how many hours can we work in a week?

lifeisbeautiful · Jun 13, 2004

I have been trying to find out if there is a maximum number of hours that a facility can schedule/work an RN in a given time period. I know there is a 24 hour limit but what about over a longer period of time. We are currently working about 4-12 hour shifts per week but evidently it is going to be more. I believe working more than that could be a patient safety issue and am wondering if there is any research data in that area.

I would check with your state labor laws. 4-12 hour shifts!! Are they crazy? I think a nuse should be scheduled for no more than 40 hours a week. If one wants to pick up extra shifts fine, but I don't think you should be mandated to work more than 40hrs. Not only is it a pt safety issue but you need to take care of yourself!! :)

Audreyfay · Jun 13, 2004

You will, of course get overtime. But that's hardly any compensation considering a lot of it puts a person in the next higher tax brackett and it is mostly put into income taxes. I figured out one time when I was working overtime that in the end I was earning about $4/hour for the overtime hours. Quit that in big time. I agree with the above poster. Check with your local state board. Good luck! It is so easy to burn out when working that much!

IamRN · Jun 13, 2004

I have been trying to find out if there is a maximum number of hours that a facility can schedule/work an RN in a given time period. I know there is a 24 hour limit but what about over a longer period of time. We are currently working about 4-12 hour shifts per week but evidently it is going to be more. I believe working more than that could be a patient safety issue and am wondering if there is any research data in that area.

This is most likely dependent on your state's labor board. For TX, the max amount in one shift is 20 hrs.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jun 14, 2004

I work the number of hours I want to at the hospital. If they attempted to force me to work more, I would quit, period. I don't know about laws pertaining to this, but it soulds like you need to go to the person in charge of scheduling and advise him/her that you will *not* be working any more hours than you already are. If they can't handle that, take your marbles and go elsewhere. If they are trying to mandate you for >48 hours per week, apparently the shortage in your area is a little more than in most and you can easily get something elsewhere.