Question about hours

MA Nurse · Jul 14, 2006

Thanks for taking the time to read this - I would appreciate a reponse from anyone who can help me!!
I will be graduating from nursing school soon and want to pursue a neonatal nursing job. However, I am very discouraged by what I hear from many people about the hours. It seems like there are only 2 options in this field - 7am to 7pm, or vice versa! I was really hoping I could find a job somewhere working 8,9ish-5ish, as I have an infant daughter at home and 12 hour shifts everyday just seem like way too much for me. Am I stuck, or are there other possibilities available? If not, what type of nursing job COULD offer me this? Please help!
Thank you.

A 9-5 nursing job would usually be in a Dr.'s office. Not all hospitals do 12 hour shifts, a lot do 8...7-3:30, 3-11:30 ,11-7:30...a lot of moms like night shift when their kids are older and in school.

12's aren't too bad, you can arrange your schedule to be off 6 days at a time! And 12's are usually just 3 days a week.

If you are a new nurse, be prepared to work most holidays and weekends, too if you are in a hospital.

Good luck!

user9876 · Jul 17, 2006

thank you, does anyone else have anything to say on this topic?

BeccaznRN, RN · Jul 17, 2006

I would say that if you want to pursue neonatal nursing that you will most likely be working 12's. However, it's not all bad because like Kimbalou says it's only three days per week and then you have four days at home with your daughter. Personally I LOVE doing 12's....I am home WAY more now than I ever was with my 8:30-5, M-F banking job!

user9876 · Jul 17, 2006

Thank you for your input, I didn't realize that the 12 hour shifts would only be 3 days a week!! That would actually be ideal!! However, I heard that at most hospitals there is a waiting list to go to day shift - is this true?

TexasPediRN · Jul 17, 2006

Thank you for your input, I didn't realize that the 12 hour shifts would only be 3 days a week!! That would actually be ideal!! However, I heard that at most hospitals there is a waiting list to go to day shift - is this true?

It really depends on the hospital itself - I just recently interviewed for a 12 hour day shift position, and the supervisor told me that days were the hardest for her to fill!! She said that night shift has their act together and doesnt need anymore nurses, but day shift was just very hard. I was actually shocked to hear that.

When you do get hired for a job, you will know the hours that it requires (days or nights). Also, to do NICU you will be getting hopefully a 6 month (at least) orientation. It will most likely require a commitment of at least 1-2 years as they are putting all that time & money into training you. But 3 12 hours a week really isnt that bad! Its considered (in most places), full time with benefits. Even so, working only 3 days a week does have its benefits.

Make sure you apply for a NICU job early enough, and look for a new grad, or GN program. Call recruiters and see what they offer. Most hospitals, and I say most, only take a few nurses into each speciality area at a time, so you want to get your foot in the door and call around!!

Good luck!

slu_rn · Jul 18, 2006

I just graduated in May and am working in a NICU here. I'm doing 3 12s during the day in orientation (from May to early Sept). Then we'll have to see where I go after that. We too have a very strong night shift and my NM said that I may never have to work nights (which that's what I want). Some of the women that I work with prefer nights to coordinate with their spouses and children's schedule. I started calling around 3-4 months before I graduated to get a feel for what was available and what the policy of the institutions I wanted to work for were. They can let you know if they need night or day people and how long your orientation would be. I am required to work 16 hrs on Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day for the first 2 years, but you can pick what shifts you want. That's just our NICU policy. Good luck finding what you want!

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jul 19, 2006

Putting Neonatal nursing aside; there are few jobs in nursing that run 9-5. School nursing, Office nursing, working for insurance companies, Nursing instructor, some Home Health Care, some management. The problem is; most of those positions they want you to have previous experience that would be in a job that has "undesireable" hours.

It's also important that you know that hospital nursing requires working holidays. I think it's important people know this before they take their first job and are emotionally devastated that they won't be able to leave town to be with the family for Christmas. Did you know some nurses plan their pregnancies to have their maternity leave fall during the holidays?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2006

Did you know some nurses plan their pregnancies to have their maternity leave fall during the holidays?

Yep. I had a surprise pregnancy, and while happy about the turn of events, I was soooooooo annoyed when I found out that my due date is January 5th! I was like, OH COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only am NOT going to get out of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, but I'm also going to have to work the holidays 8-9 months pregnant?!?! Booo! Hissss! :lol2:

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2006

Thank you for your input, I didn't realize that the 12 hour shifts would only be 3 days a week!! That would actually be ideal!! However, I heard that at most hospitals there is a waiting list to go to day shift - is this true?

Our NICU has a waiting list - I'm told (and this is anecdotal, as I've not even started work yet) that the wait averages a year. When you are hired, you orient on days (bc more things to do - post-ops, etc) and then go to nights - if you wish, your name is put on the list, and you move up as people leave days.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2006

I was really hoping I could find a job somewhere working 8,9ish-5ish, as I have an infant daughter at home and 12 hour shifts everyday just seem like way too much for me. Am I stuck, or are there other possibilities available?

I think you're pretty limited as far as hours when it comes to hospital/floor nursing. I know some hospitals do 8 hour shifts, but 12 hours is more common.

But, 12 hours are actually not too bad! You said you have an infant at home and 12 hour shifts everyday just seem like way too much. But you won't be working 12 hour shifts EVERYDAY. Do you have to work full time? Full time is 3 days a week. But part time would probably be even better for you, if you could work just part time. Part time is only 2 days a week. Yeah 12 hour shifts are long, but if you only work 2 days a week (24 hours/week), then that leaves you with 5 days off a week to spend with your daughter! If you find somewhere to work 8 hours a day, that only leaves you with 2 days off a week. Just something to think about. I think you'd be happy to work 2 days a week, 12 hours a day and have the rest of the week off. It's at least worth a shot. Good luck to you!