Worked 24 hours/3 consecutive 8hr shifts

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Recently, experienced working 24 hours straight, I'm the RN Supervisor in a skilled Nursing Facility 99beds. I'm getting conflicting information about it being against the law and that something should have been done to relieve me. I Called/texted all the RNs in our building even our DON and ADON. Nobody was available. I know that we can't abandoned our patients until no one comes but what happened to me, was it against the law? Need input guys. Thnaks..

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I don't believe that the U.S. has any laws dictating how many hours a person can work consecutively, with the exception of airline pilots and truck drivers. I once worked an 18 hour shift, and thought that I was going to drop on my feet. I don't know how you managed to work a 24 hour shift. Hat's off to you! I hope for your sake, that you will never have to do that again. That's a hard situation to be in.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

It sounds like you tried to avoid the situation, but were unable.

The fact that none of your coworkers or leadership for your facility was available or willing to relieve you is the real issue.

Your problem is not whether anything happened that was against the law, your problem is you work in a horrible place and should find a new job ASAP.

Good luck

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In Ny State you can't work 3 shifts straight! It's against the law

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

I have been told that you cannot be mandated beyond 16 hours in a row but I don't have any documentation/source for that. The DON/ADON should have come in. That would be my last shift there.

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I know that in the OR (in NY) its illegal for you to work more than 16 hours straight without an 8 hour break between shifts

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That's the dilemma I have now there is no specific documentation if is legal or illegal. One friend told me that the facility should be nice to me from now on lol coz I can call dept of labor and the facility would be penalized

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I think this is an excellent opportunity for you to step up in a leadership role though, and help your facility create a policy addressing this relatively serious issue.

To prevent problems like this occurring in the future

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

From what I've read, 168 hours is the most you can work in a week, and in California, you can not be disciplined for refusing to work >72 hours in a week.

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From what I've read, 168 hours is the most you can work in a week, and in California, you can not be disciplined for refusing to work >72 hours in a week.

Did you also read that 24 hours is the most you can work in a day ?

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Under federal law, I think no limit exists on the number of hours you can be required to work in a day. Some states have enacted some protections. Where do you live?

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More than 16/24 hours?! Yes, what happened to you is illegal. Go above whomever s head that wasn't available when they were on call. THEY abandoned the patients by not being available while oncall. Shame, shame, shame on them!!!

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