[HealthyRN]

I want to get an idea of the hours that NPs work. One of things that I really dislike about nursing is the crazy schedule and the long hours that I have. I hate never working the same days and having to work evenings/nights. As a nurse practitioner, do you work a regular schedule and what hours do you work? Also, do you work weekends and holidays? What is your speciality?

[rnsrgr8t]

I think it depends on where you work. If you work in an office/outpatient setting (like I do) I have regular hours M-Fr 8-5 (althought I rarely get out at 5pm). Some of the inpatient cardiac NP's that work at the same hospital I do take 24 hour shifts. There is definitely more of an oppurtunity to have more regular hours as a NP. However, like any job in medicine, it is never going to be strictly 9-5. I work about 50 hours a week (I am salaried, no overtime) but I knew is what was expected going in. Most days I am home at a decent hour but there are times I am not and there is no predicting it.

[traumaRUs]

I work in chronic dialysis and most of my days are 0700-1700 or 0800-1900 and then I take 0700-1900 hospital call one weekend a month and I get an extra day off.

[ERNP]

I am in the emergency department. I work 11a - 11p 13 days per month to sarisfy my contract and then sometimes pick up a few extra days at other facilities if I just want some extra little something that I don't want to interfere with my personal budget. Let's face it, I have more days off than on so I have plenty of time to pick up a few shifts.

I still have some weekends and holidays, but not as many as when I was working as staff RN.

Someone not too long ago told me I could get better hours working in a clinic setting and I just had to say, "I don't know how much better it gets than being obligated to work less than half the month."

[cgfnp]

Mon-Fri 9a to noon and 2p to 5p. Call 1:4 for rural ED/Hospital/LTCU.

[FNP06]

I work in an outpatient care center providing primary care. My hours are 3- 12hr shifts a week. 8-8:30. I get paid for 40 hrs. I am salaried and sometimes work over 15-30 min. The center is open mon-sat, no holidays, no call. The nice thing about working 3 12s is getting several days off but somethimes I think it would be better to work 8 hour shifts, so I can be home earlier.

[ERNP]

Originally Posted by FNP06

I work in an outpatient care center providing primary care. My hours are 3- 12hr shifts a week. 8-8:30. I get paid for 40 hrs. I am salaried and sometimes work over 15-30 min. The center is open mon-sat, no holidays, no call. The nice thing about working 3 12s is getting several days off but somethimes I think it would be better to work 8 hour shifts, so I can be home earlier.

WAAAA!! I have worked 12 hour shifts for sooooooo long. There was a brief stent in my life where I worked an 8 hour a day/ 5 day per week job. (Of course I was looking for my dream job, LOL.) But working that way I never felt like I had any time off. All my time seemed focused on getting things done after work, getting ready for work, or winding down from work. Weekends were just long preparation periods for work when the laundry would get done and the house shoveled out from the previous week. All so i would be ready to work again on Monday.

I think if I was going to go into that m - f grind again, it would have to involve a company car, so I had time not to feel boxed in by my job.

I think I am definitely a 12 hour shift 13 times per month with all other days at my disposal.

[traumaRUs]

Just curious ERNP - (I think I remember that you are with a group of MD's right, not employed by the hospital?) do you have meetings or committees that you are on?

[FNP06]

ERNP, I have also worked mon-fri jobs in the past (as an RN not NP). I agree that doing the 12s and having more time off is great and I don't feel completely tied down like I did with a mon-fri job. But my reasoning for thinking that I might like working mon-fri and getting home earlier is because when working the 12's, I miss my older son's school functions and sports. Also, I have an hour drive and when I do 3 12's or even 2 12's in a row and don't get to see my 2-year-old twins but only in the morning briefly. That is my only reasoning. Other than that, the 12's are definitely an advantage.