what time does your shift really end?

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Hi , i was wondering for those of you that work in a hospital, does your shift really end when it is scheduled to? For example if you work 7a - 3p do you really leave at 3pm? or is it closer it 3:30 -4?. Trying to figure out if i would be able to work 7-3 and make it to my other job, which is 30 minutes away by 4. I have never worked in a hospital before so i was wondering. THanks!

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Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

If I work 7-3 we can't leave or punch out til 3:23 but most times unless running late I get out between 330-345. But there have been times I'm leaving at 400 0r 430pm

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

It really depends on what job you're doing. Are you a nurse or pca? As a nurse, things happen...nurses show up late and you might not always make it to your other job on time. Personally, I've never seen a pca clock out late. I know I didn't when I was a pca. As a pca, you can more than likely make it to your job on time depending on the traffic.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Hi , i was wondering for those of you that work in a hospital, does your shift really end when it is scheduled to? For example if you work 7a - 3p do you really leave at 3pm? or is it closer it 3:30 -4?. Trying to figure out if i would be able to work 7-3 and make it to my other job, which is 30 minutes away by 4. I have never worked in a hospital before so i was wondering. THanks!

Well, you might be able to pull it off if you're The Flash. Otherwise...

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Your shift could (and does) run over if:

Your replacement nurse doesn't show up. Can't just walk out- patient abandonment.

Your patient tanks 15 minutes before you are supposed to leave. Can't run out of the room and leave your patient alone to give report while your patient's condition continues to deteriorate.

Your patient codes right before shift change. You are the caregiver and others depend on you for information regarding what happened during your shift.

You have been so busy at the bedside that you haven't done any documentation. If you didn't document it, you didn't do it. Sometimes you are so busy that you don't have time to document until the new nurse shows up.

A butt load of doctors show up towards the end of shift with STAT orders that really cannot wait. Some things can wait but some can't.

There are a slew of reasons nurses get out late. Nursing is a 24 hr operation but sometimes things happen that are beyond your control and cannot be left for the next shift. I think the latest I ever got out was 9:30pm. Not common but has happened.

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My 7-3 is really 7-3:30--half hour overlap for report.

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Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.

Make sure your other job is understanding that you're coming from the hospital and so may/will be late on occasion. If not okay with that then unlikely you will be able to manage both.

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Wow thanks for all the quick replies! Sounds to me like its probably not the best shift for me to pick up because my other job is also in healthcare ( psychiatric case worker) and i really can't be late often! Thanks for the info everone:)

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Specializes in FNP.

My coworkers know they had better not be late relifeing me. I fully expect to be out the door by 7:15 on the dot, if not earlier. I don't get breaks or meals, so i will bloody well leave on rme. If there isa problem, I fully expect the hospital supervisor to be there so I can can leave on time. I am never late either; we are all very respectful of each other this way.

Sorry for typis, iPhone.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I almost always leave on time but occassionally i get an admit or something and have to stay an hour to wrap it up.

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

Mine is supposed to end at 11pm BUT can be extnded 30 mins to 8 hours over. This is because of sick calls, mandatory overtime shifts; good chance we can work 16-hr shifts for four out of 5 days. Yep, it sucks--very tiresome---burns people out being required to stay over becaue of all the sick calls---BUT at least it's overtime.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

My shift is 7p-7a. Most of the time I leave at about 7:30, but at least once a week its more like 8am, and once or twice a month more like 8:30-9am. It like the above poster said things happen. The last time it was a new direct admit dropped on me 15 minutes prior to shift change...gotta love it.

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