I honestly think I have lost my ever loving mind. Here is the deal. I am a traveler. I work an IHS hospital. In OB no less. In the last 6 weeks, I have pulled 4 - 24 hour shifts. I can't seem to say no. A call in on friday, call every one who is on list, and - suprise- no one will work, thus I have no relief and get stuck here for 24 hours.
I was asked to be on call tonight. I said OK. guess what? I'm still at the hospital. What is up with this? have I lost all common sense?
I am really trying to figure out why I do this to my self. I can and quite often do say no. So why can't I say no to this?
I dont know but you are definitely at risk for losing your license should something go wrong. There are studies that prove that working too many hours in a row inteferes with a persons responses, mental capacity, and functioning. Thats why occupations that can pose a risk to public safety, such as airline pilots and truck drivers have a law that prevents them from working too many hours straight. Nurses should be included in that and there is legislation to do that but for now, if the employer asks you to do it AND YOU ACCEPT, the risk (and blame) is all yours. You have a legal obligation to make a judgement as a "reasonable and prudent nurse" and refuse an unsafe assignment. On the witness stand, after you've missed something and a pt is harmed because you were overtired, theyll ask you why you accepted such an unsafe assignment as to work 24 hrs straight in the first place --- You'll be made the bad guy for doing something that put your pts at risk and an explanation of "there was no one else to work and I cant say no" is not going to save you or your license. If you ACCEPT working those kinds of hours, youre the one who is going to get left holding the bag. Learn to say NO.
I honestly think I have lost my ever loving mind. Here is the deal. I am a traveler. I work an IHS hospital. In OB no less. In the last 6 weeks, I have pulled 4 - 24 hour shifts. I can't seem to say no. A call in on friday, call every one who is on list, and - suprise- no one will work, thus I have no relief and get stuck here for 24 hours.
I was asked to be on call tonight. I said OK. guess what? I'm still at the hospital. What is up with this? have I lost all common sense?
I am really trying to figure out why I do this to my self. I can and quite often do say no. So why can't I say no to this?
thanks for listening
You must like to be needed, but I do think you need to cut it out!
I am surprised that the hospital allows you to work that much overtime as a traveler. Usually we are the last people asked unless they are desperate. I would never work 24 hours in a row. Call your company and start saying no!
-jt
2,709 Posts
I dont know but you are definitely at risk for losing your license should something go wrong. There are studies that prove that working too many hours in a row inteferes with a persons responses, mental capacity, and functioning. Thats why occupations that can pose a risk to public safety, such as airline pilots and truck drivers have a law that prevents them from working too many hours straight. Nurses should be included in that and there is legislation to do that but for now, if the employer asks you to do it AND YOU ACCEPT, the risk (and blame) is all yours. You have a legal obligation to make a judgement as a "reasonable and prudent nurse" and refuse an unsafe assignment. On the witness stand, after you've missed something and a pt is harmed because you were overtired, theyll ask you why you accepted such an unsafe assignment as to work 24 hrs straight in the first place --- You'll be made the bad guy for doing something that put your pts at risk and an explanation of "there was no one else to work and I cant say no" is not going to save you or your license. If you ACCEPT working those kinds of hours, youre the one who is going to get left holding the bag. Learn to say NO.