Waiving OT during orientation?? HELP

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Specializes in Postpartum.

Question, so I am starting night shift on Wednesday. My preceptor works 60 hours in five days *12 hour shifts* so that is what I am scheduled to work while I orient. I am a new grad.

This is a WSNA union hospital. My shift limits for overtime are 40/60 and my FTE is .75 (30 hours week). So, as I understand all this, anything over 40 hours in a week, Sunday through Sat, is OT.

I understand my preceptor has waived this to be able to work these five twelves on a regular basis.

Should I insist on OT, or ask to only work 8 hour shifts during training, OR waive my rights during training.

I already have concerns about working such a long night stretch. I am 48 and have not worked nights in many many years, but I don't want to extend my orientation too far. However, this shift means I get five straight days, off eight, on five, off eight, on five, off eight and BAM, I have my 180 hours of orientation, provided I am ready, and will go down to my regular .75, five shifts in two weeks. Not so bad.

SO, Experienced nurses, What about the OT factor and what about the quality of training I would recieve being exhausted on days three, four and five of this shift, and the many days between training???

I need to talk to my Mgr about this on Monday before I start. Your input is MUCH appreciated.

CJ

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Let me get this straight....you're scheduled to work 5 straight days of 12 hour shifts??

Let me tell ya something. I worked a part time job, for 2 years, and I could barely do 3 12's in a row.

You're going to be exhausted, if you do that.

If you are not used to working nights, and don't have a sleeping pattern down, you're going to be very tired. You're going to have to make sure you are not disturbed during the day, the telephone, kids, neighbors, husband, doorbell, WHATEVER......you're going to have to make sure that these things are put on hold, because you are going to have to get your rest during the day.

I know.....because I've been there and done that.

And, yes, if I were in your shoes, I"d want the overtime, if I had to work the 5 12's.

Isn't any time over 40 hours considered overtime?

Good luck...because you're going to need it.

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Specializes in Postpartum.

yes, the apparently young lady who will be precepting me works these shifts regularly so that is how they scheduled me. I really don't think the manager or staffing was thinking straight do you???

I DID call staffing and they were shuffling their words and saying hmmm, and insinuating I had to "sign out at a certain time on Friday and back in on Saturday to not have overtime". I know 12 hour shifts are handled differently with regards to OT, but yes over 40 in a row is sposed to be OT UNLESS BECAUSE sunday is the start of a new week, however, I will work WEDS THURS FRI SAT SUN and that is 48 hours in the first four days...but after midnight Saturday its a new week. IM ALREADY CONFUSED:bugeyes:

I have no kids and can darken the room and turn the phone and lights off, provided I make it through the first night, but I DO worry about getting good education...

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Specializes in ER.

You won't learn after the first 8 hours, in my opinion. I've been nursing since 1989 and have gone through lots of job changes, as a newbie to a specialty, and with experience. Even with experience there is a law of diminishing returns after the 8 hour mark. My brain can only suck in so much new information before it starts leaking out the other end.

I would propose 8 hour shifts, but with the option to stay if there is a great learning experience coming up. I would DEFINITELY not waive overtime. They put you on that schedule, they need to pay you for it.

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yes, the apparently young lady who will be precepting me works these shifts regularly so that is how they scheduled me. I really don't think the manager or staffing was thinking straight do you???

I DID call staffing and they were shuffling their words and saying hmmm, and insinuating I had to "sign out at a certain time on Friday and back in on Saturday to not have overtime". I know 12 hour shifts are handled differently with regards to OT, but yes over 40 in a row is sposed to be OT UNLESS BECAUSE sunday is the start of a new week, however, I will work WEDS THURS FRI SAT SUN and that is 48 hours in the first four days...but after midnight Saturday its a new week. IM ALREADY CONFUSED:bugeyes:

I have no kids and can darken the room and turn the phone and lights off, provided I make it through the first night, but I DO worry about getting good education...

