Do nurses usually work 3 12-hour shifts a week for full pay?

silverbells_star · Jun 30, 2013

I work full time at a hospital (3-12s), graduated last year, then hourly pay was $23.15 (Ohio) now it's $23.50, I also work casual at a hospice agency ($25/hr). I just tell the casual position the days I'm available after I get my hospital schedule. I find it works great, my co-workers think it's crazy to work an extra day of the week but it really isn't a problem at all.

VANurse2010 · Jun 30, 2013

If you work 36 hours, you get paid for 36 hours. There's no extra bump unless you work under a very specific plan.

It's impossible to tell you what you'll be making out of school as that varies greatly with geography. Rural areas and states in the South pay the least. The Northeast and California pay more.

Should you expect flexible hours? Hmm... You should be expecting to work nights as a new grad.

I wanted to work part-time too. It sounds a lot better in theory than it works in practice. See how you handle your new life as a working nurse before you look for part-time opportunities. You may find you don't have the energy for a second job.

New grads are having a hard time finding anything anywhere. Places where most people would actually want to live (NYC, California, DC) are very difficult for new grads, period. Plenty of opportunities in the square states and rural areas. All of this depends on local conditions and your credentials.

gentlerain · Jun 30, 2013

Thank you! Your explanation helped a lot.

Do you have any advice on how to improve my credentials? I hope to find a job right after I graduate. Is it possible to start looking before then?

bratmobile · Jun 30, 2013

Acls and pals are great to have though many laces will pay for them later it looks better on ur resume up front

VANurse2010 · Jun 30, 2013

Many people here are going to tell you ACLS and PALS. While I respect that viewpoint, I personally think it's a waste of time and easily forgettable unless it's put into an actual working context. I'm also not for encouraging employers to expect these things from new hires when they should be (in my opinion) the ones paying for this training.

I was thinking more along the lines of... Do you have your BSN? Are you working toward it? Do you have previous experience in health care jobs? That sort of thing.

gentlerain · Jun 30, 2013

I am working towards my BSN and would like to do everything in my capability to prepare myself for the work field. Basically, ACLS is advanced CPR? Do nurses become CPR-certified in nursing school or are expected to complete training on their own?

mclennan, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2013

I got a public health job right out of nursing school, working in a position that involved both clinic nursing and home visits. M-F, 9-5. Then I moved into case management, again M-F, 9-5. I've never worked 3 12's or in a hospital at ALL, and it's been 7 years. Think outside the hospital box.

I also now sit on 3 hiring panels with my current company, we hire urgent care & case management nurses. We DEFINITELY prioritize candidates who already have their ACLS/BLS/PALS. I don't understand this whole mentality of "don't bother, your employer will pay for it." We don't want to hire people who are going to cost us money right up front. You want to be a full package, ready to work, with all your training & certifications ready to go! What makes you think we'd be more inclined to hire someone we'll have to spend more money on, who isn't prepared?

VANurse2010 · Jun 30, 2013

Why do you think the company has no responsibility for training its own employees? Would you prefer the employee pay you during their own orientation? Perfect example of how this is an employers' market - but that won't last forever.

OP - you are going to have to have BLS as a requirement for your clinicals. That's a non-issue.

gentlerain · Jun 30, 2013

Thanks for your input! Usually do nursing programs come equipped with these certifications (BLS/ACLS and what else) or do we complete this training in our own time?

Student Mom to Three · Jun 30, 2013

I would imagine most nursing schools would require you to get your own BLS certification prior to starting clinicals.....I know mine did. My school also encouraged us to get our ACLS training while still in school, which I did. I think it helped me as my first job was in post-anesthesia recovery and required the certification.

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2013

OP, I went on an interview not too long ago and I asked about getting ACLS and I was told they would give me that, that I did not need to spend money on it.