Every other weekend- what century are we in?

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Every other weekend is just inhumane. We are expected to be caregivers and give our lives to service --- yet -- we also HAVE to work every other weekend. We are still although healthcare providers, part of the human race , who have family, and other interests necessary to maintain a healthy psych. There would be a lot stress in the field if it wasn't about who can cut it and who can't, if it were more humane. Not to mention --- Come on people. This is a profession, not a rat race based on who can stay up for 12 hours and hack an every other weekend job. Give me a

break.

I am so fumming -- The only non every other weekend position is OR, PACU, or day surgery.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH MANAGERS/LEADERS THAT THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT EVERY OTHER IS NOT GOOD FOR RETENTION.

I know the argument -- not enough staff. give me a break. Thats what per diem nurses are for. Make per diem positions less attractive, and gain more Staff Nurses. I mean come on, you don't have to be mensa to see the results increase retention, decrease nurse burn out.

Some prefer weekends -- great. Let them work workends people.

If it was a male dominated profession Let me ask You ----

Would they note that perhaps requiring every other weekend was a bit - shall we say nonprogressive?

Would they allow for every 3rd weekend option?

Just a point to ponder.

There are enough nurses, just not enough willing to work in an archaic work environment.

My next project -- To research effects of nursing morale, retention, performance by increasing some say over their schedule by oh 35%, specifically, reducing the number of required weekends. Think of it, half of lives (in weekend terms) are lost.

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Specializes in Adult Stem Cell/Oncology.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd much rather do a shift every other weekend than work Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00..... I don't see what's inhumane about having to work every other weekend. As a future nurse, I know that I will have to work 12-hour shifts, I know I'll have to work weekends, and will have to work Holidays as well..... Crazy thing about hospitals - sick people don't magically get well for weekends and holidays! :wink2:

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.

The hospital I work at pays more for weekend shifts and there are less procedures/doctors and its quieter..........so I actually kind of prefer it. Less work and More $$, whats wrong with that? Plus no one wants to work weekends, so even when census is low, I rarely get called off. Good way to get your hours in I say.

But thats just me. My husband works at the hospital, 12 hour shifts too, so we work the same weekends and have no children. I could see where if you had kids it would be different. I agree that they should first see if those who want to work weekends and fill the schedule with them and let regular staff off if possible, but its probably a budget thing or something, who knows.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
Maybe it's just me, but I'd much rather do a shift every other weekend than work Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00..... I don't see what's inhumane about having to work every other weekend. As a future nurse, I know that I will have to work 12-hour shifts, I know I'll have to work weekends, and will have to work Holidays as well..... Crazy thing about hospitals - sick people don't magically get well for weekends and holidays! :wink2:

Someone needs to tell the hospital's staffing department that, because you can look forward to bare-bones staff on those days, plus very little housekeeping staff.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

You can add me to the list of people who absolutely hates working 8 hour shifts Monday through Friday. I simply don't have the heart or energy to do this job 5 days per week, even if it means having every weekend off. I voluntarily agree to work every single weekend so I can have my precious 5 days off during the week.

I work 12-hour shifts every Saturday and Sunday, receive pay for 32 hours under my workplace's Baylor plan, and get Monday through Friday off.

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

working weekends is nothing new; and your argument has been around for many years.:deadhorse...as long as I have been a nurse and probably longer. It is part of the package at most places. and the weekend packages are nice for some people; but not everyone !

If it means that much to you that you dont work weekends perhaps an MD office or a non hospital job would be better!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

One of the things that attracted me to nursing was that I didn't want a M-F 9-5 job. EOW does not bother me.

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My hospital has a weekend pay plan.

The same group of experienced staff get to work together every weekend. The per diems who are parents work lots of weekends too because the other parent is often home to watch the kids.

The rest of the staff is freed up from having to work most weekends at all.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Every other weekend doesn't bother me in the least either.

didn't you know about this in the job posting? It's not something new.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

We do every third weekend (6 week rotating schedule).

cheers,

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, medical review.

I'm right there with some of the other posters. I'm not a nurse yet, but I did work in LTC for a while and had to do the EOW. It was actually a luxury for me, b/c I was coming from retail, where I had to work EVERY weekend. I hate working M-F, I would rather have a few 12 hour shifts and then get more days off inbetween!!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

We're in the century where people get sick even on weekends.

I'm with the others, I'd hate a 5 day a week job. Also, weekdays are better days to go skiing, boating, and other recreational activities because recreational areas are much less crowded.

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