Mandatory Overtime

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I have been at my new job for about 6 months now. In general I really like it and I really like the people I work with. That being said this mandatory OT is killing me! Between that and going back to school FT for my BSN, I am just totally exhausted. Is mandatory OT something you guys face often. I girl I work with who has been there 4 years told me they have been in mandatory OT for about 75% of the time she has worked there. Sometimes I have to wonder if the grass is always greener on the other side. If it wasnt for the OT this job would be pretty awesome. Its one thing for it to be optional, but being forced to work extra really blows. Ive been thinking of applying else where but Im only 6 months in and I hate to do that. I can now see why my unit has a very high turnover rate.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Oh and did I mention that while we are in mandatory OT, my manager is currently on her 4th vacation this year 😮

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Specializes in ICU.

Indiana is currently in a shortage. The outlook for IN is it is supposed to get worse before it gets better. You may need to find a place where they have better staffing issues. Does your facility not use agency at all? Are they working on hiring more staff, or are they content with the mandatory OT? Some people can get content and not put forth the effort into hiring, but it's not cost effective for any facility to run that way.

You will have to make a decision. If they refuse to hire, you will be stuck in mandated OT, and you may want to look elsewhere. If they are legitimately trying to hire, it may just take a few months.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

We currently just brought in one agency nurse and I believe hired one new girl. She is a new nurse and will take several weeks before she is able to fill any holes. The issue there is once she is oriented then one of the night shifters will be filling the hole in days, so it basically leaves us where we are now. The problem is people are leaving faster than they can be replaced. Ive seen 5 people leave so far, and not one of them be replaced on nights.

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We currently just brought in one agency nurse and I believe hired one new girl. She is a new nurse and will take several weeks before she is able to fill any holes. The issue there is once she is oriented then one of the night shifters will be filling the hole in days, so it basically leaves us where we are now. The problem is people are leaving faster than they can be replaced. Ive seen 5 people leave so far, and not one of them be replaced on nights.

Oh wow that's now good at all. Your employer may veto it but can you go PRN or cut down to part-time. Or even transfer to another floor?

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Follow your colleagues to other facilities that do not force you to work like a mule. It could take 6 more months to find another job. The other hospitals know why you are looking.

By the way, they are co-workers, colleagues, or sisters in pain... not girls.

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Specializes in NICU, Cardiac.

On my unit, we have mandatory OT. It sucks but we are very well-compensated. We have 6 week schedules and generally have to work 24 extra hours over the 6 week time period. We are "staffed" to 13 nurses/shift but our census is out of control so realistically, we need 15-16 nurses.

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If you don't like mandatory OT, tell your employer you are giving notice and make it clear that it is because of the mandatory OT. Be sure to tell them that everything else is perfect and you wouldn't have put in your notice if not for mandatory OT.

I suspect you could reach a compromise.

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