What hours do you work?

kajama · Aug 29, 2001

If you want a monday thru friday day shift job don't go into nursing..... especially hospital nursing... I work 12 hour shifts 6 in a 2 week period..... out of them I do have to work weekends.... Nursing is not a 9 to 5 career...

catlady, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2001

(I tried to post this morning but the server was having none of that....)

I know what the earlier poster means about new nurses not understanding about paying their dues. How can someone go through an entire nursing program not realizing that nurses have 24/7 to cover? A few years ago, I got a nursing education job, M-F, 8-3, and someone said, "Oh, you got that quick." No, it took me thirteen years of working 12-hour nights and weekends and holidays to *earn* those hours.

Now I work 8-ish to 4-ish as a unit manager, with every 4th weekend on call (last month I ended up working a 3 - 11 Sat and a eve-noc double on Sunday!).

We have a 7-3 charge RN position available and can't get any applicants. Go figure.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Aug 29, 2001

Have a 9 AM-5:30 Pm position, last nurse to leave as an intake RN in Homecare, work I weekend a month and 2 of 7 holidays ( This Labor Day weekend will be my last holiday of the year).

I lucked into this after 10 yrs hospital & 13 years of home care...always having to see my own patients in evenings " cause your passing that way to go home anyway, I can't reach the on-call RN and AFTER ALL it's YOUR patient!"

Have lucked out to have had pat two Christmases with my family after always taking them since I had no kids or they were little and husband also was working that weekend.

Home care is usually DAYTME hours with starting/stopping time something you can arrange/control. Let's you attend kids school events and conferences, dr appts. etc. Did 12 hrs PM every ofther weekend and as infusion RN, I worked evening hrs for all the new TPN clients, PM antibiotic admits and Chemo disconnects when my kids were little and husband on dayshift. Before kids, when he worked all three shifts, 21 turn I worked 10 yrs night shift as I saw him the most on it. I've been lucky that nursing has afforded me this type of flexibility...much better than if I went to music school to teach organ lessons Full-time or playingat weddings and special events ( my former passion ,LOL).

janine3&5 · Aug 30, 2001

I have to jump back in here and disagree- I'm a new nurse and working weekdays. I don't believe I need to pay my dues to anyone; if there are problems staffing certain shifts, then the manager needs to solve that problem with more hires, better incentives, agency, or whatever...I'm not saying that I wouldn't work a weekend if asked occasionally, but why shouldn't I be able to work the schedule that works best for me? I'm a single mom with two little ones, my daycare is only open weekdays.

As we all know, there is a shortage which I'm sure is felt even more on nights/weekends, but because I'm a new nurse I should work those hours that are not right for me? I don't think so!

BeachNurse · Aug 30, 2001

I am a clinical research coordinator and I love my hours: 7:30 to 4 Monday through Friday. No nights, no weekends, no call, and paid holidays (off of course). Works much better for me and my family. :D :)

BeachNurse · Aug 30, 2001

I am a fairly new nurse also, and I agree wholeheartedly with Janine...if you see what you want and need you should go for it and jump at the opportunity! You only have one life...why spend it being miserable!!?

Cardiolo · Aug 30, 2001

i too must go with the minority group here. your shift will depend on the dept. you work in, how long the current employees have been there, and the turnover rate. many facilities/units believe that the learning environment is most favorable during the nightime hours due to the slower pace. i did days as a new nurse, and now do nights. find what apeals to you, and if days are available for you, go for it. there are plenty of hospital units that have day openings for new nurses, and even if they don't, you may move to days faster than you think due to the turnover, esp. in larger metropolitan areas. good luck to you!

catlady, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2001

I am a single mom also, and I paid through the nose to get child care for the 12-hour night/weekend shifts I worked. But my personal issues don't mean I should have the right to bump someone else who's been working there longer than I have. By all means, if there's a position available for the hours you want, go for it. But I can't believe the number of new grads going into the profession who are surprised that they are put onto the backshifts. Did they really have no clue going in????

Dplear · Aug 30, 2001

I work 7p-7a thursday thru wed. a week on and then a week off. I choose this schedule. I enjoy all the time it gives me off in one block.

Also I cannot believe some of you people out there. I say (and as a nurse with 15 years) if a new grad can get a job straight days with no weekends and that is what they want...GO FOR IT. All you people saying oh they need to pay their dues and ect. GET REAL. This day and age you cannot tell me that if an employer said to you"hey we are going to give you days and no weekends and maybe even make more money that some of the other nurses" you would not jump at it. No way can you convince me that you would tell them no I do not feel right taking this when there are other nurses here who have been here longer and make less. yeah right...you would take the money and days and run.

Enright · Aug 30, 2001

Let me clarify...I don't think anyone necessarily HAS to pay dues by going on nights for 15 years. What I am concerned with is the attitude I often hear from new grads that they are only interested in M-F, day shift. If they can find it, God bless.

It makes me think that perhaps they were led to believe this was the norm right out of school. It isn't. I am pleased there are more opportunities for new grads to get their shift preference. My only point was that they may not be able to find it right away. Be open to the fact that you might have to work a weekend or off shift now and then. That is the profession and if you have inflexible schedule needs, it'll be pretty hard (although not impossible) to get a guaranteed, M-F gig.

I think a lot of us who posted cautionary on this topic just don't want first time job seekers to get unrealistic expectations.

kaycee · Aug 30, 2001

I absolutely agree with Catlady and others who say that if a new grad lands a daylight no weekend job go for it but just don't have the attitude that you won't work any other hours if it's not available. I've been working 26yrs all three shifts in a hospital setting at one time or another. Presently have been steady 3-11 for past 19yrs which I personally prefer. But if I changed my mind and a steady 7-3 weekends off shift became available and it was between me and a new grad,who do you think should get it? That's what I call paying your dues. I'm not a daylight person(don't like to have to talk till about 10:00am)so it won't happen any time soon.