Hours between shifts

[purplerose05]

What are your hospital policies about the number of hours you must have off between shfits? We were always told that if we were called in in the middle of the night on our call shift, that we had 8 hours from the time we clocked out before we had to be back in for our shift, assuming we were scheduled to work that day.

Apparently our new director is raising a stink about this policy stating that if we havent' worked 16 hours in that day, then we must report for our scheduled shift at the scheduled time even if we were called in at midnight and left at 3A.

[chare]

This is likely covered in your facility's policies and procedures. If not, as this can vary from facility to facility, this question would best be answered by your human resources.

[purplerose05]

I am checking with my HR department for clarification. I was just curious as to what the policies are at other facilities.

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

At my facility, we can be asked to work 20 hour shifts. Then we are expected to be back 4 hours later for our scheduled shift.

[rnkaytee]

Our longest shift can be 16 hours and then if we are back in the morning it is 1.5X pay if less than 9.5 hours break.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

At my facility, we can be asked to work 20 hour shifts. Then we are expected to be back 4 hours later for our scheduled shift.

This sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN]

Your HR should be able to answer this. Also keep in mind that some states labor laws specify amount of time between shifts as well. If HR doesn't answer then look up your states labor laws. A quick google search should bring you to the states website.

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

We can work up to 16 hours at a time & need to have 8 hours off in between shifts at a minimum.

[DeeAngel]

In addition to checking with HR I would also check with your state labor board.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

In the US, there aren't any laws I know of that would protect RNs.

If you look at other countries, UK/CA/AU/NZ, 8-11 hours is the minimum with some possible exceptions if both the employer and employer have a preexisting written agreement (no ad hoc).

If you look at safety studies, mistakes increase if rest time drops below 11 hours, and precipitously increases if it drops below 8 hours rest between 12s. Because of this, many HR departments have policies in order to reduce risk for the facility, that end up protecting the RN, even if managers might gnash their teeth at times.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Oh hayle no.

At my facility, we can be asked to work 20 hour shifts. Then we are expected to be back 4 hours later for our scheduled shift.

[NursieNinPACU]

We can only work 16 hrs in 24 and then are mandated 8 hrs off. Also, we can only work 6 days in a row and must have 24 hrs off before coming in again. If we're called in and have to work for an on-call shift over night but are scheduled to work the next day it depends. If you're called in, say, early enough to hang around until your day shift starts, then you hang around and try to work, if you're needed, and then the charge nurse sends you home as soon as they can. If you come in closer to midnight, work a few hours, then go home at like 3 or 4am, we usually leave the charge nurse a note and they call and let you stay home and rest a few hours, and then either work less day shift hours or start your shift later and end it later. My unit is usually as flexible and accommodating as they can be without sacrificing patient safety. But we also have leadership that will and has worked at the bedside when asked, without any problems.