would you work for free

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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?

Specializes in Med/Surg - E.R. - Pediatrics.

my thoughts...... if you have so much work that you have to work over then damn right you get paid for it.... if the company doesn't like it they can get more help.

either that or 30min to an hour before you shift ends you stop taking on new tasks and finish out your day before report.

too many companies try to pull this crap... the law is the law... you get paid for ever min you work. if they give you crap for it... dont work for them.

you might find yourself one day working off the clock and something go wrong with the patient your working on..... the first thing the hospital will do is make note you were off the clock thus putting all the blame on you.... next thing you know your trying to cover your license and avoid a lawsuit never work off the clock

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Specializes in Hospice.

never ever, ever, I had to stay two hours late the other day........Had they had appropriate support and staffing i would have been out the door on time. I'm efficient and i get my work done so when i stay late its because i have to not because i wanted to. i also expect and asked to be paid when i don't get my 30 minute break.

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Specializes in ICU, Home Health, Camp, Travel, L&D.

Didn't read any replies, but it's *not legal* to "work for free". For a lot of different reasons, wage & hour as well as liability, please do not do this. People who do this are putting themselves & the employer into a tight corner in many ways.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

no i would not work for free

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Specializes in geriatrics.

If I have to stay longer than 15 to 20 minutes past my shift, I expect to be paid. So, in other words anything that equals 30 minutes or more warrants an overtime slip. Why should anyone work for free? Unless of course, you got suckered into taking a salaried position which I refuse to do. Been there done that in other jobs. Not again.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Parish Nurse, Hospice.

:nurse:In the past year, I was included in a settlement made by a hospital as a result of a labor board review. Nurses were not being paid for the time the worked without a meal. This has often- and seems to happen more and more now days. The hospital had a review and back pay was given. I have never had to call the labor board, but since this payment, I feel that if I have to, I will. I agree with what others say, it just isn't a good idea to work off the clock. If you would somehow injure yourself, you could really get into a sticky mess. I used to think that a hospital would stick behind their employess and do the right think. Now I wouldn't trust them to support me in a time of crisis. I just finished work a 12 hr shift that last ed 14 hrs. I didn't goof off all day, did get to eat lunch, but sometimes stuff happens like a 45 blood sugar at supper. New admit that ends up taking hrs to admit. Plus had 6 pts, 3 on isolation. Then got ne admit = 7th pt. sorry about the last ramble on, but Had to vent. thanks!

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Hey, if you're working with a flock of Flos, clock out, go home, and let 'em at it!

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A nurse has the right to clock out at the end of the shift and go home, or to endorse unfinished work to the next shift.

If an employee works overtime without prior written approval according to facility policy then the employer has the right to discipline or terminate the employee who violates this policy.

If a nurse clocks out which means the facility is not aware the nurse is working and a problem occurs the facilities and workers comp. insurance might not cover the nurse.

The catch here is a nurse could be violating the nursing practice act if the nurse did not complete the necessary documentation that was required on the patients the nurse was responsible for. Then again the shift is over and why wasn't the documentation being done in a timely manner?

The way I solved this problem is I would negotiate a salary as opposed to an hourly wage to avoid running into this type of thing.

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Specializes in Med/Surg - E.R. - Pediatrics.
:nurse:In the past year, I was included in a settlement made by a hospital as a result of a labor board review. Nurses were not being paid for the time the worked without a meal. This has often- and seems to happen more and more now days. The hospital had a review and back pay was given. I have never had to call the labor board, but since this payment, I feel that if I have to, I will. I agree with what others say, it just isn't a good idea to work off the clock. If you would somehow injure yourself, you could really get into a sticky mess. I used to think that a hospital would stick behind their employess and do the right think. Now I wouldn't trust them to support me in a time of crisis. I just finished work a 12 hr shift that last ed 14 hrs. I didn't goof off all day, did get to eat lunch, but sometimes stuff happens like a 45 blood sugar at supper. New admit that ends up taking hrs to admit. Plus had 6 pts, 3 on isolation. Then got ne admit = 7th pt. sorry about the last ramble on, but Had to vent. thanks!

OUCH Can I ask what state your in and did you have Nursing Assistants helpin you....

I live in California and complain when I have 5 patients (State max) but we have no CNA for help

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Specializes in Med/Surg - E.R. - Pediatrics.

The way I solved this problem is I would negotiate a salary as opposed to an hourly wage to avoid running into this type of thing.

Oh yuk.... Question... have you ever worked less than your shift hours?

As I see it you cant leave until someone covers your patients thus someone would have to come in early so you can go home.

Given my past working experience I stay far more than I leave early in fact.. I cant think of a Time I ever left early.

Unless they are paying me 1 and 1/2 times my hourly I cant see me negotiating a salary job

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Do you guys have a "values hotline" at your facility? I've heard in the US it is mandatory to have this hotline to annonymously report illegal, unethical, unfair issues which management is pushing. I would call it ASAP, (block your phone number *67 before you dial the number)...and tell the whole incorrect practice. They will ask a series of questions, and by law the issue goes to the CEO for investigation within 2 or 3 days. This is doing this facility a favor. You COULD be calling the boards of labor or nursing boards instead! Don't work off the clock unless it is an absolute act of mercy....cause' as all have said....you are taking great risks. Blessings.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.
Do you guys have a "values hotline" at your facility?

We have an "ethics hotline". I have personally seen this approach work but it really wasn't related to mgmt/staffing. One of our employees truck was stolen THREE times from the parking lot. We only had ONE security guard. The lights in the parking lot have been out for weeks. After a phone call, there were emails galore explaining that there was a wiring issue causing the light outage. They have hired another security guard. Still not enough if you ask me but it's better than only one...

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