Overtime and call time in PACU

[redbird30]

I was wondering how other PACUs handle overtime and call time. Our problem is during the week. We are not a 24 hr. PACU, and when we are on call during the week, we work our scheduled hours, and then have to stay until the schedule is done. We have 1 staff member who stays until 8:30 PM, only 3 days a week. That is as late as we staff. The other day, with emergency add ons, the 2 call people stayed until 2:00AM, and they worked 20 hrs. straight! That's my other concern--it's not safe. Aren't there labor laws that prohibit working this many hours straight?

[sharann, BSN, RN]

You know, if I hadn't seen your name on the post redbird, I would have thought that I wrote this very question. We may even work in the same unit!

This is a horrid situation and without adequate staffing and management this likely will not change. The on-call people probably have to work a full day after their 20 hour shift correct? Then management tells them they are working too many hours but have no relpacement for them. So if they don't work the next day they are calling in sick and are penalized for that.

Disgusting right.

The labor board is no help to call people apparently. We are volunteers for the position and they pay us so it isn't considered "mandatory OT". A joke, I know.

[pacupat, BSN]

Sounds like your manager needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

As a PACU manager I donot allow my nurses to work more than 16hrs.

However I worked in Las Vegas where no really cared. I worked 23 hrs. once.

Your schedule needs to be closely watched as well as changing your staffing plan.

There's not much for you to do but to express that more than 16hrs. is unsafe staffing. You can't leave !