Why I refuse to work overtime. Anyone else?

[xtina15]

I receive calls almost on the daily basis to work overtime on my large and understaffed inner city telemetry floor, and for over two years I have never once said yes. My colleagues who say yes seem to have gained some "gold stars" in the eyes of my superiors, but I refuse to accept overtime. Why? I get to work by 6:40 PM, after a 45 minute commute, and then most mornings I leave at the absolute earliest by 8:40, and have left as late at 10:30. NO ONE recognizes that we essentially work mandatory overtime every shift, and we bust our butts with 7+ patients at night, when our ration should be 5. We are even encouraged to go to meetings/classes post these extended shifts. Does every unit/work place have this issue with overtime? I'm tired of management staring down their noses because I won't work even more time, and patting those on the back that do.

[westieluv]

I can't say that I've always, across the board, refused to pick up extra, especially if there are perks, such as at the hospital I worked at several years ago that offered time and a half + $10/hour for picking up overtime. However, what you are describing has been the norm in most places that I have worked to some degree and as I've gotten older, I've decided that my time and my days off are therapeutic and necessary if I need to continue working in the nursing profession.

And yes, the "Picking up tons of extra hours to help out management -- GOOD! Being assertive and refusing to pick up even more than I am already made to do because I have a life and need time off for work/life balance -- BAD!!" still seems to be the mindset at a lot of facilities.

I realize that a lot of people count on all that overtime to pay bills and are not in a position to turn it down, but I also don't feel that people who do pick up should be favorered over those who don't. Still...in the real world, it's "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" much of the time, nursing included.

[Maevish, ASN, RN]

If I lived closer to work I'd be more tempted, but I have at least a 50 minute drive to work (one way) and I don't feel like doing extra after that, especially if I know I HAVE to be back that night. I used to drive 2.5 hours each way and do 12 hour shifts and that was a bear so the 50 minutes doesn't seem so bad anymore lol

As for management liking people who work OT, why wouldn't they? If I were a manager I'd love it if people worked OT, especially on such a busy unit. If you're not going to do OT and don't plan on it, then (sorry) you have to get over the "favoritism" thing because that will never go away unless, maybe, you do OT. That's not a sure thing either, though.

Do you and if they don't like it, that's too bad. It doesn't sound like they're going to fire anybody so your job is probably secure

xo

[xtina15]

Fair enough! I think I am also bitter because "coincidentally" during recent nurses week awards, everyone nominated and/or who received an award happens to fall into the "dayshifter and consistently picks up OT" category. Haha

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I will pick up a night occasionally and then vow to never do it again. Maybe it's being on nights rather than days, but I've never felt like it did much for me with management; they'll just cancel a shift later in the week if possible so I don't end up getting my OT pay. It is a good thing that they don't, in theory at least, want to work us more than 40 hours a week (unless I want $$$). But I'm totally with you on all the extracurricular stuff! The last thing I want after working for three 12s is to sit through any kind of meeting and remain conscious.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Maybe I'm just the odd one out here, but I'd much rather stay for a meeting after work than come in on my day off for one. I intentionally schedule myself the night before meetings, or if there's an evening time, for the night of. I only live five minutes away from my full time job but the thought of getting up and putting on scrubs or business casual to go to work on my day off is just unthinkable for me. If I'm off work I'm OFF WORK! That includes MEETINGS!

I am currently picking up a ton of overtime because I'm doing the full time school thing and I'm paying for tuition out of pocket. It sucks.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Life is so very short.

OT is taxed heavily.

Then don't do it. Who cares who gets kudos? YOU get a LIFE.

[Dogen]

I get texts one to three times per day offering me extra work. The only time I pick up is when a coworker asks me directly and it's either really important for them to be off or it doesn't affect me significantly. I'm not a martyr, I don't sit at the nurses station and tell people how many days in a row I work (2, max). I have a life outside of work that's important to me, and family and friends I like as much or more than my job. The people who like me at work are the ones who accept this. The ones who think per diem nurses exist to cover them personally can take a long walk off a short pier. My manager is just happy I don't complain about working mostly weekends. :)

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I love to pick up OT. Especially if I have upcoming vacay or something big I want to purchase. To each it's own, I guess.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure why you can't see why people who pick up OT would be "favored." Of course they are!

I work PRN, come in when I dang well feel like it, and am HAPPY to let those who go the extra mile get the kudos. Good for them. I still feel that I have the much better deal!

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

So if you want an award, play the game. You can't have your cake and eat it too!!

Fair enough! I think I am also bitter because "coincidentally" during recent nurses week awards, everyone nominated and/or who received an award happens to fall into the "dayshifter and consistently picks up OT" category. Haha