time clock question

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Apr 25, 2011

Your boss is trying to intimidate you into getting more work done in less time. Old trick, most places have given it up because it really ends up with less work getting done to meet the time alloted. Consider this, anything you do after punching out is free for your employer, but what does that do to your professional relationship with the patients? No consideration = no contract.

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

No it is not legal at all. Do not work off the clock. EVER!!

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

Please never do that again. The tactics used by that manager are unethical and intimidating. What is the policy in your facility on OT...find out ASAP....do they ask you to get a signed OT slip? . They can discourage OT...they can tell you you are disorganized and should be able to get out on time. (heard that one..blame it on you and not the amt of work ) ..yes they can do all that! However they have to pay you the OT if you do the work. You should not ever be providing nursing care OFF the clock and that includes charting..... you are legally obligated to that patient once you accept the assignment and the assignment does not end until you are completely done. Think about this....you are charting OFF the clock a pt is ambulating in front of the desk....he drops to floor and you are the only one close...you call a code and start resuscitation efforts. Uh..oh you are now providing care when you are off the clock and your name is on the code blue record.....but your time card says you were checked out. DO NOT allow anyone to do that to you. Managers do have a lot of pressure placed on them in many institutions to keep OT and labor costs low ...and MANY get a hefty bonus at the end of the fiscal year if they meet certain standards. Let them earn their bonus honestly and with good policies, good staffing and NOT buy intimidating YOU into working for FREE. NEVER WORK FOR FREE. You are there to earn a living...you provide them with your nursing ability and they compensate you for it.

merlee · Apr 25, 2011

Nearly every employer will try this at some time. Not ethical. probably not legal. If you slip and hurt yourself, say, 20 minutes after you've clocked out, you may not be eligible for workers' comp. And, your time has value, as stated by iluvivt.

If it's frequent, then someone should be looking at the workload. If it's because you are new, then you will develop better time management skills. If it's just occassional, then it's too bad for them. Now, they can ask that you contact your charge nurse or supervisor when it looks like you may be late getting out.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

This is a common issue in many hospitals and they use it to give you the old " you need better time management" bit at your eval and knock you down a few points.

Let's see, we are supposed to have 6 RNs for 36 pts on days, but only get 4RNs and two LPNs meaning two of the RNs will have to cover LPNs and effectively have a 12 pt assignment. We will get interrupted in report ( on 12 pts) 7 times, one of whom is an MD that demands that we immediately do conscious sedation for a pt getting a bone mRrow aspiration, that he 'forgot' to tell us about. They pull our only tech for the shift elsewhere and our secretary, so that we have to take off all the orders. The supply dept is short so we have to fetch supplies when we run out. They need my pt in xray NOW!!!!!, and transport is busy, so the nurse has to move and transport the pt. They are overcrowded in the ER so that a hallbed gets made, adding on another pt, until one can be DCd.

But at the end of the day, if the nurse clocks out more than 8 minutes after the end of her shift, it is all the nurse's POOR TIME MANAGEMENT.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

Time clock abuse spoils it for when you really need to clock out late. We have huge overtime issues with staff abusing the clock-it might not seem a lot when you clock in or clock out 15 mins early or late but when you add up the amount of staff who do this all the time then it is big bucks!

If you do it daily then you have to look at time management issues. If you are a new nurse then this is difficult to achieve but eventually you will be able to manage to complete your work within the time allowed unless you have an emergency and you have to stay late.

Never work off the clock

makes needs known · Apr 25, 2011

When you punch out you leave. I have had coworkers who do punch out and then sit and finish their charting. That is crazy. What if there is an emergency and you respond to it. Your not even supposed to be there because you're 'technically' not working anymore. Where I work there is so much charting, that by the time you chart it for the last time, you have already relayed in 5 different places what happened. When day is done, you punch out and you go. Let it go.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

I had this problem at the last place I worked. Nurses would punch out and stay 2 or 3 hours to complete paperwork. A few of us would tell these "offenders" that if they continued to do this it set a presidence for the rest of us and the Admin. would expect us all to do it. Until EVERYONE agrees to refuse staying after puching out, nothing will change.

danh3190 · Apr 25, 2011

My last non-nursing job was very strict about hourly workers signing up for all the OT worked. They didn't even like them coming into the building if they weren't working. I assume they were concerned about having to pay penalties if they were found not to be paying OT.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

I agree with what everyone has said--while you are working you need to be on the clock, and don't let your boss intimidate you.

We had the opposite problem on my last unit. A few nurses (always the same ones!) would sit around well after their shift, BS with other nurses, call their kids, etc. etc. Then 70 minutes after their shifts ended they would turn around and say "thank goodness, I am finally done with my charting!" They would then go to the locker room, rearrange their stuff, eat their lunch they didn't get to earlier, BS some more, leave, and punch out at the time clock right by the ER door (the closest one the exit...not the one on the unit we were 'supposed' to use). NM never said anything to them...frustrating.