Define mandatory overtime

What is mandatory overtime? Is it when they schedule the nurses for the weeks' work, you are assigned to more than 40 hours in a week? or is it this: at the end of your shift, if they need you because someone else didn't show up or the hospital is just short-staffed in the base case, then you must stay for the next shift? I'm asking because my friend (who knows almost nothing about healthcare) had a "friend of a friend" tell them that nurses have to stay for a 2nd shift if their relief doesn't show up. Sounds like a disaster to me - what do you do about picking up kids and things like that.
Just want to know what the ground rules are.
Meredith
[I'm asking because my friend (who knows almost nothing about healthcare) had a "friend of a friend" tell them that nurses have to stay for a 2nd shift if their relief doesn't show up. Sounds like a disaster to me - what do you do about picking up kids and things like that.Just want to know what the ground rules are.Meredith [/B]
One ER I worked used an "on call" rotation list that meant if some one picked up the phone at your house you were considered "No call, no show." In the same place somebody could come up to you an hour before your shift ended and tell you that you had to stay for another 4 hours, even though that would give you a 16 shift that day, and don't even think about not showing up on time tomorrow!We're never gonna solve the staffing problem as long as we have bosses who are on profit sharing. Every call-in is a buck into their 501. :roll
Are all hospitals like this? Does that mean that those of us with other commitments (like kids to pick up) have to work in other environments, like Dr. offices? Or is there a lot of variation in this practice? TIA for info - Meredith
No, it is definitely not everywhere. And not where I work. And no one can be taken advantage of without their permission. Just don't work at such a facility. I've mentioned that I've only been a nurse for 5 years and never encountered much of the things nurses complain about. But why go to work in the first place for a hospital that makes you work overtime? steph
Well here's how it goes at my facility... We have "scheduled late nights" which translates into "you don't leave until we say you can". This is absloutely mandatory overtime. You must plan your life around your mandatory overtime day;make arrangements for the pick-up of children, no appointments on that day since you don't have ANY idea when you will get off,etc.