Longest Shift You've Worked

[SilverBells]

As nurses, there may be times we are required to work long days. The other day, I successfully worked my first 23 hour shift.

What is the longest shift you've ever worked? 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

19 hours ago, hppygr8ful said:

I would never and I mean never allow an employer to take that kind advantage of me. Barring a natural disaster or unusually emergent situation I make sure I am appropriately compensated for any and all overtime workED. Working 23 hours straight is simply not safe and it’s foolish to believe otherwise.

But golly gee, what kind of clickbait would that be? Most unsatisfactory. 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

18 hours ago, SilverBells said:

  Frankly, I don't have much to give anymore but my perfectionistic tendencies and desire to please still somehow keep pushing me to produce as much success as possible. 

This reminds me of the trendy answer that went around on one of those “What kind of questions will they ask me in a job interview?” threads a few years back. It was considered to be verrrrry clever for you to answer HR’s query, ”What’s your greatest weakness?” with a humblebrag, “I’m such a perfectionist, I work waaay too hard!”

Dearie, all the HR people took that seminar too. Nobody believes it. It certainly doesn’t make anybody sound as desirable as they think, not anymore.

Does anybody remember the Nancy Drew books where the plots were basically all the same, so you could see the ending a mile away? That was about when I stopped reading them, too. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

23 hours ago, SilverBells said:

This was my third 20+hour shift within 10 working days; last Monday was 20 hours, last Friday was 21 hours, yesterday was 23 hours. I took today off

You shouldn't be talking about it as if it's honorable or something worth bragging about. I would be embarrassed to admit, as a manager, that I put those hours in. It means I'm not a very good manager (because the sign of a good manager is when you can leave and the place runs smoothly without you).

[SilverBells, BSN]

47 minutes ago, klone said:

You shouldn't be talking about it as if it's honorable or something worth bragging about. I would be embarrassed to admit, as a manager, that I put those hours in. It means I'm not a very good manager (because the sign of a good manager is when you can leave and the place runs smoothly without you).

There's likely some truth to this, unfortunately.  During two of these shifts, I was manager and floor nurse for two units, so I was unsuccessful in delegating due to having no one to delegate to.  The third shift there was not really a good reason for me for being there that long other than the floor staff kept venting about difficult situations and, feeling bad for them, stepped in to help.  I also was probably busy doing things that didn't absolutely have to be done that day, if even at all.  

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

I believe that the management is capitalizing on certain insecurities the OP might have. There was a time when I worked pretty much the same way. I in fact worked my self into a suicidal depression. A very good therapist told me “They did just fine before they hired you and when you leave they will find someone else to fill your chair.”

[LovingLife123]

You lose.  I worked 36 hours once, not in healthcare, but retail.  And many moons ago.

This was a contest, right?  ?

[SilverBells, BSN]

16 minutes ago, LovingLife123 said:

You lose.  I worked 36 hours once, not in healthcare, but retail.  And many moons ago.

This was a contest, right?  ?

How on earth did you successfully work 36 hours straight? 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

12 hours ago, LovingLife123 said:

You lose.  I worked 36 hours once, not in healthcare, but retail.  And many moons ago.

This was a contest, right?  ?

Guess that means I'm runner up? 24-25 hours on an aortic dissection over the weekend where there were no other cardiac team members available. (Cardiac call runs from 3p Friday to 7a Monday). The main OR did come at least let us out for potty and grab a gatorade/pack of peanut butter cracker breaks. Except the poor surgeon. I stuck the straw up his nose trying to get it into his mouth under the mask so he could have some hydration.

SilverBells, there are some unavoidable situations, but they should be far from the norm. That is the only unbelievably long shift I worked in my 16 years of bedside OR nursing. The fact that you are doing multiple shifts per week that leave you minimal time for life is insane. You are very literally going to work yourself to death.

[amoLucia]

21 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

Does anybody remember the Nancy Drew books where the plots were basically all the same, so you could see the ending a mile away? That was about when I stopped reading them, too. 

These posts all seem to follow the 'wash, rinse, repeat' modus operandi for OP.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

Longest I've ever done was 16.5, twice in Med/Surg when they guilted me. I signed up for it a third time but had a crazy assignment on day shift and didn't think I could safely do it for another 8 hours. I called in sick for PM shift in the middle of day shift... LOL. The staffing office didn't realize I was calling from the hospital! I felt bad but I would feel worse making an error, and they found a per diem nurse who wanted to work. Sometimes there are solutions if you look for them, but I know staffing is a huge issue. That amount of hours isn't safe for you or your patients.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

284 days, Afghanistan. So there. 

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I have worked up to 16 hours (the longest allowed) when I was in the ER. I am now in a different department and don’t work more than 12. Why? Because it’s just a job and nursing care is 24/7. In addition, the high probability of mistakes happening are very likely linked with unreasonable hours.
 

I found out a long time ago that few people even appreciate when a nurse stays over for extra hours and I am so much happier just doing my required hours and then going home.