Nurses, Will you work OT for straight pay?

CCU NRS · Sep 20, 2004

I think a lot of the facilities have seen this coming and already compensated, My facility for instance already pays Bonus Shift, I don't even have to be on OT but any shift I work that was not a scheduled shift I get $25/4hr bonus for "critical shift" in other words they pay me $6.25 an hour extra to add on, of course if I go over 40 I still get time and a half(of my base pay) as well, but I can see something like this being worked out as a bonus rather than calling it OT.

RedBait · Sep 20, 2004

There are cases when a nurse should welcome working overtime for straight pay like emergency situations or national disaster, but in regular cases....NO WAY!!! We should be compensated on what is stipulated originally on the contract or employment agreement we signed, lest you signed to be compensated that way in the first place which I think no one will ever attempt to do!:rotfl:

I have been a nurse since 1974 and I have never signed anything, not a contract, not a work agreement, nothing, and I don't know anyone who signed anything, either. Moreover, I have lived in "at will" states which means they can hire me because they like the color of my hair and fire me when they no longer like it. The only limits are those regs of the OEO and ADA: age, race, sex, ethnicity, disability, etc. But, technically, the number of pierces that are visible, as only one example, could be a deal breaker.

Check out the laws and regulations that apply to you in the state that you practice. You should be more than familiar with them, and the Human Resources P&P of your institution.

I got job offers in writing, to include job title, start date and hourly rate of pay. It didn't promise me 1+1/2 overtime pay, it didn't say I wouldn't float, it didn't guarantee me hours if the patient census/acuity fell. My overtime pay status was governed by the FLSA and it is those regs that are now changing.

Try this website for info from the "mouth" of the DOL: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/main.htm

Before you feel sure you are going to be compensated for overtime work, be sure you can define "exempt" in your case.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2004

RedBait, that's the best response I've seen on this topic. Well stated!

GirlArcher · Sep 21, 2004

Would any other group of workers do ot for st? No way!! We already work 12 hour shifts, 3 days a week and anything over that, should be at least time and a half. We are away from our famililes and friends, providing a much needed service and we should be compensated accordingly. I will not work overtime if I am not paid at least time and a half, but as a traveler I will make sure it's in my contract.

flaerman · Sep 22, 2004

let me phrase this very gently;" hell no ".

please don't consider me rude but with the current nursing shortage i work a whole bunch of shifts and get paid quite well to do so. i work for a corporate owned facility in central florida that has to compete with a couple of large area chains here and hca pays us $100.00 bonus in addition to ot pay for every shift worked over our required 3 shifts per(or 6 per pay period) and if that ends i will then in minimal hours to maintain my full-time status and then work either pool or agency and let them pay me even more. i like my job and nursing but they have got to be out of their minds..... :rotfl: :rotfl:

flaerman

NurseFeelGood · Sep 22, 2004

nope nah nada...ain't happening :uhoh3:

weetziebat · Sep 23, 2004

Ain't crazy and ain't stupid - nooooooo way!

CayRN · Sep 25, 2004

It is a fact that nursing continues to be one of the LOWEST paying "professions", and I continue to hear that we are not even considered a profession. Few other "professions", would even work for the base pay that most or us earn. If there were no nurses the hospitals would have to close. Certainly the Doc's arent trained or equiped to give the quality of care that nurses do.

Many of us are constantly mandated to work overtime shifts, forced to whether we want to or not. This takes a tremendous toll on us and our families, and uncle sam gets a better chunk of that overtime than we do for what it costs us in health, stress and family relations.

So NO! If I have to work overtime I better get payed time and a half at the very least.

:)

CayRN · Sep 25, 2004

p.s.

Another thing I have heard a lot in my 30 years as a nurse, "nursing pay is what is driving the cost of medical care up". Excuse me I beg to differ.

The biggest culprit in that has been the decades of over charges to insurance companies and individuals for diagnostic testing and medical proceedures.

gsd4me · Sep 27, 2004

I guess I'm lucky that I don't have to worry. Intermountain Health Care has come out and said that they consider nurses valuable assets and would NOT even consider taking overtime away.

gamichrn · Oct 5, 2004

I am paid hourly, as an LPN, and I frequently work very much overtime. However, if the overtime pay is taken away I will not work overtime anymore because I don't believe that is a fair issue. We don't have "mandatory" overtime. If someone calls in for work, we have a "call list" of nurses who are paid salary and it is part of their job description to be "on call". This is already included in their salaries. It is not my responsibility to stay and cover the next shift....especially after I have already worked my 8 hours for the day and do not get paid for overtime. The nurse on call is responsible for coming in to cover the shift, or for finding a replacement if she doesn't want to work it herself.
It's sad that many facilities are implementing new payroll plans and are putting ALL the nurses on salary so they can take away all the overtime pay. If our facility does that, I will not be employed there.

LPNs are specifically mentioned in the statute as one of the professions that would be excluded under the new OT rules. Your OT would not be affected.

Kaelie · Oct 10, 2004

Depends on the situation. Emergency? Definately yes. :wink2: