Do part-time hours typically follow a regular pattern?

[JennNHD24]

Say 24 hours a week, which includes every other weekend.

Do they tend to space it out or would you work...Mon, Tues, Wed...off Thurs through Sun..

or Is it always the same two-week cycle, just repeated (usually?) say...Mon, Sat, Sun....or Mon, Wed, Fri... OR is completely sporadic?

Thanks, sorry if this is a dumb question!

[MurrR]

Depends on your employer, although a totally sporadic job would probably be described as "on call" rather than "part time"

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

Say 24 hours a week, which includes every other weekend.

Do they tend to space it out or would you work...Mon, Tues, Wed...off Thurs through Sun..

or Is it always the same two-week cycle, just repeated (usually?) say...Mon, Sat, Sun....or Mon, Wed, Fri... OR is completely sporadic?

Thanks, sorry if this is a dumb question!

My experience is that part-time fills in the slots that aren't filled in by full-time staff. When there was self-scheduling, they scheduled themselves after FT staff.

There are probably many variables depending on unit and hospital though.

[Minnie2006]

We can mark preferred shifts or a day we need to not be scheduled and if possible the charge nurse tries to meet your request. If you leave the request schedule unmarked, she will schedule you where there is the greatest need. May be 2 days in a row or spread out during the week. Of course there is the every other weekend we work too.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Totally facility-specific.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I was once a part-time employee who strictly worked a 24-hour weekend option at this particular facility: every Saturday and Sunday from 6pm until 6:30am.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I work permanent part time nights. But generally, my shifts are scheduled in after the full timers.

[rn/writer, RN]

Where I work, part-timers usually have a pattern if they want one. We do self-scheduling, and people sometimes pick days that line up with school schedules, child care, a spouse's job, etc.

Some nurses like to work their days in a clump, giving them three or four days off in a row. Others prefer to alternate so that they don't become too wiped out. It's really a personal choice. And one that can change as home needs change.

The actual options available are pretty specific to facility and unit. And it depends a lot on how many staff members there are to fill the available slots. Generally, the fewer people there are, the less flexibility there is. The weekend you work determines a great deal. Most people I know start with that and then pencil in the rest.

Best thing to do? If you have a specific facility/unit in mind, ask the folks who work there what is normal for them.

Best wishes.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

At our place (and IMO this is the best way to schedule) all positions were a specific track. Meaning, FT was hired to work the same threee shifts every single week, and the PT people hired to work the same 2 shifts every week, weekends were covered by weekend option people. If someone needed a day off that they would typically be working, they had to cover it or switch themselves (which was never a problem, we helped each other out a lot that way). Worked like a charm.