Questions about hours, OT, and quitting job

[Emma123]

Hi everyone.

I recently quit my first nursing job (got hired at another facility). I have a question: Is it pretty much the norm for nurses to work *unpaid* for up to an hour after their shift ends doing paperwork? I wasn't salaried, yet I'd be there on average a half hour after my shift ended (sometimes longer) doing paperwork, charting, etc. I'd clock out and when I'd get my pay stub, the hours would read 8.00 each day. Like I wasn't even there that extra half hour, just wiped right off the record.

Does anyone else have experience with this? They'd tell us we'd have to get prior auth to get paid overtime, but they wouldn't pay you overtime if you were "just charting". Yet, the whole reason I didn't get my charting done was because of well, patient care.

Since I am new, I just wondered if this was a standard in the profession. That wasn't the reason I quit that job; there were unsafe staffing conditions among everything else (they changed DON's like you'd change a newborn's diaper....)

Thanks so very much in advance,

Emma

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

look in the staff handbook and see what their policies are. They may do it, but honestly it isnt right. If thats how they plan to do things then the nursing care should end in time to allow charting to get done while next shift takes over (not going to happen though). I would be pretty ticked off if they did that where I work. Well, honestly, I just wouldnt work there! I have had to stay over several times when pt codes and the paperwork and meds get behind with my other patients. I had to stay 3 hours late one time due to a code. Ive had to stay over to get charting done because of demanding/needy patients keeping me at their bedside. But I got paid for it. I would definitely check the policy.

[kstec, LPN]

I was just reading this and found it interesting that the LTC facility that I work at is really hounding nurses for their overtime. The other day a nurse worked the day shift and then stayed for 4 hours into the second shift. While management was there she actually said that she had already clocked out because she didn't want to get fired because of having more than her 8 hours and her 4 extra hours that day. I just looked at her as if what are you doing? For one, my time is just as valuble as mgmt. and I and all nurses should be compensated for it. I know most of us would gladly go home on time. I don't think I've got out on time one day since I've started (2 months ago). I wonder if they have ever (mgmt.) thought that it would be cheaper to hire more nurses or pay overtime, I don't think they can have their cake and eat it too. We as nurses are only human and can only do so much in an allotted (spelling) time. I think even after working overtime there is still a list a mile long we could've, should've or would've love to have gotten done on our shift. My favorite saying that I learned in nursing school was "Do your best, and bless the rest", somehow I find myself blessing alot of things.

[muffie, RN]

any minute past 15 minutes past my 12 hours is time and 1/2

i do not hit the floor a second before 0715

self-preservation after 20 years

unionized, tg

[Sunflowerinsc, ADN, RN]

Every place I have worked I have been paid for all time worked. Never would stay and do any work off the clock,not "even" charting. But now overtime only kicks in after 40 hours worked in a week. So if you are working 3 12's, get paid for all time you are there but there is that 4 hours of regular pay before the overtime starts.

[bagladyrn, RN]

For all of you who "clock out" and continue working, think about this - if you are injured during that time they may refuse you workman's comp - you weren't clocked in. If you are named in a legal action resulting from something that happened during that time period, again - you weren't officially there - no coverage!

[herecomestrouble]

My first job was in a place that only paid OT if it was pre approved_like you knew ahead of time that you would have to stay late-about a year after I left there I got a check from them for all the OT I had not been paid,It seems someone had turned them into the Labor Board and they had to go back over years of records and repay everybody!!NICE

[wayover20]

Two of the nurses I work with consistently clock out at the end of our shift, and stay to chart. When I questioned why, they said "oh, to save the unit some money"....like it's some noble act or something. They have been there many years more than I and I fail to see what they're "saving the unit money" got them. We still don't have the supplies we need, the walls are in need of paint and the ice machine leaks. So where did that money go??

I REFUSE to be such a spineless person. Believe me, when I'm done, I leave but if I'm still working I'm getting paid for it.

[Simplepleasures]

Hi everyone.

I recently quit my first nursing job (got hired at another facility). I have a question: Is it pretty much the norm for nurses to work *unpaid* for up to an hour after their shift ends doing paperwork? I wasn't salaried, yet I'd be there on average a half hour after my shift ended (sometimes longer) doing paperwork, charting, etc. I'd clock out and when I'd get my pay stub, the hours would read 8.00 each day. Like I wasn't even there that extra half hour, just wiped right off the record.

Sounds like this place had a lot of problems, but my question is this, did you clock out then go back to the floor and do the paperwork, OR did you clock out After you did your paperwork, just before you left the building?If you clocked out after the paperwork, your old employer may have broke a wage and hour law, I would call around and try to get a free consult with an EMPLOYMENT lawyer.This is a practice that is so prevalent in LTC, its about time they got more than their hands slapped.:trout:

[Simplepleasures]

My first job was in a place that only paid OT if it was pre approved_like you knew ahead of time that you would have to stay late-about a year after I left there I got a check from them for all the OT I had not been paid,It seems someone had turned them into the Labor Board and they had to go back over years of records and repay everybody!!NICE

Yes, this is what Im talking about.