Is working too much bad for your health?

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Specializes in ACE.

I've been doing a lot of overtimes since the new year as we have had many covid/non covid outbreaks in our units. I got my full time hours plus worked extra hours and worked on my days off. 

I can't tell people how to feel but I know messing with your sleep, and rest is not a good idea. Heart rates can change. Anyways, I have a co worker who works way more than me and she is like "I love money". And I'm thinking too myself like, yeah we have to pay bills, but its probably not good to do stuff just for the sake of money.

Management is also at least in my place does not really consider staff working a lot, so if I do make an error, they will not feel sorry for me, they will probably give me a letter depending on what the issue is.

When I worked those days when I was supposed to be off, I actually wish I'd stay home. I remember one day I had like 3 falls, a code, and a resident had to be sent to the hospital. Most days its stable but all those happened within 8 hours and I could have just stayed home.

Other days its like I don't want to risk myself. Meaning the more you work, the more you put yourself to making an error. One day I showed up to a shift I picked up, and then the other nurse did not show up and they could not find a replacement, so I was alone on the floor by myself.

Also the more you make, the tax man will collect their share too.

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

It sounds like you work LTC/SNF? If so, this line of nursing can burn you out and quickly between constant short staffing, patients that aren't as medically stable as outsiders, and more work/tasks than you could ever imagine. I've personally worked in this line of work for 6 years now and for the past year and a half,  have pretty much worked 16-20 hours,  Monday through Friday.  I've yet to experience any ill effects to my health, but definitely more tired.  I'm fatigued to the point I sleep up to 18 hours on my days off.  Be careful, because even if you stay healthy, quality of life surely will decline if you consistently work too much overdue 

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

You posted an almost identical thread in January and got some sound advice, I would recommend rereading through it.

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Specializes in ACE.
56 minutes ago, JadedCPN said:

You posted an almost identical thread in January and got some sound advice, I would recommend rereading through it.

I posted an identical thread yesterday in March. I recommend YOU reread through it.

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

If it's affecting your health-- physical or mental-- then it's too much.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
2 hours ago, DK123 said:

I posted an identical thread yesterday in March. I recommend YOU reread through it.

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here, or where the origin of your unnecessary snark is coming from. I was simply saying you’ve already asked this question and got some really good replies, which is why I remembered your original post from January. No need for me to reread it.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
5 hours ago, DK123 said:

I posted an identical thread yesterday in March. I recommend YOU reread through it.

OP - no need to get nasty.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
1 hour ago, amoLucia said:

OP - no need to get nasty.

Maybe working too much is affecting her emotional health.

We are holistic beings you know.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Sometimes you may think that your health is not being affected, and for some people it really may not. But, if may be having effects that you're not able to notice. Up until about a month ago, I'd been working 50-60 hours a week for a long time. I have a coworker who regularly works 60+ hours a week. We're the "work wives". When the unit is short we're almost always there. I'm the majority of our wage earning power in our house. I have three teenagers with one ready to head to college, and we've had some big bills over the past few years. So I've worked when I had to do in order to take care of things. However, for the past month I've worked about 40 hours and that's it. I've had time to get things done around my house that I've literally wanted to do for years. I've had more quality time with my kids, I'm sleeping better and I feel better. If you can do it, fine, but be aware of subtle things that could indicate a problem. 

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Specializes in ACE.
3 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Maybe working too much is affecting her emotional health.

We are holistic beings you know.

Bro get off here

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
26 minutes ago, DK123 said:

Bro get off here

What is your problem?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
1 hour ago, DK123 said:

Bro get off here

Well, I guess you told me!

 

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