Mandatory overtime. Yuck!!!

[CountryGirl1]

I have a question for more experienced nurses. I'm a relatively new nurse a little over a year. The other day while on shift, a nurse manager informed me of the possiblity of having to work an additional mandatory (double) shift later that night due to staffing shortage. Needless to say I refused. And was told that I had to work. While I have no problems working when there is an actual emergency (bad weather, terrorist attacks) etc, I do have problems having to work double (full 16 hour) shifts when there is not a true emergency. Our facility is notorious for having poor staffing, techs routinely having to work weekly multiple shifts. I have worked in facilities before and I am not used to having to work and take on additional patients barring an actual emergency. What are my rights in this situation? I work in a state that has laws limiting mandatory overtime for nurses.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I must admit that if they had supervisors and managers staying over, and then said they needed me for mandatory OT I would accept thtat it was an emergency and stay. But if the people who are actually responaible for staffing the floor aren't staying, well, heck if I will. Not in my job description.