New Hire question about pay

Ok, you work your schedualed week of 3 12's, 1900 - 0700, mon, tues, wed. Fri your boss calls and pleads you to come in and cover a shift. Ok, sure, another 1900-0700.

Here is the question, working your 3 12's, you are getting paid for 40hrs. When you go in and work that extra shift, are you getting paid for another 12hrs? Or just 8hrs, and the first 4 get sucked into limbo as your first 3 12's are actually only 36hrs? Depending on this answer, is your OT paid on 8 or 12hrs for the Friday shift?

Thanks!

Every nursing job I've worked you only get paid for the hours you work, 36. If you come in for an extra shift you generally get paid 4 hours regular time, 8 hours time and a half. But you'll have to check with your employers policy to know for sure.

Hmm. I could be wrong, but I thought I was told the job was 3 12's and paid for 40hrs a week. Will double check that tomorrow and get back with you...

Icarr, the way it was always explained to me is that is only considered 40 hours in the sense that you worked a full week with this 3 12's, but the pay is still based on the 36 - just like sionainn said.

I guess it could vary, but that seems to be the norm.

It was my understanding that work 36/paid 40 used to be common, but now the norm is work 36/paid 36.

Everywhere I've worked that did 12s, three 12s was considered a "full-time" position, for benefits purposes, etc., but you still got paid for 36 hours, and overtime was based on the actual number of hours you worked (i.e., three 12s plus an additional 12 in the same week would equal 40 hours straight time and 8 hours OT). But different employers have different policies -- you should ask your employer.

You all are totaly right! Oh well, the dream was nice while it lasted. From what I hear, I will probably make up a little bit of the time finishing my charting before I leave. Most of my friends tell me their shifts tend to run 12+ hours and they rarely leave "on time."

Thanks