nurses hours

12.5 hours is what my hospital schedules for. 1900 to 0730. So no, 13 hours is not out of the question. This = 39 hours a week, so no overtime comes into play either. Hth.

12 hour shifts are normal. This turns into 12.5 when you throw in lunch. Add in walking in/walking out time and your pretty much at 13 hours. 14 or so if you throw in commute.

We work 3 12's normally. 36 hours per week yields no overtime even if you stay a little late every day.

Thank you! So mandatory overtime means more than 12-13 hours?

Overtime, here at least, is hours worked >40. With 3 shifts you won't be hitting that most likely. If you are wanting ot, there is usually ample opportunity for it :)

In my state, the labor laws provide a 2nd 30 minute meal period for shifts over 8 hours. That puts your standard 12 hour shift at 13 hours (including the 2 meal breaks). The majority of staff on my unit choose to waive the 2nd lunch break so we can go home at 12.5 hours with only 1 meal break. Perhaps that is what the other person meant by 13 hour shift.

As for overtime, it's illegal to require mandatory overtime in my state. Voluntary overtime can be a few minutes to many hours. Typical overtime requests by management can include 16 or 20 hour shifts...yeah that means you're very tired 😴😴😴😴!

For the record, I have never worked mandatory overtime. Is this a thing? Lol I'd have a real problem with being told I HAVE to come in. Not that I answer my phone on days off, but if they could get ahold of me.

For the record, I have never worked mandatory overtime. Is this a thing? Lol I'd have a real problem with being told I HAVE to come in. Not that I answer my phone on days off, but if they could get ahold of me.

It was my understanding that most US states allow mandatory overtime. I know off hand that NY doesn't but NJ (my state) does.

Thanks again all for the answers.

I just finished my seventh and back for #8 tonight. Not mandatory but the unit would be SOL if people weren't picking up extra right now.

Maybe I'm crazy but if my job started with mandatory overtime I would quit. No questions asked.

We got stuck with mandatory OT this winter for the first time in my 30+ years. Because voluntary wasn't getting us the nurses we needed and an unprecedented influenza and RSV outbreak kept us full for 4+ months. We traded off being on diversion with the other children's hospital in town for that entire time. Not cool. But necessary, and they tried really, really hard to get us off those mandated shifts if possible.

It sucked.

No mandatory overtime over here either. They ask people to pick up, and if they really need someone they'll pay incentive pay (on top of overtime). The more desperate they are, the higher the incentive.