USA: +1 415 256 4347 
Sign in
Rebuttal
Extended work shifts of more than twelve hours are popular within hospitals for Registered Nurses (RNs). However, little is known about how much the extended hours can affect the nurses’ well-being and the patients’ care. The following are some of the reasons against mandatory overtime for RNs regardless of the strategy being considered an effective solution.
Even though nurses are said to be sheltered in a handful of states from being obligated by their employers to complete the additional hours, most institutions may not be the case. One of the common adverse consequences of working overtime is a high risk of medical mistakes due to the exceeded shift, where errors can rise three times. Additionally, when nurses work for longer hours, they are a heightened possibility of being resentful, worn-out, stressed, and this may lead to reduced self-confidence and more significant job dissatisfaction.
Another reason why registered nurses should not be subjected to mandatory overtime is that it reduces morale and increased burnout. When nurses are forced to work for long hours against their will, they become exhausted and are usually at the risk of becoming stressed or resentful. The nurses become demotivated with their work leading to poor service delivery. This may also lead to other adverse outcomes, such as the increased risk of these employees leaving their workplace as they look for better working conditions.
From the above discussion, it is evident that mandatory overtime on RN significantly affects service delivery. Therefore, healthcare facilities should avoid using such policies to ensure that RNs are able to deliver quality services to the patients.
