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Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses
TABLE C-1 A Comparison of Work Hour Limitations in Selected Safety-Sensitive Industries
Occupational Group
Regulatory Body and Type of Regulation
Maximum WorkHours in 24-Hour Period and/or 7-Day Period
Minimum Rest Period
Other Provisions
Health Care Professionals
Registered nurses
No federal regulations
May not work more than 16 hours in any 24-hour period, with some exceptions for emergencies and rural hospitals (Oregon)
If a nurse works more than 12 hours, must be given at least 10 hours off before the next shift assignment (Maine)
Mandatory overtime beyond 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week prohibited unless declaration of emergency or natural disaster (California)
12-hour shifts allowed for hospital employees; employee may be required to stay 13th hour if someone fails to show up for work, but cannot be mandated to work more than 16 hours per shift (California)
Employees cannot be mandated to work more than 80 hours of overtime in any consecutive 2-week period (Maine)
Nurses cannot be required to work more than 12 consecutive hours (Maine)
Nurses cannot be required to work more than 2 hours beyond their regularly scheduled shift (Oregon)
Physicians
No federal regulations
May not work more than 80 hours/week or 24 consecutive hours (New York)
Must have at least 8 nonworking hours between shifts (New York)
Guidelines of the Association of American Medical Colleges suggest that residents work no more than 80 hours/week.
No prohibitions on working extra hours (moonlighting)
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