person. And psychologically, it really doesn't have a lot of effect (other than being TIRED all the time! And I get tired of being TIRED!!!) I think that is because I have been an RN only 4 years this June. I do find myself being depressed at times about feeling tired and that affects my entire life, all aspects. But I still feel jazzed up about nursing, very interested about learning, and thinking about pursuing a BSN and a certification in Med-Surg.

3. Economic: The money is the bottom line. Everyone feels the economic pinch these days. Nursing is a fortunate profession at this time because d/t the shortage, nurses can virtually work 24/7 if wanted. It is certainly comforting to know that if one wants/needs money for any reason, one can nearly always add hours to the workweek and get the OT. And usually OT pays anywhere from time and a half, to (at my facility) an "incentive pay" that is more than double time. In this day of "lucky to make $8 hr." wages, what a benefit to make $55 an hour!

4. Socially: This is the down-side to #3. I have NO time for friends. Any time I have off work is spent making it up to my family (hubby, son, daughter, in-laws, mom, etc.) And I am a person who NEEDS her private, me-only time. Without personal time to do whatever I want, I feel deprived, depressed and tired. (Maybe I should have said this under the "psych" area!) So *SOCIALLY*??? What is a "social" life, anyway? Outside of going to Church, I don't get it anymore.

And BTW: If you are writing a thesis, you had better understand the difference between "affect" and "effect". Affect is to produce an effect. Ex: His lungs are AFFECTED. The EFFECT is pneumonia. These 2 words are confused A LOT. You will impress your Prof if you use them correctly. GOOD LUCK on the thesis!!! GREAT TOPIC!!! Could you let me read it when you are finished?? email me at: [email protected]

Debby

OBNURSEHEATHER · Jan 7, 2003

First of all Debby, I just realized you stole mkue's avatar! It's been throwing me off all day! :chuckle

Second, overtime doesn't effect me at all. I rarely do it for the same reasons mentioned by SmilingBluEyes.

Heather

ebeRN · Jan 8, 2003

thanks for all your replies...

any more??

TracyB,RN, RN · Jan 8, 2003

1> Family - - Hard for my 5 yr old to understand why I have to stay late, when I should be reading to her. . .Hubby wants to know why I always get stuck staying late, so of course he is very cranky by the time I get home & makes me a yukky dinner to punish me, LOL

2>Phys/Psych - - makes me tired & cranky, then the guilt feelings for not being home to read to my 5 yr old

3> $$$ Sometimes it's just not even worth the extra $.

4> Social life, what social life??