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
weekends are iloccasionaly a bit easier to work. I work nights and we work every other weekend fri-sun(day shifters and night shifters) . I don't care about any holidays for the most part and enjoy working them so I can pick up the extra money With every other weekend you do miss things . Esp on night shift. I need to sleep during the day and work at niggt. So if an event is scheduled on my weekend to work, I do not attend period. it is very difficult to get people to switch a shift on my unit and I refuse to stay up all day and night to go to a party, wedding, baby shower , etc. same thing with holidays. I can see bow this would upset some people
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
When you were thinking of becoming a nurse, didn't you know nurses work holidays and weekends? Did you all think it was self-serve for the patients on those days? Not many people like working on holidays, but I'm positive even fewer people want to be sick in hospital on a holiday.
I used to work weekends only and loved it. I would have Monday thru Friday off, but I missed a lot of events because I did it. Sometimes I would go to thing after work but was usually exhausted after a 12 hr shift plus by the time I got to the event it was 8 pm. Then I had a baby and husband who had weekends off only and I had to switch my schedule so we could have more family time on the weekends. Weekends are nice because no traffic, no administration, and most patients prefer to come in on Monday. Excepts for Friday and Saturday night traumas and things like that.
I understand nursing is a 24/7 job but I don't really like working every other weekend. I wish it was like every third or fourth weekend. But that is the way it goes I guess! Like I said before I don't like working a ton of days in a row so I guess it balances out.
I did my time working nights, weekends, and holidays. I now work PRN at a facility which is not open on the weekends or holidays. I could work as many shifts as I'd like, but for now am keeping it to 2 days per week. Now THAT is a nice schedule. I hope to never have to work full time again.
Specializes in Cath Lab & Interventional Radiology.
At my job we consider Fridays to be part of the weekend. This means that every weekend that I have off, I have Friday-Sunday off. It also means that when I work the weekend I must work Friday-Sunday. I work every 3rd weekend. I think this makes working the weekend better, because at least I have adequate time to go out of town if I like. I am required to work every other holiday, and we bundle sister holidays like Christmas Eve/Day or New Years Eve/Day together as one holiday. I personally think that holidays should have a rotating schedule that is set. I could not imagine people being able to pick which holidays they have off. At my job we cannot even use vacation on our weekend to work. We must cover or trade our weekend.
I'm a weekender by choice - I work two days a week (Saturday and Sunday) - for essentially full time pay. Pros: five days off a week in a row. Ahh..... Cons: my PTO is crap, we have a no call out policy, and I dread the year Christmas eve falls on Saturday.
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
Sorry for the delay in replying. This past weekend was quiet at work for the most part. A few minor frustrations but nothing that couldn't be worked out.
I woke up this morning to a whole new set of problems. Got up at 4:45am with a flood IN the house. Had to call off work and spend the day trying to find a plumber who wasn't booked solid and renting equipment to suck water out of the carpet. Tomorrow is my scheduled day off and I will be finishing up cleaning up a big, nasty mess and washing sheets, towels and blankets. Fun times.
While I don't think working nights, weekends, or holidays is going to be my most favorite thing in the world, I am looking forward to it in the sense that I will officially be working as a nurse. :-) I am 100% willing to pay my dues and put in my time.
You would do well to set some boundaries at work, in a hurry. Re-read your job description -- I bet it doesn't say, "do whatever you think will make the staff like you, or the opposite of whatever was done/not done by the person previously in your position."
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
Just revisiting this thread for an update. I left the job I posted about in the OP when my oldest son had an auto accident to take care of him until he was well enough to return to his apartment. He shattered his pelvis and fractured his L5 and sacrum. He had to have surgery to repair his pelvis on the right side. The left side is fractured but will heal on its own. He advanced from a wheelchair to crutches in less than three weeks.
I have just been, as of today, offered a job with a home health company as a LPN Intake Specialist. No more floor work praise God! I will work 8am-5pm Mon-Fri. No holidays, great benefits and no call, plus two weeks vacation right off without having to work a year first. God is truly so very good.
anotherone, BSN, RN
1,735 Posts
weekends are iloccasionaly a bit easier to work. I work nights and we work every other weekend fri-sun(day shifters and night shifters) . I don't care about any holidays for the most part and enjoy working them so I can pick up the extra money With every other weekend you do miss things . Esp on night shift. I need to sleep during the day and work at niggt. So if an event is scheduled on my weekend to work, I do not attend period. it is very difficult to get people to switch a shift on my unit and I refuse to stay up all day and night to go to a party, wedding, baby shower , etc. same thing with holidays. I can see bow this would upset some people