Stop Mandatory Overtime
Dennis Vu's Story

In June of 2010 I lived in San Jose, CA a 1.5 hour commute to my new position at the Department of State Hospitals (DSH)-Salinas. I worked first watch (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.), but was frequently subjected to mandatory overtime for the second watch (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.). On dates I was mandated I only got an average of 3 hours of sleep –after working 16 hours and a 3 hour round trip to work – before I had to be back at work the next day.

Within my first month of employment with DSH-Salinas I was in two car accidents. The first accident was a minor accident with no injuries, just $500 in damage. My second accident happened on highway 101 northbound, on my way back from a mandate, when I fell asleep at the wheel and veered into the center divider. Luckily, I didn’t lose my life, but I lost my car. Things could have easily turned out differently that day. My story is not unique, too often nurses across the state are forced to work excessive overtime and put in the same situation. #StopMOT

Dennis Vu, RN
Department of State Hospitals – Stockton