New Grad & First Job in LTC - Lots of Overtime/Doubles - How Much Is Too Much?

[blackdiamond407]

Hello,

New grad with my first job in LTC. I was offered very generous salary and a full time position. I am to get every other weekend off and full time hours. On weeks that I do not have weekends off, my days off are not in a row. I definitely enjoy the job and I'm learning a lot. I have been at my job one month. When hired, I was told that it is important to come when called in if possible and that everyone should be a team player. This monday (03/03) I was to work 7 AM to 3:30 PM. I work 8.5 hour shifts. The DON asked me to work a double for overtime in the middle of my shift on monday (which is 7 AM to 11:30 PM). I was aware that a new nurse just quit and I agreed to the shift. It was very rough and I am still tired but I agreed to the shift to be a team player. I then worked my regular shift on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I have Friday off and am working Sat and Sun. I was just asked to work a double this Saturday and I declined. I felt guilty but I am still tired from Monday! Then, I was asked if I could work next Sunday, which would be my Sunday off. I said that I had plans Saturday night. I was told to think about working the shift. Here is my dilemma. I want to be a team player and I don't want to lose my job because i am not willing to work all the time but I also don't want to be overworked. I am tired and don't have time to do things that I enjoy and I was looking forward to my weekend off with my fiance since we don't normally have days off together. Am I foolish not to take the overtime and come across as a team player? No one has said anything to me yet but I am wondering if I will at some point get in trouble for not taking on as many shifts as my facility would like. What do others think? I am not complaining about having hours and being paid well, I just am not sure how to reasonably balance life and work as a new nurse. I don't know what to expect and what is expected of me. If anyone has any advice it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Blackcat99]

At my LTC, they are always asking "the new grads" to do the overtime and double shifts. They pay the new grads less money then the experienced nurses, so they always prefer to get "the new grads" to do all of the overtime and double shifts. They do sometimes ask the experienced nurses to do overtime too if they are "really desperate". The "experienced nurses" who don't want any overtime never answer their phones when they are home.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

We usually ask the new grads because they tend to be younger and don't mind the long hours. It has nothing to do with who makes more money. It has to do with who will stay if there is a call out.

[chrisrn24]

You are not the staffing coordinator. Do not feel bad about not working OT. Work tires me out. I maybe work 1/2 an extra shift once a month if that. And no I don't answer my phone when they call.