would you work for free

[mozella]

At my facility sometimes people get behind on there work due to addmissions, falls, and such. so when its time for shift change somethings might get passed on to the next nurse. I have heard some of the nurses say that that person should clock out and come back and finish their work. At my facility you can't have overtime unless it is preapproved. I rarely leave work for the next nurse because I save what I can do the next day for last. I personally would not clock out and come back to work. I have made the statement to other nurses that I don't work for free and they seemed shocked. I value my time and I think it is worth something. If I stay late at work I am taking time away from my family and not getting my household work done. I think I should be compensated for that. Am I wrong?

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Absolutely not.

[Orange Tree]

At my facility, a LOT of people clock out and work for an extra hour or even an extra three hours. I think they're crazy! There are times when I pass tasks on and there are times when I stay clocked in and complete them, but I NEVER feel obligated to clock out and work.

There are rare occasions where I might do something extra after clocking out. If I like the oncoming nurse, and a patient got discharge orders 10 minutes before shift change, I might get the discharge paperwork ready before taking off. In a case like that, I don't feel obligated to stay and I can't justify working overtime, I'm just being friendly and am probably in a good mood because I don't have to come back the next day.

[annister]

I would never work off the clock. Not only because is it a huge liability, but because isn't fair to the employee. I don't get paid for coming in early to get myself organized for report, nor do I get paid for sitting around with nothing to do (not that this ever happens, they will downstaff you in a heartbeat if "the numbers say so"), so why does the opposite seem right? I've worked both day and night shift and some tasks are honestly more appropriately performed during one of the two. Not to sound like a broken record, but nursing is 24/7! I agree that making a habit of leaving the less-than-desirable things for the next shift is wrong, but some people do it, and those are the people responsible for making any "leftover" work an issue for everyone.

Luckily, as many complaints as I have about my facility, and as often as I find myself playing catch up recently, I have NEVER been asked to clock out and finish working.

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

I was told upon hire one time that I would be expected to clock out and finish unfinished business on my own time. What does one do? Leave a job when there are no other job offers in town, or in any of the nearby cities? I only left charting to be done after end of shift and hoped the oncoming nurse didn't need the particular chart I was using at the time.

I'm sorry that job opportunities are in short supply. However, working off the clock isn't the answer. If this happens all the time, it is a management problem. I realize you are trying to make a living but expecting staff to stay and finish work for free is unethical, unsafe and wrong.

[billyboblewis]

You should not work for free if aproval is required call the supervisor and if not aproved give report and leave. I have seen one nurse in my long career who took 4 hours to finish her paperwork after her shift was over. She did it for free to keep her job. Eventually she got a new job in pacu at a different hospital and was quite competent to finish her work on time. There are many class action law suits in process now about nurses and overtime and you could possibly become a party to one if forced to work overtime

[CathyLew]

what happens if you call the house supervisor and say you need to stay over, and ask them to approve the OT? Do they say no? or do they offer to come help?

[Zergasaurus]

Heck no! I worked at one of these places right after I graduated. At first I thought it was just me, I was a slow new nurse and eventually I would leave on time with no problems. Then I noticed that experienced nurses who had been there for years were STILL clocking off and staying behind to finish charting or whatever - not just for a few minutes, but hours! Due to staffing, acuity and lack of support it was a losing battle - and seemed to be part of the culture there.

After recognizing those facts and getting reprimanded for 15 minutes of OT after a shift from hell where I had actually stayed 2 hours later (I was so busy I had overlooked "clocking out" on time until the day nurse reminded me ), I gave my two weeks notice and have never regretted that decision.

Only you give people permission to take advantage.

[Chicago, BSN, RN]

I think it's safe to say we are all in agreement here. These co-workers that looked sso shocked could just be saving face. See if one of them doesn't stay on the clock to finish their work. My manager would never expect you to clock out and return to "just chart." However, she would dock your time if you were conveniently always on the clock past shift. So, continue to stand your ground. Majority doesn't rule all the time anyway!

[AggieNurse99, BSN, RN]

It is illegal for your employer to require you to work of the clock. Call your local workforce comission or dept of labor. Also, it is negligent (spelling?) to leave your charting unfinished before leaving. Consider, what if you got run over by a bus before your next shift?

[annister]

It is illegal for your employer to require you to work of the clock. Call your local workforce comission or dept of labor. Also, it is negligent (spelling?) to leave your charting unfinished before leaving. Consider, what if you got run over by a bus before your next shift?

Lol. Sometimes I consider getting hit by a bus before going back to work.

[CathyLew]

our hospital actually got in a bind with OT for nurses. they would dock all not prior approved OT and pay what we were scheduled. and the dept of labor got wind of it, they had to cut checks for hundreds+ to the nurses that clocked out late.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Never work off the clock. It is probably illegal and definitely unethical.