[cindy0624]

Just when I've about been accepted in to LPN school I'm getting cold feet. I've starting researching jobs and the reality has dawned on me that as a nurse I'll probably always work a good deal of weekends. This concerns me because that is my only family time to speak of. I was wondering what the "real life" is lactually like and if my fears are unfounded. I'm scared I've made the wrong career choice. I'm probably being a big chicken!

[amylou85]

Depending on the clinical setting you work in, weekends are a real possiblity. However, alot of places uses self scheduling so you can actually pick and choose when you want to work. Many nurses like weekend work because of the premium pay and there is less administration to deal with. You always can work in a doctors office or an ambulatory clinic which will leave your weekends free. Its a toss up m-f 8-5 or three 12 hr shifts w/weekends. You will find what works for you and your family and you will make sacrifices with your career along the way but don't panic it all works out in the end...Amy

[Marie_LPN]

I will say with self-scheduling, you may pick and choose when you want to work, but that doesn't mean you'll get what you ask for.

It also depend on the kind of place you work for as well.

[Fiona59]

You'll either have to work in an office setting (which can involve evenings and weekends) or go "casual" in LTC or active treatment.

Casual involves submitting what shifts you are available for and then the staffing office goes through their lists and you are offered something.

I held a part time rotation once, after a while it really sucked. So I went back to casual.

If you don't need to have a set income every pay period it works really well. I pick the weekends I want to be available (and believe it or not I usually don't get that many weekend calls due to part timers picking those shifts up due to the shift premiums) and which shifts during the week I want to work ( I don't like Thursday day shifts but will work Thurs evening). It revolves around my husband and boys schedules.

I usually pick up at least 10 shifts a month, which works fine for me.

It all depends on what you want to try.

[suebird3]

My LTC facility does every other weekends. Some I have done agency at are on the "2 on, 1 off" system. Of course, one co-worker worked every weekend, but that was her choice. Good luck!

Suebird

[HeatherLPN]

I've worked weekends for so long that I don't know what I'd do if I had them all off LOL. I work 12 hour shifts, with every other weekend, and honestly, I like having a few days off during the week. Those are my days to run errands w/o places being busy, volunteer at my boys' schools, and catch up on cleaning and laundry with no kids around to mess up behind me LOL.

[TheCommuter]

I have Monday through Friday off because I work 16-hour weekend doubles. I work 32 hours on the weekend, but get paid for a 40-hour week.

The five days off from Monday through Friday will leave you with a whole lot of family time during the week. It is my opinion that weekend work is not all that bad.

[KrisRNwannabe]

Please remember that hospitals and nursing homes are open 24/7/365 yes you may have to work weekends or nights or both. I work 2nd shift and every other weekend. and my hubby works 1st shift m-f. so when i have the weekend off i don't see him all week. it is just something I deal with. I know eventually things will be different. If you decide nursing isn't for you because of the schedule, IMO you weren't very dedicated to the field to begin with because that is a pretty shallow reason to leave.

[cindy0624]

It's not a shallow reason and I am dedicated to being a nurse. I've already got 10 years in the medical field. However my husband is in the US Military and is sometimes gone months at a time. I have to worry about childcare on the weekends. On top of that, my family is more important than my career. When my child doens't get to see his father for months at a time I think it is important that he has a parent around on weekends. You have to be open-minded to the fact that everyone has different life sitiuations and the schedule might not work out. IMO that was a pretty "shallow" response. While nursing might not fit into my life I'm still planning to pursue the education in a few years when my son is older.

[Marie_LPN]

You have to be open-minded to the fact that everyone has different life sitiuations and the schedule might not work out.

And not to sound dismissive of your situation, but, other people are going throug the same sort of thing. Which is why most employers aren't going to work around that kind of schedule for one person, because there are 20 other people who have the same needs.