weekend program

L&Dnurse2Be · Aug 21, 2008

Think long and hard before you make a decision. I worked Saturday and Sunday 7a-7p for about 3 years. It just about tore my family apart. My husband and I fought terribly. I missed out on all of the kiddos activities. It was very hard to get a weekend off. I think I was allowed about 1 weekend every quarter. Weekends work great for some people, just not me. Now I work about 25 hours a week outside the hospital and my family is so much better! Good luck in whatever you decide.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Aug 21, 2008

It is definitely a decision only you can make. I work Fri/Sat 12hrs each and it works for us right now. DH's work schedule is fairly flexible. Our 3yo is not in school yet (well, preschool but only MWF). It is pretty nice to be able to be the primary breadwinner only working 24hrs/week. If I pick up any extra it's just icing on the cake. My bennies are at the fulltime rate.

The downside is that....you're working. every. weekend. You miss birthday parties, family get-togethers, church (if you go), ballgames, all that stuff. We only get 3 weekends a year off and let me tell you - I pick my weekends carefully!!

It's definitely not a decision to be made lightly, but either way, I wish you good luck.

leslie :-D · Aug 21, 2008

i totally loved working weekends (we call it 'baylor' around here. you too?)...

did sat/sun nocs, 7p-7a, got paid for 36 hrs, plus exc benefits.

i felt ok about doing it because even i'd miss some of the kids events, i took much comfort in knowing how loving and involved, their dad is.:redbeathe

had to stop when i became sick, never to return (out too long).

those positions fill quickly around here.

anyway, it's certainly not a decision to be made lightly.

if it works for you guys, jump at it.

it's really an awesome opportunity. :twocents:

leslie

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Aug 21, 2008

i did it while i was in school. it SUCKED. and what was worse was that the nurses felt like it was my fault if they had to work an "extra" weekend at all... even though they only worked like every 6th or 7th! weekend... it was rediculous. so if i took a vacation day or weekend due to school or vacation, they were ******! it was rediculous and stupid. i was the only one on the weekend plan so maybe that is why it was so bad. there was no "thank you for taking the weekends so i can be with my family more and go to church, etc" it was "more, more, more!!".

think long and hard before you take that. that is all i am saying. and i am not even going to go into all the birthday parties, get togethers, holidays, and general kid and family "stuff" i missed due to my doing the weekends... and i did days. nights would be worse because you have to sleep (for your sanity) and work. but i think the fact that my coworkers were so expectant of me when they didn't do jack crap was the worst.

my vacation days are my vacation days... just like their vacation days are their vacation days too. they just didn't seem to get that, at least on my unit. and don't think it won't happen on your unit either, because it IS a possibility... I would have NEVER thought in a million years that would have ever happened on my unit. it BLEW me away.

Mo_RN · Aug 21, 2008

I've never heard of the 'weekend program'? I'm in the Chicago area also and I haven't come across an opportunity like that! Sounds good! I hesitate working nights (I started a post that's active now with my situation) but 2 days a week sounds great! :up:

ilstu99 · Aug 21, 2008

That was originally what I was hoping to get, but you had to have at least 3 years of experience to qualify. It would be awesome for my kids, since 99% of their activities are during the week. The only exception is my son's games, but they're 0900, so no problem.

The starting pay is $38 an hour, plus weekend diff, plus NOC diff. Sa-weet. And you can pick up other shifts at the staff RN rate, if you want FT hours for additional income.

It would work very well for my family, but I can see how it might be difficult for other families.

thinkin' about it · Aug 21, 2008

I have done this, both days and nights, and it is right for you to have some questions/reservations, because weekends can really suck the life out of you, and you will miss important time with your significant other. I would disagree, however, about the advice you've received regarding "thinking long and hard" before trying it, assuming it will be easy to go back and work more typical hours if you don't like weekends only. It may not be so easy to have another opportunity to try the weekends, because these shifts fill up fast at some facilities. I'd say if you want to, try it, and you can always go back. That being said, I have some things for you to think about regarding weekends-only positions......

How exactly will you be paid? Do you get a percentage of the usual base pay you make, a shift differential, or the same base pay for every nurse working weekends? Make sure you know the details. Also, experience may or may not make a difference in how you are paid. Some facilities pay all weekend staff the same regardless of experience.

Look closely at who you will be working with. Unlike most other nursing jobs, if your unit is staffed on the weekend with only weekend staff, you may be working with the same people ALL THE TIME. This may be a good thing. Or not.