Yes, our overtime rules are the same. Sunday starts a new week, so overtime within that week period from Sunday thru Saturday is where you'll get your overtime. Technically, a facility could work you on 5 12 hour shifts from Wednesday thru Sunday and not have to pay you one thin dime of overtime, even tho you pulled 5 12 hour shifts.

My supervisor has tried to pull that stunt on me, but I won't do it. And I told her so. I won't work like that, if they're not going to pay me in overtime.

The week to run from Sunday thru Saturday and the accumulation for overtime, I believe, was set up that way so they wouldn't have to pay overtime. Office help rarely works overtime....it's nurses and CNA's that do all the overtime, and they set it up like that to keep us from getting overtime.

My facility also requires our physical presence during the 40 hours, for any time over 40 to be considered overtime. That's opening another can of worms, tho, that you might not have to deal with like my facility does.

Anyway....you're going to be tired. I don't think I could pull 5 12's in a row.

It's going to be hard, if you're not used to working 12's to start with.

I could probably do it, if I had already been working some 12's, and it was just a one time thing, like to cover for someone who was sick or someone who was off on vacation, but I couldn't do it routinely.

Those 12 hour shifts are going to be long and hard.

Just my humble opinion, you'll have to decide what's best for you,

but think about it, before you get locked into something you may regret later.

Of course, you may end up liking it, because you'll have all that off time inbetween.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

I just finished orientation in March and this is how it worked for me.

My preceptor worked 12's. My hospital does not allow orientees to be scheduled more than 40 hours/week. Although, I got paid OT when I had to stay late (like report took longer, charting, etc). Anyway, I worked 2 8's and 2 12's days and had a preceptor and a backup preceptor.

When I got to nights, I worked straight 12's (36 hours/week). However, this was the schedule that I wanted and I worked for over a year on nights on ths floor as a tech prior to finishing school. Anyway, on the fourth week I was off orientation and did my 4 12's. That's how my schedule works. 3-3-3-4. I get paid OT 8 hours on my 48 hour week. All of Saturday is considered the previous week (even when it is technically Sunday after Midnight).

I don't understand why someone with such a ridiculous schedule is precepting in the first place. I would say, you hired me for 30 hours/week. I am NOT working 72 hours in one week. I mean if you had a family, you wouldn't even be able to do that schedule. You shouldn't be penalized with such a ridiculous schedule because you are single. BTW, I don't think "waving OT" is legal under any circumstance. This place sounds shady. I wonder what the board of labor would think.

If they won't work with you on this you don't want to work for them.

Good luck and keep us posted.

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Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.

If you're working OT hours, you should be paid overtime. I don't see a hospital wanting to pay an orientee overtime, though. I wasn't even allowed to work holidays, even if my preceptor was scheduled on, because they don't want to have to pay an orientee the time & 1/2 for a whole shift. I agree with the other poster that your learning is going to suffer working that many shifts in a row.

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Check with the hospital union and see if they have a clause against mandatory OT. I don't see how they can mandate an orientee to work 60 hour weeks. This preceptor is taking it as an option. You should have the option to refuse more than 40 hours.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

NO WAY. Just because this nurse chooses to work that (insane in my opinion) schedule DOES NOT mean you should have to. They should let you work the number of hours per week you are going to be working after orientation. It is NOT imperative that you be there every hour your preceptor is. And in my opinion noone should be scheduled to do more than 3-12's a week except for their pickup week to fulfill their fulltime status on a normal schedule. Not counting for any extra shifts either mandated or voluntary.

I had a preceptor that does 6nights of 7, and it about killed me and i only did it one week. Most peoples bodies cant sustain that kind of schedule without breaking down so dont make yourself sick trying to keep up with her schedule. You need to go to staffing or NM and see about getting a more reasonable rotation while you are on orientation.

You wont learn and retain a thing if your mind and body is so tired you cant think.

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You might actually like it. When I had nothing to wake me up during the day (my dog!) I found I felt better the more shifts I worked in a row. I was more tired after my first shift than I was after my 6th because by then I had adapted to being awake all night and slept well during the day.

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