Do you like working weekends? Holidays?

[LTCNS, LPN]

I'm a LPN with right at 18 years experience and am employed in an Alzheimer's Assisted Living home as head nurse 6:30am-3:00pm. We have two nurses on day shift during the week, two on evenings most of the time and one on night. On the weekends there is one nurse per shift, but it's not so bad as we only have 36 residents and the med. passes are easy enough.

We all work at least one full weekend per month, or a full weekend every first and last weekend if that makes sense. Lately I have become somewhat depressed when I know it's my weekend to work. My kids are grown but my husband is home every weekend, although we don't do much of anything except relax.

When we work weekends we get the Friday before off and the Tuesday after. I currently work 36 hours per week so instead of four days off per pay period, I get five, but it seems like I never get two days off in a row, except on my weekends off.

Also, I have been in the head nurse position for just under five months, and it's looking like I will be stuck working holidays since the other two nurses on days have much more seniority. Everyone keeps telling me "You're head nurse. You shouldn't have to work all the holidays" but I want to be fair you know? The head nurse before me worked Mon-Fri. which left the others having to work more weekends, so I feel it's only fair I work weekends too.

Pros of my job:

-6:30am-3:00pm so I have plenty of time after work to still do "stuff."

-22 paid days off per year

-Retirement

-Medical, dental, vision insurance

-On call only every three months or so

-GREAT pay if called in on call days

-Frequent employee appreciation activities

-Fair work/life balance

-Direct supervisor is off on weekends

Cons:

-I have Fibromyalgia, back problems and neuropathy and I'm in pain and tired

-I feel like I'm stuck in a rut

-That one day off during the week goes by fast because there is always something that demands my time

-My direct supervisor is very lazy and puts every bit of work she can off on me during the week. She's rarely involved with resident care but still criticizes the nurses on their performance when we're doing the best we can

Sorry about the novel!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Honestly? Looking at your Pro list and your Con list, and the relatively easy flow of the small unit, I think there are any number of nurses who would KILL for your job.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I've never been a M-F 9-5 kind of person. I prefer nontraditional work hours. So yes, I do like working the occasional weekend and holiday. In my neck of the woods, we work every other weekend and holidays are divided amongst staff in a way determined to be fair and equitable as stated in our collective bargaining agreement. This year, I only have to work one holiday, and I've already worked it, so I won't have to work any of the winter holidays.

[LTCNS, LPN]

Honestly? Looking at your Pro list and your Con list, and the relatively easy flow of the small unit, I think there are any number of nurses who would KILL for your job.

The thing is, I KNOW this. Maybe it's not the job or weekends at all. Maybe I'm just tired.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

When was the last time you took a vacation? I mean a real vacation, like involving international travel. For at least 2 weeks.

[livRN2012]

You can look at your pros and cons, convince yourself that it's a great job, etc but the bottom line is, if you're not happy you're not happy.

[LTCNS, LPN]

When was the last time you took a vacation? I mean a real vacation, like involving international travel. For at least 2 weeks.

A very long time. I honestly can't remember the last time we got away from the home place. More than five years.

You can look at your pros and cons, convince yourself that it's a great job, etc but the bottom line is, if you're not happy you're not happy.

I have held Mon-Fri. jobs for years prior to this job but the stress of the deadlines and maintaining the bottom line, being understaffed and stretched thin in my last clinic job, this current job is a cakewalk to be honest.

It really helped to type out the pros and cons and now I feel like an idiot

[RNperdiem, RN]

Are you tired or weary? There is a difference.

If you are weary, then maybe some newness or adventure in your life is missing. Relaxing with your husband on weekends is fine, but do you get some exercise, entertainment, or just plain fun on your time off?

If you are not careful, life can fall into a rut of the same old, same old thing week after week.

[LTCNS, LPN]

Are you tired or weary? There is a difference.

If you are weary, then maybe some newness or adventure in your life is missing. Relaxing with your husband on weekends is fine, but do you get some exercise, entertainment, or just plain fun on your time off?

If you are not careful, life can fall into a rut of the same old, same old thing week after week.

Wow...I think you hit the nail on the head.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I work pretty much every weekend by choice. I love the differentials and since I go to school during the week, it is much more convenient.

As for holidays...it depends. I wouldn't mind working some of the "minor" holidays, but Thanksgiving and Christmas? No thanks. But I've worked fourth of July, Dr. Martin Luther King jr day....I would even work New Year's Eve/Day, Labor Day weekend and Memorial day weekend. But Thanksgiving and Christmas....no. Just no.

[Biffbradford]

When was the last time you took a vacation? I mean a real vacation, like involving international travel. For at least 2 weeks.

Seriously? Ha Ha Ha!! Good one.

How about six 12 hour night shifts in a row smack dab over Christmas with work being an hour's drive away? THAT's working a holiday!

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

I recently switched to the weekend program. I work every Sat and Sun night. I only work the holidays that fall on the weekends. I used to work 0.9 FTE 8 hour nights with every other weekend. I was completely exhausted. My current schedule has been the lesser of two evils.