Too many hours???

No Way!!!!!! My unit is overstaffed so that people who do not want to work extra hours do not have too. In fact there are many RN's who work the 2-3-2-3 plan (2 twelves one week, 3 twelves the next). But, about 7 years ago they were pestering the nurses to work over-time and the nurse threatened to unionize and from then on we are not asked to work overtime unless we want it.

Thank Goodness.......

I cannot believe that you were terminated after being there so long and having such good reviews. What are they thinking? Do they want their nurses so unsafe from long hours that the patients are in jeopardy? Where is the outrage from staff and family members? I'm a little long in the tooth, too and know what it's like to have extra pressure placed on you. Sometimes I think their rationale is to move the older more experienced nurses out to hire new nurses at a lower pay rate. I am so sorry for you. Hugs to you and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

I am wondering if any of you are being pressured to work extra hours? How do you respond? I had been only working 4 days a week until I had an accident a year ago. I was out for two and a half months, then after only a month, was forced into 5 days a week--the others on the night shift were already working 5 days a week.

Then crises after crises happened to co workers, and all of us were doing extra shifts--so I do understand that the shifts need covered, but I ended up sick again and will be out about 3 months. Many of us are getting older, and I am wondering why nursing administration can't see the longer picture. I had been the night supervisor for eight years, with excellent evaluations and now of course I am terminated for absence. I am trying not to sound bitter, but how do you all handle it when you know you have done all you can, but get forced into doing more? For example I was denied vacation time that had already been scheduled because i wouldn't do a couple of day shifts?

Thanks:trout:

I am assuming( a bad thing ) that u were in management. Unfortunately they got ya coming and going. I would speak to a lawyer for advice. Forcing anyone into extra shifts is hairy. In an emergency situation, they can get away with it for awhile. But did they ever offer flexable time? Ask all involved to work it out anyway u could? Denying you whats coming to u is illegal at best. Hopefully u have done some documentation along the way. Write down dates,times and actions that u can and get some advice. Administrations accross the country are doing whats been done to you. As long as no one crosses them, they will continue. Helping out for as long as u can is great, but when u r done, u r done. They should value what they have. I still think they get rid of the older ones any way they can,hire someone at less pay and benefits.

Thank you all for your comments--no I am not management, I am hourly, staff nurse with the extra supervisor duties added in.

I just went to our states L&I page after getting the support for all of you and find out it is illegal for the exra forced hours, and will have to speak with them about the termination, as when I was off 1 year ago it was all paid sick leave--they are calling it FMLA which it looks like from L&I that FMLA may be only unpaid.

I wish I would have joined this site earlier as I felt--still do--pretty intimidated about it. Thank you all for responding.

As far as I'm concerned -- you want your residents taken care of properly, you keep your employees happy. I'm a CNA, and when I'm feeling up to it, I help out however I can -- sometimes I work 70 hrs. a week as we're understaffed right now (but, of course, I'm only nineteen and no husband or kids!). But on days where I can't, I say no -- I care a LOT about my residents, but I'm not going to wear myself out over ANY job. In a healthcare job, you need to keep yourself enthusiastic AND healthy!

If it was illegal to require overtime at the time of your termination, you might want to contact a labor lawyer. The hospital has plenty of its own lawyers to intimidate you. It's a good idea to have your own ammunition.

I'm confused about what you're saying about FMLA. You said the whole year you were off it was covered by paid sick time and vacation? And now your employer is saying it was FMLA? (which does tend to be unpaid, but usually it's only after all your other leave is used up) I was under the impression that you had to request, in writing that you be given FMLA before or just after the leave starts.

sorry, I was not clear--Last year I was only off 10 weeks--all covered by sick time, but I got sick again in September of this year when I was on sick time until October of last year.

Yea, I am not clear why they are doing this either, but the forcing extra hours is happening to the entire nursing staff. Not just me. I am also fairly confident they will rehire me when I am well, but I had reached the spot where I got a month of vacation a year, and feel like this is a way to cut that back to the beginning vac. benifit. Anyway, Thank you all

I've noticed at my place of employment anyone who is out for more than 6 weeks is either terminated (which is usually the case) or told that their shift and/or unit may or may not be available when they are released to return to work and will have to take what is available and it may be a per diem position.

Why? Follow the money. It eliminates having to pay health, disability and workman's comp. insurance as well as possibly pay overtime or agency staff to cover your position.

Before entering the field of nursing I had never seen this. In my previous life I had to take 10 weeks to recover from surgeries in two separate instances as well as take a year leave of absence to care for an ill family member and my position was held with benefits intact.

The fact is that no one chooses to be ill or have a surgery and one would think that an industry such as health"care" would recognize this and be supportive of these adversities, however......

As far as pressure to work overtime, oh yeah but I don't succumb to it and do get attitude for it but there are reasons I work the shift/hours that I do and they are aware of this but are often relentless just the same. I do occassionaly pick up a shift when it works for me as I really can use the extra $$.

The FLMA is unpaid and if I'm not mistaken, your positon is protected.