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Content: Overtime
Agreement: Provincial Agreement 2003-2007
Date: July 2006
File Name: spotlight-16hrsmax
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Overtime
16 hours work
is the MAXIMUM
Nurses cannot work safely without rest
With the increasing shortage of RNs some nurses are being asked to work more that a double shift, more than 16 consecutive hours. This practise is unsafe and contravenes the UNA Provincial Collective Agreement.*
Article 8.03 No Employee shall be requested or permitted to work more than a total of sixteen (16) hours (inclusive of regular and overtime hours) in a twenty-four (24) hour period beginning at the first (1st) hour the Employee reports to work.
Working extra hours can have professional conduct implications
The Nursing Practice Standards published by the College and Association of Registered Nurses also indicate that:
1.8 The registered nurse ensures their fitness to practice.
Fitness to practice means that the registered nurse restricts or accommodates practice if he/she cannot safely perform essential functions of the nursing role due to mental or physical disabilities.
The College also published WORKING EXTRA HOURS: GUIDELINES FOR REGISTERED NURSES which says:
When fatigue or other factors negatively affect your fitness to practise safely, registered nurses have a right and a duty to withdraw from or refuse requests or requirements to work extra hours.
* Other UNA Collective Agreements also contain this protection, if you are not under the Provincial Agreement, check your agreement. From the UNA Provincial Collective Agreement
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