shifts per week: 4 and 3 or 4 and 4?

Nurses General Nursing

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So now that I am going to be by myself at ED and able to pick up as much shifts for bonus+ot I can, I began to think about doing 4 shifts per week. but as my friend says, 4 shift one week, and 3 the next is the best way for making the most dollars while having them taken out by tax the least. Of course mathematically speaking, 4-4 paycheck will reflect more $ compared to 4-3, but it would also mean more taken proportionately, so you aren't gaining as much.

For that reason, I see lots of people doing FT here and doing prn somewhere else. what have you discovered so far about that?

Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

Some of my coworkers prefer to work 5 shifts one week, 3 the following. I've done 4 then 4 before and it wears me out!

More than the money, what is your energy level? Responsibilities outside of work? Are you experienced to know your limit before you are too exhausted to function?

Start slow with picking up extra work.

Many of the prn nurses I work with have their full time job in less physically strenuous areas like research, nursing informatics and clinic work. They pick up extra money while keeping their ICU skills current.

@lennonninja: I have a coworker who does 5-6 nights/week regularly, and he's about mid 40s. smh :bored:

@RNperdiem: my thoughts exactly. i am at ed, so I would love to get a prn doing non-bedside, but then it's not easy to get ur, case or research type of jobs prn (or even full time for that matter). no kids, single, thankfully no responsibilities outside of work. since i'm new to ed, 4-4 will probably break me, so 4-3 seems best fit.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

A few years ago I was working 7 days a week. I worked five midnight shifts Monday through Friday from 10:00pm to 6:30am, then I worked two 12 hour shifts at another workplace from 6:00pm to 6:30am.

After about a year of doing this I became burnt out. However, my savings account grew exponentially, so I do not regret it one bit.

Nowadays I work three random 12-hour night shifts per week. I never agree to work extra shifts, and I live cheaply to avoid the need for overtime. I drive two older used cars and live in an affordable house, so my overhead is low.

After all, no one begs to work another shift when laying there on the deathbed. People have all sorts of regrets, but working more is not one of them!

Specializes in L&D.

I hated that mandatory 4th shift with a passion.

I used to think I'd do all this OT, I think I did 1 OT shift the entire 3 years I had my full time hospital job. Lol.

It's exhausting!

I had colleagues who would do like 7 on to have a long stretch off. I would die!

I'm not sure about the taxing, but I do think it'll vary state to state. So what I would do if I were you is I would either ask your coworkers about it, or just try it out for yourself and look at the tax withholdings and compare percentages.

I'm not sure about the taxing, but I do think it'll vary state to state. So what I would do if I were you is I would either ask your coworkers about it, or just try it out for yourself and look at the tax withholdings and compare percentages.

I live in TX, so supposedly we don't have income tax but i'm sure the money is being taken out just under different tax name in same amount as other states. most my coworkers seem to present the idea that if you do 4-4, you actually lose more money than gaining (although mathematically you are making more than 4-3, but proportionately, you lose more.. if that makes sense).

so most do prn or 4-3. i had friends who did 4-4 or even 4-5, but they told me they lost so much in tax, plus burn out rate was too fast, so seemed to favor 4-3 the most.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I live in TX, so supposedly we don't have income tax but i'm sure the money is being taken out just under different tax name in same amount as other states. most my coworkers seem to present the idea that if you do 4-4, you actually lose more money than gaining (although mathematically you are making more than 4-3, but proportionately, you lose more.. if that makes sense).

so most do prn or 4-3. i had friends who did 4-4 or even 4-5, but they told me they lost so much in tax, plus burn out rate was too fast, so seemed to favor 4-3 the most.

Are these 12 hour shifts? If so...I have done OT in my time...If they are all 12 hour shifts...do 4/3 you can toss in a 8 hour shift but not another 12.
Specializes in Urology, ENT.

I do 4-3. At my previous job, I would do 4-4, but yeah, I agree the burnout is a lot faster when you work overtime a lot. At my current job, I've figured out this balance thing in my head -- one day off is too little, two to three days is preferable straight, but I save my four days off for when I know I need it. I volunteer for overtime when I have energy, but when I know I'm tired, I take my breaks.

If you can do 4-4, do it. I have to admit -- I do like my extra money.

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