overtime

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if the job description says 72 hours per pay period (36 hrs a week) will they allow you to work extra? And typically how many hours extra? And how easily can you get overtime (specifically l&d and nicu)

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

That all depends on the unit, and it's shortage at the time. Sometimes for whatever staffing reasons the unit is very short staffed and it's needs would be great, or the census is running high,, othertimes when census drops, esp in specialty units that would fluctuate greater than say med/surg ir SICU/MICU low census isn't usually an issue. These days managers don't want to pay OT period. On my unit if you want to stay xtra to fill in, it is straight time, I think it breaks some labor laws but that's the way it is.. I won't stay for straight time. I see very little OT where I work anyway

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We have more OT opportunity than we can work in my unit.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Us too - you can get as much OT as you can physically stand to work, and then some, especially if you don't mind floating to other units. Most hospitals prefer to pay OT than to use agency/contract staff whenever possible. Even if the cost is the same, many prefer to pay their own for various reasons (doubt that applies to all places, tho...).

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Flight.
That all depends on the unit, and it's shortage at the time. Sometimes for whatever staffing reasons the unit is very short staffed and it's needs would be great, or the census is running high,, othertimes when census drops, esp in specialty units that would fluctuate greater than say med/surg ir SICU/MICU low census isn't usually an issue. These days managers don't want to pay OT period. On my unit if you want to stay xtra to fill in, it is straight time, I think it breaks some labor laws but that's the way it is.. I won't stay for straight time. I see very little OT where I work anyway

uhh.... what she said....

pretty much sums it up!!!

:cool:

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Whether or not OT is available or you are encouraged to work overtime is strictly dependent upon conditions at the unit where you will be working. Some employers will ask (and/or expect) you to work overtime, but will not pay you overtime pay. Others will go shorthanded and not have anyone work overtime because they refuse to pay the extra money. Other employers will encourage you to work overtime, and obey the labor laws in paying you for your efforts, but will not hold it against you if you refuse OT. These questions are best answered by the managers where you will be working. OT is a good subject for the potential employee to bring up at the initial job interview. Another way to find out is to talk to somebody who already works there.

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Specializes in OB L&D Mother/Baby.

I think we're pretty lucky where we work because our nurse manager would rather pay someone OT pay than have us work short. We were WAY over staffed for a while but due to a couple of long term illnesses we're back to picking up several shifts a month just to cover ourselves. For us anything we work over 40 a week is OT, but I'm only budgeted part time and they allow us to clock in as "call in pay" which is the same as OT when we are called in.

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We're so short at the moment we have agency that are working OT and staff working OT in our unit. Our agency RN's have become full time staff basically.

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