what exactly is a relief nurse

[ymm123]

Recently while looking at some job postings I came across a job for a relief nurse to work 2 days bi-weekly. What exactly does this entail as a position? Is it the same thing as the normal break nurses we can have on units to cover while someone is at break or is it just extra staff like per diem work?

Thanks for the help!

[BackfromRetirement]

Coverage for full timers to have 2 days off perhaps? It would help to know the nature of the specialty. Med-Surg? Maybe coverage for nurses on vacation?

[ymm123]

Its for a NICU

[vhern246]

All I know about them is that they are nurses who cover others during mandatory breaks.

[PetiteOpRN]

We have several break nurses here in the OR, because we literally cannot leave the OR during a case (which may be our entire shift) unless we are relieved by another RN. Relief nurses are assigned a number of nurses to relieve, and they will only have a given assignment for about 30 minutes at a time. They also give 15 minute breaks, if time allows, and might take over a room or patient assignment if the regular nurse has a doctor's appointment and has to leave early.

I'm not sure if this is similar to the NICU job, but that is my understanding of relief nursing.