Couple both working shift work?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone! I'm looking for some advice from couples who both work shift work. My husband is a firefighter so he works 2day shifts then 2 night shifts back to back then four days off. I am a nursing student who when I graduate I only want to work a three quarter time position. I am quite concerned about never seeing my husband at all once I start working. I am wondering if anyone else is part of a relationship where both partners work shift work, and how that works between you guys?

Thanks for your help :)

Specializes in ED, ICU, Education.

Many hospitals have "self-scheduling", where you can work whatever days you like within the week, as long as you make your hours. Usually, the only other requirement is at least 3 weekend shifts in a month. I make it work with my man by working around his school schedule (and I work nights). Most times I get 5-7 days off in a row.

You'll make it work, most places are flexible.

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I know a couple of nurses that have husbands in the fire dept. They have their husband's schedule mapped out weeks or months in advance and fill out their schedules (we have self-scheduling) to meet their needs. Some need the opposite shifts so that someone is home to care for children, some want the same schedule.

My husband works 12 hr nights at another facility. Our key to communication is an on-line calendar. His smart phone syncs with it and I have easy internet access at work so we can try to get our schedules as close to the same as possible. It works really well to help remind us to ask off for important things like vacations or concerts.

Many hospitals have "self-scheduling", where you can work whatever days you like within the week, as long as you make your hours. Usually, the only other requirement is at least 3 weekend shifts in a month. I make it work with my man by working around his school schedule (and I work nights). Most times I get 5-7 days off in a row.

You'll make it work, most places are flexible.

Self-scheduling does exist, but I'm not sure that I'd say "many" hospitals have it. Even if a hospital does have some self-scheduling, it is usually limited to a one or two floors and not the entire hospital.

If you can find a hospital that does self-scheduling on a floor/unit where you want to work and can get hired there, then go for it. If not, you would do well to look for a casual position where you would have virtually complete control over your schedule. You would have to work a minimum number of shifts per month/schedule, including some on the weekends probably, but after you meet the minimum requirements you can pick your schedule from any available open shifts.

Specializes in subacute.

Hi,

You have it pretty good. My husband is also a firefighter and similar schedule as your husband.

I work 7days a week with no days off and I have a 2 year old. I feel terrible telling you

this but you will take any job you can get and you wont have a choice with schedules.

No one is hiring new grad RN's unless u have a hookup. if u do you're so lucky.

I envy u. Other than that, all I can say is that you just deal with it.

u work so hard for your nursing degree that when u finally get

a nursing job u really wont care about how much u will get to see your husband.

Its life......unless u win the lotto!

good luck.

My husband is a paramedic and works 40 hour blocks (24 hours on, 8 on-call, and 16 on). I work three 12 hour shifts per week, and am able to work my schedule around his. The last day I work is usually his recovery day so it works out well. Nurses self-schedule at my hospital, but EMS has set schedules, so it is easy for me to work around his.

Thanks for your replies! I am currently working in our hospital as a lab tech and I know for a fact that our hospital doesn't do self scheduling (that would a dream). As for there being no nursing jobs as HappyGo1 said. I live in Canada and thats not the case here. Nurses are hired for job before they even graduate nursing school. We are starving for nurses up here, especially in the northern region I live in.

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I think if you are creative, you will work it out. I worked about 25 years of variations on night shift. My DH worked 6am to 7pm 5 days a week. And we have three kids, includingou one who is profoundly developmentally disabled. We had to really work to find time together and it wasn't easy. But you do what you have to do.

Thanks for your replies! I am currently working in our hospital as a lab tech and I know for a fact that our hospital doesn't do self scheduling (that would a dream). As for there being no nursing jobs as HappyGo1 said. I live in Canada and thats not the case here. Nurses are hired for job before they even graduate nursing school. We are starving for nurses up here, especially in the northern region I live in.

Then I would try to go the casual route as I suggested in a previous post, assuming that those positions work the same way as here in the states.

Okay that sounds like a good idea! Our casual set up here is basically any left over shifts that aren't filled by the fulltime or part time staff members the casual staff are allowed to pick up. Then the casuals are also called in if they are short staffed. Thanks for everyones help :)

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