Longest Shift You've Worked

Nurses General Nursing

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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? 

Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.
24 minutes ago, klone said:

Why do you think leaving after 9 hours is leaving early?

Probably because I've been routinely working 12-20+ hour shifts for so long.  People are used to me being there almost all hours of the day, evening and even night

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Yes, management will suck you dry if you let them. One day, you'll possibly have a spouse and children (assuming you don't). Learn to put your foot down and say "NO" now. I have seen marriages and families suffer through the years d/t nurses taking on the martyr role.

If you're doing it for the extra $, just say so.

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.
10 hours ago, 2BS Nurse said:

Yes, management will suck you dry if you let them. One day, you'll possibly have a spouse and children (assuming you don't). Learn to put your foot down and say "NO" now. I have seen marriages and families suffer through the years d/t nurses taking on the martyr role.

If you're doing it for the extra $, just say so.

My position is salaried, so no extra pay for staying late.  It would probably explain why management doesn't have too much of an issue with me staying late, as it ends up being "free labor" for them.  Not purposely taking on a martyr role, although looking at things, it probably seems like it to others.  I will say it is highly doubtful that marriage or children will be a reality for me 

 

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
1 hour ago, SilverBells said:

My position is salaried, so no extra pay for staying late.  It would probably explain why management doesn't have too much of an issue with me staying late, as it ends up being "free labor" for them.  Not purposely taking on a martyr role, although looking at things, it probably seems like it to others.  I will say it is highly doubtful that marriage or children will be a reality for me 

 

Ooh poor SilverBells. Is that what you're after?

You precisely ARE taking on the martyr rôle.

For God's sake stop it and work your required hours only. You'll see the facility won't fall down. Nobody is indispensible. Enrol on an evening class so that you HAVE to leave work to be there. Buy a pile of good books. Get yourself a cable subscription. And download a dating app to your phone.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
On 6/25/2021 at 11:47 PM, SilverBells said:

People keep asking more and more from me on a daily basis.  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.  Hence, the long shifts.

You have to let go. What you are doing is UNSAFE and will potentially lead to harm to a patient. That's why there are 3 shifts, the continuum of care.. I would not be proud of those numbers of hours worked at all for those reasons. I would be sitting back and taking stock of what I am doing in order to feel that I must work that long.  I'm floored that your manager hasn't spoken to you about those hours which I can't imagine you are getting paid for, which will bring me to another bag of worms. If you are working off the clock, you are actually looking at liability issues. Who is responsible for your injury if you get injured while working off the clock? If there is injury to a patient and you are working off the clock, does that leave you completely liable, since you technically and legally were not supposed to be working? These are things that you should be thinking about.

 

And if you really need to know, the longest I ever worked was a single 16 hour shift after a snow storm that buried the area. Those of us that were there, and could make it in, were given empty rooms to sleep in, showers to use, and we were fed. Not one of us were allowed to work more than 16 hours and if we were tired, we worked 12. Naps were allowed on breaks. This was only for 2 days, and only because of the disastrous weather conditions. 

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

To be clear, SilverBells, this is your choice. You are CHOOSING to work, live, and behave this way. You have completely enfolded yourself into the martyr role. No matter what anyone says, you will continue on this unhealthy path and post your humble brags about being scolded for putting patients first and working a really unsafe number of hours. Best of luck to you, take care.

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.
2 hours ago, DavidFR said:

Ooh poor SilverBells. Is that what you're after?

You precisely ARE taking on the martyr rôle.

For God's sake stop it and work your required hours only. You'll see the facility won't fall down. Nobody is indispensible. Enrol on an evening class so that you HAVE to leave work to be there. Buy a pile of good books. Get yourself a cable subscription. And download a dating app to your phone.

Not looking for sympathy as it is my own doing.  Was just curious how long anyone else's shifts had been.  I don't like to admit this but you're right.  It wasn't intentional, but my work hours have gotten out of control to the point of being unsafe, and it appears I have taken on a martyr role, although that wasn't my intention.  I think a lot of it has to do with not having anything in my life other than work.  Finding something that will compete for my time would likely be beneficial; at this point, I have nothing

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Specializes in General Internal Medicine, ICU.
3 minutes ago, SilverBells said:

I think a lot of it has to do with not having anything in my life other than work.  Finding something that will compete for my time would likely be beneficial; at this point, I have nothing

So here’s a suggestion:

1) Empower and teach your staff how to solve their own problems. You shouldn’t solve any of their problems unless it is directly an issue that a manager should handle.

2) Work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Arrive and leave on time. Do not show up early, do not stay late. Post your schedule where staff can easily see it. You are not available outside of those hours. Let your staff know who they can contact for assistance in your absence.

Do not do anything work related outside your work hours.

3) Now that you’re working 40 hours a week, you will have free time.

Pick up a hobby, take a class, take day trips to areas near you, adopt a pet, get a plant, join a book club, play some video games, meet up with friends, download a dating app and go on dates, learn to cook, sleep in, learn to play an instrument, watch Netflix, relax at home….

The point is, you have nothing in your life because you are making work your life, and you’re actively choosing to make work your life.  

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Specializes in retired LTC.
29 minutes ago, SilverBells said:

...  and it appears I have taken on a martyr role, although that wasn't my intention.  I think a lot of it has to do with not having anything in my life other than work.  Finding something that will compete for my time would likely be beneficial; at this point, I have nothing

There it is --- the martyr's 'crown of thorns'.

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.
12 minutes ago, amoLucia said:

There it is --- the martyr's 'crown of thorns'.

Sigh. If I affirm a poster's observation,  I'm wrong.  If I beg to differ, I'm also wrong.  Maybe if I stay quiet I will experience success and do something right.  

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Specializes in School Nursing.
13 minutes ago, SilverBells said:

Sigh. If I affirm a poster's observation,  I'm wrong.  If I beg to differ, I'm also wrong.  Maybe if I stay quiet I will experience success and do something right.  

There you go, that is exactly what amoLucia means. You MUST stop playing the martyr, and do something with your life. I don't have much but I do have things I love to do, and interests that I like to explore. You need to do the exact same thing. You must have something that interests you? Do something about it! Learn about it, there is so much out there to learn about. Look for the Meetup app on your phone, there are so many groups on it, something has to interest you on there. But you have to stop living for work. Believe me, they don't really care about you.

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Specializes in oncology.
2 hours ago, MPKH said:

Pick up a hobby, take a class, take day trips to areas near you, adopt a pet, get a plant, join a book club

All my life I read "Dear Abby" that said join a church, club or some organization to meet singles. I just hated reading that! When my 12 month teaching job was probably going to 9- 10 months, I decided to look for a profitable Summer activity.....I already knew antiques and decided this was how I was going to support myself. I read all the publications and found new friends and incidentally a husband....Silver Bells..go where you interests lead you. Don't think about next year, figure out today and tomorrow . 

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