Pressure to take unsafe shifts.

caliotter3 · Mar 12, 2012

When you're too tired to work night shift, or worse yet, to drive to night shift, do a night shift, then drive home, you are too tired. Don't let them "passive-aggressive" you into doing something that is unsafe for you. They won't visit you at the hospital or the morgue.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2012

When you're too tired to work night shift, or worse yet, to drive to night shift, do a night shift, then drive home, you are too tired. Don't let them "passive-aggressive" you into doing something that is unsafe for you. They won't visit you at the hospital or the morgue.

I know, right? I was actually pretty impressed with my response. Had this been a few months ago, I would have felt brow-beaten into taking the shift.

CloudySue · Mar 12, 2012

I usually don't get a guilt trip from my agency, but I do often get asked to cover day shifts, when I work 100% nights. I explain the same thing every time, that I must keep to my strict sleeping schedule or else I get completely messed up. They simply have to ask everyone trained to a particular case. It's policy or something. I wish they'd just skip over me on the list.

LemonIndiscretion · Mar 12, 2012

Last weekend someone called out 15 minutes before her shift (totally ok for some reason at my work)... it was an overnight and I had just done 3-11 I had to stay because the other girl had just worked a double. I had work the next morning 7-3 so I ended up doing 24 hours. Was not too happy. Third time this month I got stuck. Even if I'm not really stuck, as long I'm not too tired to drive I'll usually stay/pick up shifts last minute because I know no one else will and when I need a day off I always get it. You scratch my back I'll scratch yours kind of a thing...But if there is a few hours or days to fill the shift and I don't feel like doing it I don't feel bad because you know someone always wants the overtime!

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2012

Last weekend someone called out 15 minutes before her shift (totally ok for some reason at my work)... it was an overnight and I had just done 3-11 I had to stay because the other girl had just worked a double. I had work the next morning 7-3 so I ended up doing 24 hours. Was not too happy. Third time this month I got stuck. Even if I'm not really stuck, as long I'm not too tired to drive I'll usually stay/pick up shifts last minute because I know no one else will and when I need a day off I always get it. You scratch my back I'll scratch yours kind of a thing...But if there is a few hours or days to fill the shift and I don't feel like doing it I don't feel bad because you know someone always wants the overtime!

OMG 24 hour shifts and you've had to do that more than once?? Did you feel safe doing that? Did you get any sleep at all? And the nurse before you had to do a double? Sounds like your agency is just as poorly run as mine.

LemonIndiscretion · Mar 13, 2012

FALSE ADVERTISEMENT Sorry! I didn't mention I'm a senior in my nursing program I'm NOT an RN but I do give meds at a residential support facility (group home) and I do not administer meds in that 3rd shift if I work 3 shifts in a row. No I did not sleep at all, but I did sleep well the day before and the day after all those shifts. I've actually done 32 hours straight during a hurricane/ blizzard. I absolutely get picked up from work by someone so I don't drive and I do sleep for a few hours during those long storms!

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · Mar 14, 2012

This happens to me from time to time. Usually when a new scheduler starts. I tell them that truck drivers and airline piots arn't permitted to work those kinds of hours, because it's not safe. My job requires just as much attention to be done safely.

LPN4life2004 · May 7, 2013

In my state there is a law that says a nurse can only work 18 hours in any 24 hour period, so no 24 hour work shifts for me. I wouldn't do it anyway. It's way too unsafe.