full-time hospital hours...

[Chickysmom]

Could someone tell me what a normal work week might look like for a full-time nurse working at a hospital? I realize that three 12 hours shifts is probably the norm and you would be considered full-time even working 36 hours/week but......how do your days rotate? Do you have a set schedule of work/days off? Or do you work three have three off, thus bumping your days off forward each week?

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

for the nurses i did my preceptorship with, it was standard to have three shifts on, four days off, four shifts on, three days off. 6 twelves, and an eight to balance off the 40 hours.

how they split between days and nights varied with each staff member. Some did three weeks of days, then three weeks of nights, some had it so they did their three shifts as nights, then their four shifts were days.

[smile123]

Could someone tell me what a normal work week might look like for a full-time nurse working at a hospital? I realize that three 12 hours shifts is probably the norm and you would be considered full-time even working 36 hours/week but......how do your days rotate? Do you have a set schedule of work/days off? Or do you work three have three off, thus bumping your days off forward each week?

At my hospital and several others, nurses can self schedule. Some do work 3 shifts in a row (like 3 day 7am to 7:30pm shifts), but it's more likely they work 2 days in a row and take a few days off, then work 1 more day for the 36 hour week. We are also required to work 4 weekend shifts during a 4 week period. However, we could work every Sunday for 4 weeks or work Sat/Sun then Sat/Sun and have the next two weekends off. It just depends on your preference. I find as a new grad, it's easier to do 2 shifts in a row because we are usually given the same patients on the 2nd shift. It makes things easier because we are familiar with the patient's needs. Hope that helps.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

There are alot of different flavors, like the other posters said. My facility requires me to work every other weekend, and since I work 12 hour shifts, I work a total of three shifts per week. Those 36 hours are full-time, with full-time benefits, etc. I am NOT required to work an additional shift at any other time in the month. Three 12's, that's it, but lots of nurses will pick up an extra shift, or if they are working 8's normally, will pick up extra hours before or after their shift for more time.

We self-schedule and most people who do 12's shoot for two days on, a few off, two on, or something like that. More daytime people than nighttime ones are willing to do 3 12's in a row; us nighttimers have trouble doing that for a few reasons.

And, of course, there's the oddball "can you come in for four hours" for extra time.

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

One girl I used to work with - works Thurs-Tues for her 6 days and then she is off for 8 days total and starts the Thurs - Tues work week the following week. She loves it that way and fills the requirements for the "every other weekend" thing plus she then can pick up a shift or 2 in the meantime and not feel like she "lives at work".

Another girl I graduated with works 2 on and 2 off which eventually evens itself out to every 3rd weekend - they don't self schedule there though - that is their schedule.

I prefer mine to be 3 days on in a row so I can maxiumize my time off. I work 11-11 though - so I don't have to get up really early, nor get home really late. It works well for me.

[Oznurse2b]

Ohhhh 11-11 sounds really good!!

[meandragonbrett]

We work on 12's and 8's and self schedule. 7-3p, 3-11p, 11-7p, or 7-7