How Many Hours Can a Nurse Work Straight
Question:
Dearest Nancy,
I am an independent nurse consultant for long-term care corporations. I travel to several states (compact license) and sit every bit the interim director of nursing while these corporations search for a permanent manager of nursing. Many facilities are routinely scheduling back-to-back 16-hour shifts (permanent schedules) for their licensed LPNs and RNs. This practice leads to most of these nurses working 16.v or greater hours and then returning for another 16.5 shift with less than 8 hours between shifts. Is there a maximum number of hours a nurse can work in a 24-hour period? If so, where would I find this information for each state? I don't experience this is a safe do for any nurse.
Belinda
Nancy Brent replies:
Love Belinda,
The resources y'all will demand to evaluate the fourth dimension worked by the nurses in united states of america you lot serve as interim director of nursing will be located on the land level. The federal Fair Labor Standards Human activity (FSLA) does not limit the number of hours an employee can work in any work week if the employee is 16 years of historic period or older.
Checking with the respective states' Department of Labor, Wage and 60 minutes Division will allow you to determine what limits, if any, exist for employees working a specific number of hours and whatsoever "fourth dimension off" requirements betwixt piece of work shifts in a given period. This information may exist readily available on the states' Department of Labor Web sites.
Another important source of information would be to determine if the respective states take passed whatsoever prohibition on mandatory overtime. Depending on the specifics of the hours worked, information technology may exist that the current schedule(s) violate a country's mandatory overtime work prohibitions. These laws may also be available on the Net; but if they're not, a consultation with a nurse chaser or attorney in each state may be helpful in identifying the beingness of these laws.
A tertiary resource would be any scientific information concerning hours worked and their effect on the worker in terms of fatigue, judgment, and so forth. An excellent identify to start is The National Institute for Occupational Safe and Health'due south Spider web site <http://world wide web.cdc.gov/NIOSH>. On the home page, click on the Prophylactic & Prevention tab, then scroll downward the list to the Work Schedules pick. Clicking on that option will yield a wealth of information on this topic.
Sincerely,
Nancy
Nancy J. Brent, RN, MS, JD, is an chaser in private practice in Wilmette, Ill. This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or whatever other advice. The reader is encouraged to seek the advice of an attorney or other professional when an opinion is needed.
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Source: https://www.nurse.com/blog/2009/01/30/is-there-a-maximum-number-of-hours-a-nurse-can-work-in-a-24-hour-period/
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