New Nurse Exhausted from Extremely Long Shifts? Help?

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I just became an LPN and I recently got my first job! It's been great so far, but we are desperately understaffed (a common trend I've learned) and I have been working some very long shifts to help out. I'll be honest, the past couple of weeks have been brutal. I've been coming into work at 5 in the morning, and I haven't been leaving until past midnight almost everyday. I'm completely beat at this point and just tired of being on my feet every waking moment of my life... My coworkers keep asking me to pick up shifts, and I'm too nervous to say no. I'm on my 9th shift straight and I worked over 100 hours last week! My legs actually gave out walking up the stairs the other day and some of the older nurses laughed at me saying I can't handle the pressure...the paychecks have been awesome! But my body just can't keep this up.* Are hours like this normal at hospitals?! I really like and need this job, but I'm not sure I can handle it...

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Stop taking those extra shifts! You are teaching those who ask that you won't say no, and they know now who they can sucker into it. Your body and patient care will suffer if you keep this up. Stop it!

Practice in the mirror if you have to, and remember "No" is a complete sentence. ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Pretty sure that your employer is in violation of labor laws by allowing you to work all those hours. Pretty sure also that you are not working safely as a nurse. How could you be? 4 hours of sleep per night? 17 hour shifts??? Absolutely NOT normal working hours.

You are only human and your body will not sustain this kind of pace for very long. You have to decide how many (if any) shifts outside of your assigned shifts that you WANT to work. Then stick to it. As long as you allow yourself to be run over in this way, you will be.

In addition, the "being understaffed" will not change until management is forced to change it. If you (and others) continue to fill in holes in the schedule, they will never hire more nurses.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Learn to set boundaries. Say no to extra shifts when you are already working over-time on regular shifts, you are not obligated to work anything other than your assigned shifts unless management mandates overtime. You are entirely correct that this level of work is not sustainable and not good for your health. Picking up extra shifts when you can manage it and when *you* feel like it is one thing however you don't have to solve the staffing problems at this facility - that falls on management not on you.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Oh, and "is it normal?" It may be normal to be asked, depending on the culture of the particular facility. Is it normal to accept that many hours? No. I have worked

I'm telling you, stop being nervous to say "no." The sooner you start taking care of you, the easier your life will be. Self care is SO important for us nurses, because we give so much while at work...and at home if we have families or even pets.

You matter. Own that.

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This is not normal. By working those extra hours you are allowing your facility to get out of hiring, and paying benefits for a much needed nurse. Their understaffing is their problem. Don't make it yours.

Learn the power of "no". What are they going to do? Fire you and free you up for a better job? Probably not, since they need all the staff they can keep.

Work your agreed upon hours from now on and put some of that overtime money into a savings/freedom fund.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Why do you have to go at 5 AM and leave past midnight?

If it is "doubling", set limits as above. If it is your charting, tying loose ends, etc., then you even more have to put accents on developing organization and prioritization skills and limiting total load.

Your working 100 hours/week does NOT benefit you, your patients, your colleagues or even your employer, ultimately. Neither medical mustakes, nor playing with employment laws sounds like fun and great idea. You put your own life, as well as others', on line by doing that. So just stop it. Right now, this very moment.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Stop taking those extra shifts! You are teaching those who ask that you won't say no, and they know now who they can sucker into it. Your body and patient care will suffer if you keep this up. Stop it!

Practice in the mirror if you have to, and remember "No" is a complete sentence. ;)

HELLO!!!!!!!!!!:madface:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Why do you have to go at 5 AM and leave past midnight?

If it is "doubling", set limits as above. If it is your charting, tying loose ends, etc., then you even more have to put accents on developing organization and prioritization skills and limiting total load.

Your working 100 hours/week does NOT benefit you, your patients, your colleagues or even your employer, ultimately. Neither medical mustakes, nor playing with employment laws sounds like fun and great idea. You put your own life, as well as others', on line by doing that. So just stop it. Right now, this very moment.

^^^^^^^^^^!!!!!!!!!!!!!:madface:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

It makes me so **** angry to see veteran nurses taking advantage of newer ones, especially when they should be teaching them that employers will never hire enough additional staff as long as the few work-horses still have a half-a** strong back and a weak heartbeat!!!!

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You're going to get burned out in record time working like that. If you have a land line and don't have caller ID, I suggest you invest in it now, so you can just not answer the phone when work calls. Same for the cell phone. Don't answer.

While it is nice to feel needed, for a small time, it will take it's toll on you and I promise you, in the eyes of your employer, you are easily replaced and not valued. They talk a big talk but if they truly valued their employees there's no way they'd treat them this way.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the LPN/LVN Corner forum for more replies.

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