If you pick up hours outside of your weekend commitment, how will you be paid for those hours?

How will you accrue vacation time? This may not work the same way for weekend staff.

How much vacation time can you take? You may not need as many days off because two days will be your whole week, but some facilities are very strict about how/when weekend staff can use their vacation. Also, be sure you know if seniority is a factor and how long before a vacation you need to put in for the time off.

How will it work if you call in sick? Likely, you won't be able to call in as many times as you can if you are regular staff, because it's harder for them to find a replacement on the weekend. You should know this going in.

Are you required to attend meetings, education or other work activities during the week? This may affect baby-sitting or other plans. I'd ask the staff, not just managers. I don't think people who always work M-F days necessarily realize how often other staff have to come in on their off times to do extra things, because if you're already there, it doesn't register as "extra."

Are the people you see socially available at other times besides the weekend? If all your family get-togethers are on weekends and everyone you know works bankers' hours, working weekends may become very socially isolating for you. If, on the other hand, you have retired relatives and go out with other nurses, weekends may work fine for you.

How will the holiday schedule work for you as a weekender? You may be required to work just as many holidays as your full-time counterparts, and I find that working on holidays, while part of our jobs, is that much harder when you already work every weekend. Socially, it's very difficult.

Realize that your interactions with patients, doctors, and families are very different on weekends. Sometimes weekends are more laid-back, and this can be good. However, the doctors who round are often the on-call doctors and may not be a patient's regular doctor. Some of them try to avoid speaking with families and are in a rush because of their increased workload. Some do not want to make big decisions because it is not "their" patient. This can be stressful for everyone. Also, weekends are huge for visitors, because this is when most people are off work. This is especially the case if you'll be working weekend days. Depending on your facility, admissions and discharges may work differently on the weekend. For example, people may only be admitted with emergencies or held for discharge so their regular doctor can see them or they can undergo testing on Monday morning. Just some things to think about.

Does the facility/unit have as much staff/support staff on the weekends? Sometimes, facilities try to operate with just a skeleton staff on weekends, forgoing secretaries, aides, transportation staff, supply departments, even in-house testing staff in some departments? It can be harder to get things done, and you need to know who/where your resources are.

Do not underestimate how difficult it will be to find time with a significant other who works Mon-Fri, especially long hours like you stated. This may work out for you, but remember, too, that even if you work weekend days, you won't want to be out late on Fri or Sat night, and this can make things even more difficult.

Anyway, I don't want to be too negative here, because I've done this shift before and will again, but I wanted you to have some food for thought in how the shift might affect your life. :twocents:

zoo*moon, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2008

i work one weekend night every week and just that one shift messes up our lives so i would say to you--don't do it! it may pay well but oh my it would be sad and lonely. if i worked the whole weekend every weekend it would mean no time to do family things. (hubby works m-f, have 3 kids under 9)

agreeing to total weekends esp. since your hubby works m-f would be really hard for you guys. unless he's a super guy and if your kids are older-- (12 and over)

unless you have no other choice, yikes, i think a total weekend option is a poor choice for someone with a family. i may consider if no children. husband would be more flexible by himself.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2008

Since I'm a single person with no children and a very minimal social life, weekend plans have worked out wonderfully for me. I love having 5 days off in a row. I really don't have it in me to arrive to work for a 5-day work week.

For 2 years I worked two 16-hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday, got paid for 40 hours, received full-time benefits, and received my 5 days off unless I opted to accept extra shifts during the weekdays.

I now work two 12-hour night shifts every Saturday and Sunday from 6:30pm to 7am. I receive pay for 32 hours, have full-time benefits, and still receive my 5 days off unless I choose to work extra shifts during the week.

Tammykay821 · Aug 21, 2008

hi,

i would think twice working weekends if you have young children. they are only young once and you'd probably feel sad/guilty missing their games and other family weekend events. i waited until my 3rd son graduated high school before beginning a nursing program. personally, i wanted to be at all events thru grade school & high school. i'm the oldest in my lvn program but i don't regret my choice at all ! best wishes :nurse:

Christen, ANP · Aug 21, 2008

I've worked the weekend program for 2 years now. At my facility we work Fri, Sat, Sun, and have the rest of the week off.

The weekend program, I've found, is hard because you really do miss out on a lot. Because everyone else works during the week, you miss all the social stuff that happens on the weekends when the normal people are off!

The benefits are the extra $$ and the set schedule. Is your program a contract? Mine was contracted for 6 months, then you can get off whenever you want. Try it out and see how you like it. :)