On call and 16 hr labor law

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ICU, PACU.

I have a question to nurses who take call in states where it's illegal to work more than 16 hours in a 24 hr period. If you work a 12 hour shift and you're on call right after that shift ends--then it turns out that you do get called in 1 hour later--would you need to be relieved if you end up needing to work more than 4 hours after?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

If you have a 16-hour max law, then you shouldn't be able to/have to take more than 4 hours of call after your 12-hour shift. So you should never need to work more than 4 hours.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I would read your state's law very carefully and see if there is an exemption for on call. My state specifically addresses on call as exempt from the mandatory overtime prohibition.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I would read your state's law very carefully and see if there is an exemption for on call. My state specifically addresses on call as exempt from the mandatory overtime prohibition.

Do facilities in your state routinely schedule people for regular 16-hour shifts? Because I can't think of any scenario in which a nurse would work 16+ hours *except* in an on-call situation.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Do facilities in your state routinely schedule people for regular 16-hour shifts? Because I can't think of any scenario in which a nurse would work 16+ hours *except* in an on-call situation.

I don't know about any facilities other than my own. We don't anymore- we used to have a weekend program where staff would work 7a-11p on Saturdays and Sundays.

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Specializes in PACU.

I've never even thought to look into that in my state, I work during the day and regularly take a twelve hour call shift the same night. the phone may not ring or it may. I had a Saturday 24 hour call shift were I worked 21 hours out of the 24. It was a rough day to say the least (not normal for call) and it took me two days to feel "recovered".

And in that time I have never once thought to wonder if it was legal, or about labor laws.... I wonder what that says about me?

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