How many hours should you be working?

[Brian]

Hours have been cut back in recent years but for many long hours are still a burden.

For those working long hours, it's hard to find another job ... you just can't pack up and leave. When do you say to yourself "enough is enough"?

What's your weekly hour sweet spot? 40 hours? 50 hours? 60 hours?

Quote

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. - Henry David Thoreau

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[BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm still a student but I definitely understand long hours. Not only have I worked at least 2 jobs at the same time regularly over the last few years (although I am currently unemployed due to elimination of my last position) but last year I worked full-time while also doing my first semester of nursing school. There was nothing I could do, as I was waiting out my employer so that I could apply for unemployment when I lost my job. I wasn't going to put off nursing school any longer but to say I was easily working/dealing with school a good 55+ hours a week plus another at least 10-15 hours of studying would be a modest estimate. It wasn't easy but I made it work.

I certainly don't want to work more than 40 hours a week when I graduate but again, I know I will do what I have to. That's life sometimes!

[SunDazed, BSN, RN]

I am always scheduled for 36 per week, each day I stay a 30-90 minutes over to finish up charting. They make fun of me for being "thorough" on my charting... but the same people send us emails for everything we miss in our charting. Nice. I generally pick up one extra 12 hour shift a week... so maybe 50-52 hours a week? And they call most days I am off to see if I will work extra. No thanks. I know my physical limit. And like someone else said, if you work too much extra it takes so much longer to recover from what can only be called a form of exhaustion...

[goodgrief]

I loved working three 12's when I was in the ICU, I did all three 12's in a row and then had 4 days off.....like a mini-vacation every week to go play, have fun & spend time with my kids.

Now that I'm in CRNA school I easily put in 12 hours every day of the week, late call 1-2 nights per week which turns a 12 hour day into an 18 hour day and you still have to show up the next morning at the same time (5:30am) and also weekend call 2-3 times per month which is always 24 hours in hospital. All this and I also have class and have to study for exams.

I love the autonomy anesthesia provides, but these hours are ridiculous, I've had absolutely no life for the last 2 years since I've been in school, truly missing the ICU days. I finish school in 4 months and plan to only take a job that's three 12's or four 10's, no nights, no weekends, no holidays......time is too precious to waste away working for someone else, I don't care how much money they offer!!

[amygarside]

I work 40 hours a week and I'm okay with that. Anything beyond 40 hours is torture.

[nursefrances, BSN, RN]

Considering I have 20 more years to work, I know I'll need to do something else.

I am right there with you, Joanna. (I turn the "Big 4-0" this year.) I work three 12's a week and that's enough for me. My first 2 years as an RN I worked 4 or 5 days a week, great money but you can get a little whacky trying to keep up with that , especially with a family. No more over time for me for the last 2 years.

Now I am rethinking things. Is it really worth it to work 12 hour shifts, especially with the heavy loads we have been getting on our unit lately? The first day off after two in a row, I am wiped out. The second day off, I am getting ready (laundry, chores, groceries, etc.) to go BACK to work. So are these days of leaving my house at 5:45 am and coming home at 8:30pm, are they worth it? I have decided, No. Now I am leaving bedside nursing to work at an outpatient surgery center with hours 6:30pm to 2:30pm, Mon-Fri (no weekends or holidays) and I can't be happier.

[nursefrances, BSN, RN]

I forgot to add, one of my coworkers and I were talking about OT/long hours yesterday and she made a good point. She had cancer a few years ago which, of course, was a big scare in her life. It was then she realized how valuable her time is (to spend with family, enjoy life). She said she realized she needs to "work to live, not live to work". I liked that.

[hiddenheart]

I work normally 3 - 12 hr shifts. I like to pick up an 8 hr shift every week or every other week, that gives me extra fun money. I have worked as many as 60 to 72 hours a week, but this was too much, took too long to recover afterwards. although the pay was nice and after 2 months of this I was able to pay off my husbands car as a surprise, if I have a special goal in mind it's not too bad as long as it is

short term.

[adnrnstudent, ASN, RN]

Are CNA's paid by the hour or salary?

Hourly