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...

Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Absolutely not normal. Stop working those hours before you collapse or make a mistake.

The Law of the Jungle for nurses working in healthcare? Learn the meaning of the word NO or you will get eaten alive physically, mentally, and spiritually.

And when you do get eaten, the managers and coworkers who were so grateful when you picked up a shift will be nowhere to be found.

A facility needs to show a modicum of care for the employees that work for them, and follow labor laws. Period. They might not be happy when you say NO you don't want to stay and that you have a life, but they will get over it. You MUST take care of yourself, FIRST.

I am emphatic about this because I learned it the very hard way.

NO is a very important word that every nurse must care enough about his or her self to be able to say.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
I don't think there's a shoe made that will make a 100 hour week not killer on the feet.

I second everybody who said that you are heading for an error- probably a dumb error you would never, never make while well-rested- if you keep this up.

Check out this terrifying collection of connection errors (not the only sort of error one can make, but frequently among the most deadly) that the FDA has collected. Notice how many of them say that the error was committed by a staff member completing a double shift. DO NOT BE THAT STAFF MEMBER. Get some sleep!

Examples of Tubing and Luer Misconnections

Yikes!

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You need parameters. Now you know what doesn't work (saying yes all the time) now come up with parameters so you don't have to keep making the same decision over and over again. For example, I will not work more than 4 days in a row, ever, and I do not work doubles, ever.

Don't let your facility attempt to manage short-staffing and retention problems on your back. That makes you part of the problem.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

All money is not good money $$$

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We have had a mass exodus of staff related to a new (and incompetent) DON. The DON is expecting the handful of us who are left, to cover for everyone because she doesn't want to work the floor (gasp she might work more than her current 9-3 schedule) and they don't want to pay agency. Let me tell you. I picked up a few extra shifts, but that's it. I need time away from this mess (not to mention I'm in nursing school again as well).

They only "love" you as long as you do everything they ask. The first time you say no, they'll act like you haven't ever helped out. You have to say no sometimes.

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Specializes in Critical Care Nursing and Orthopaedic Nu.

No, it's not Normal. Sacrificing your rest and sleep and altering your Circardian Rhythm is not an expected phenomenon.

Staff Shortage, exists everywhere today. Almost all hospitals face Nursing Shortage today. Over working and straining ones own body is not a solution so....

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Nope. I work my 32 hour Baylor a week and keep it pushing. I don't even have a prn job. My job is short-staffed also, but that's not my problem.

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Specializes in ICU, CARDIOLOGY.

The solution is easy. Learn to say no.

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Saying hire more nurses is easier said than done. If the facility/hospital has a nad reputation or doesn't pay much, nurses are not going to go that facility. And since these companies are becoming more monopolized, the pay will cont to suck until nurses start standing together instead of stabbing each other in the back.

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OP, be on the lookout for a new job. Your current workplace is abusing their authority and taking advantage of the fact that you are a new nurse.

They do not seem to care about your well-being, let alone the patients'. No need to stay loyal to them.

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Just say NO! I've only been a nurse for nearly 2 years. My brain is pudding by day 3...by 4 I'd be unsafe. By everyone agreeing to cover all the time they won't hire people like they obviously need to do. How is this even legal? Sorry but I worked really hard for my license, as we all did, and I'm not going to risk it by making a mistake because I'm exhausted. The facility sure won't support you even though they probably contributed to it. Money isn't everything. I value my health.

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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.

Don't feel guilty when you don't answer the phone!! Let the voicemail get it and forget it!

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