NURSE work schedule

4Bnut · Jan 14, 2013

Can you work 3 days a week an be off 4??
Hows the pay? ? What's the average starting salary? ?
Hows life if you have a family vs a nurse??
What's the average pay check?

Working at the va/the pay is higher then any other facility

Student Nurse_7 · Jan 15, 2013

What's the VA???

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2013

What's the VA???

VA=veteran's administration.

Your hourly rate and benefits will vary greatly depending what part of the country you are in. I am in the Washington D.C. area where new grads start out around $25/hr

Student Nurse_7 · Jan 15, 2013

I'm around Asheville is it hard to get a job with 2 year degree

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2013

The VA is the Veteran's Affairs Hospital... you are basically working for the government. It is difficult to get a job there.

Yes, you can work 3 days and be off 4 but a lot depends on the hospital/floor. When I worked in the hospital, we did a mix of 12s and 8s but the more senior nurses had the preference for the 12 hr shifts. A new grad getting a schedule of 3 12s was unheard of.

The pay depends a lot on your area. Without knowing what part of the country you're in, it's hard to say how the pay will be.

I would say there is no "average" pay check. Your pay check depends on a lot of things... your hourly wage, the number of hours you work, your benefits, taxes, the types of benefits you choose to participate in, how long your pay periods are. If you get paid weekly, your paycheck is obviously less than someone who gets paid biweekly. I'll tell you that when I worked in the hospital, I worked 36 hrs/week. I am single and had to pay for all my own benefits. Some of the nurses who'd been around a while who were only working 24 hrs/week brought home more than I did each paycheck... their hourly wage was significantly higher and they were all on their husbands' insurance.

Student Nurse_7 · Jan 15, 2013

Wow do you live comfortable? ??

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2013

Wow do you live comfortable? ??

How do you define "comfortable"?

Serious question: We have to know how you define "comfortable" before we can answer.

For example, comfortable = able to put food on the table for a family of five.

OR, comfortable = able to buy a house, vacation plentifully, and save adequately for a family of five.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2013

Wow do you live comfortable? ??

I guess that would depend on your definition of comfortable. I am 28- I own a house, I drive a new car, I pay my bills every month without much worry and I travel when I can. I do not shop at expensive stores or wear brand names and I work over 50 hrs/week between 2 jobs.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2013

Wow do you live comfortable? ??

I agree with the pp that "comfortable" can vary from person to person, but I am able to live more comfortable that I was before I was an RN. When I was a PCT I basically lived paycheck to paycheck. Now, I am able to save a couple hundred dollars from each paycheck into a savings account. I was able to buy a nice used car for half down. Every couple years I have been able to go on an international trip with my husband. I am also putting myself through grad school, paying 100% out of pocket. While having my husband's second income helps, I am the bread winner, and at times have made 30-40k more than him, so it is the nursing career that affords me this lifestyle.

Student Nurse_7 · Jan 15, 2013

I mean ull being able to save spend an take care if family and bills

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2013

I mean ull being able to save spend an take care if family and bills

Depends how much you spend. In the first four years of my career, I saved a lot. Then I bought my house and had to make a down payment. I don't have a family to take care of. I pay my bills every month and still manage to save a little. I do not carry a balance on any of my credit cards. I think you can live a comfortable life as a nurse but not an extravagant one.