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by lizzyberry

HI im just wondering what the typical schedule is at the hospital for an rn. I just trying to plan child care. Do you always work the same shift or 12 hr shifts can u choose to work like only graveyard shifts or only morning or do they switch from time to time?

[bill4745]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

A new grad is not likely to work only mornings (dayshift?). You can usually choose to work just 3pm-11pm or 11pm-7am, or 12 hour nightshift (7pm-7am). Most hospitals allow you to determine most of your schedule in advance, although they have the final say in the matter. Also, once a schedule is made up, you usually are allowed to switch with a co-worker.

[Tweety]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

It depends. Where I work, all shfits are permanent. My first job had no such thing as permanent day shift and we had to rotate, but there were permanent evening and night shifts.

What's cool about nursing is the variety of schedules. I work 3 12-hour shifts a week. I'm about to go to a schedule of Tues.Wed. & Fri. How cool is that? Right now I work every other weekend and the days vary in a two-week cycle that has been the same for a couple of years now.

[RunningWithScissors]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

Don't forget there is also weekend options and some unit shifts offer 11a-11p; PACU usually has unusual 8-hour shifts, like 9-5:30 or 10-6, etc. ER also works wierd shifts like 5-5, 3-3, etc.

[AuntieRN]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

Where I am working, most of us new grads got put on day shift (7a-7p), even those of us who originally wanted nights....we know our schedule usually 5 weeks in advance. Good luck to you!!

[burn out]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

We have fixed schedules where I work with senority getting first pick. When I had day care I worked monday thursday friday every week 7a-7p. Now that I no longer have day care I work every friday saturday sunday. I can't wait to get off these weekends.

[MIA-RN1]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

Our new nurses all have to start on the day/night rotation. I got the last of the full time evening schedules.
We have day/eve, straight eve, and day/night rotations. So there can be 7a - 330p, 7a - 730p, 7a - 11a, 11a - 330p, 11a - 11p, 3p - 730p, 3p - 1130, 7p - 1130o, 7p - 7a.
People can work full time (36 - 40h/week) part time (20h) or perdiem.
I work 11a - 1130p three days a week, and one 4h eve shift either 3p - 730 or 7p - 1130.

[floatRN]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

I work 5 evening shifts a week. 3-11:30p. Every other weekend off and one weekday off per week. My hospital has 8 and 12 hour shifts. New grads usually get offered evening or night shift positions, but some have been able to get part time days. 11am-11pm sounds like a great shift. Do some hospitals offer that shift on their med-surg floors or is if just an ER/OR/PACU thing?

[nursemary9]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

Depends where you work.
We have permanent shifts where I work;
We have a variety, tho
12 hr shifts, 8 hr shifts or a combination.

Our permanent shifts, tho are pm's & nites; If we have openings that are not filled, she will rotate a day RN to that shift.
if all positions are filled, you can have straight days

[MIA-RN1]

Re: Typical schedule rn at hospital

Originally Posted by floatRN

I work 5 evening shifts a week. 3-11:30p. Every other weekend off and one weekday off per week. My hospital has 8 and 12 hour shifts. New grads usually get offered evening or night shift positions, but some have been able to get part time days. 11am-11pm sounds like a great shift. Do some hospitals offer that shift on their med-surg floors or is if just an ER/OR/PACU thing?

Several floors in our hospital have nurses doing 11a - 11p. It took me a couple months to convince the scheduler it was a good thing, finally going to the NM. She says its hard to plan that schedule tho, so she sometimes has to put me on 2-12's and then two 3p -1130p, which bugs me but I have very little say. SOmetimes I get thrown on a 7a - 7p too.