working the weekend option

BadBird, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2003

I work a weekend program in critical care, I don't know about psych,never worked it.

live4today, RN · Aug 15, 2003

I'd luuuuuuuuvvvvv a weekend only job in nursing! I think they are a rarity though. Good luck to you in your nursing career upon graduation though! :balloons:

Noney · Aug 15, 2003

I work weekends on a med/surg/tele floor 7p-7a

I love it . Upside is 5 days off in a row every week and always working with the same nurses.

Downside: All family events are scdeuled on weekends. Of course depending on the event it's sometimes nice to be able to say "sorry gotta work"

By working weekends only I do miss out on some of the busy-ness of weekdays also.

Agnus · Aug 15, 2003

Someone who actually WANTS to work all weekends is generally VERY welcomed. Welcomed by management and staff because it is rare that people want weekend work. Often weekends are hardest to staff and call ins tend to be more frequent on the weekend. Ooften a nurse has a difficult time if she wants a paarticular weekend off as no one will replace her.

However, IF you work every weekend you have a powerful negotiating tool when you need time off.

Few places would reject you because of your particular need. Generally employers do not look for someone specifically for weekends but when one presents her/him self it is like a gift.

Weekends are a joy to work but few seldom are willing to work every weekend all weekend, because most family and social gatherings and events are on the weekend.

Things are just quieter on the weekend on any job.

suehp · Aug 15, 2003

I dont mind working weekends either and have been offered a job whereby if I decided to do 3 12 hours shift (Fri,Sat,Sun) - i would get paid for 40 hours. I am undecided what to do at the mo really. I think I am going to try and negotiate for working 3 weekends out of 4 and see how I get on, but I will be having more interviews in other hospitals yet.

Sue :)

Repat · Aug 15, 2003

I LOVE my WOW shift!! You still get 4 weekends off a year, so you can plan family activities. This summer has been great being able to spend all that time with the kids. The weeks I work an extra shift during the week make me sure that I made the right choice. Good luck in finding a job.

Dixen81 · Aug 15, 2003

Downside: All family events are scdeuled on weekends. Of course depending on the event it's sometimes nice to be able to say "sorry gotta work"

Can't stop laughing at that, Noney! That's the best part of working weekends!:roll

purplemania, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2003

I worked weekends only while in school and thought it great. Problem was, I got paid 40 hrs for working 24 (Baylor plan). If the census was down and I got cut, I did not make the 24 hr minimum and was paid only for hours worked, which meant I had to scramble the next week to find 1-2 shifts to make up time. Be sure to ask if, and how, your pay is affected should you not be able to work.

Gator,SN · Aug 15, 2003

I would eventually like to work just weekends. There are Weekend options at my current employer, the pay is better, but the benefits are worse. Insurance is paid at the PT rate. I have worked strictly weekends, 12h shifts for 2 years while in school so I don't mind giving them up.

Good luck in your search guyRNstudent!!!!!!!

Gator

jaxnRN · Aug 15, 2003

I worked only weekends for a while. It was nice to work two 12-hour shifts and get paid for 40 hours. Also, picking up an extra day during the week was just extra. BUT, I worked the day shift 6a-6p and that meant, that when the family came home on a Friday night ready to "hang loose" and watch movies or go out, I had to go to bed to be up at 4:30 a.m. EVERY FRIDAY!!! Nights might be better, working Sat and Sunday nights.

If you are single, it may be easier, but then again, if you are single, your social life does kind of need to be re-arranged.

rngrad2009 · Aug 15, 2003

With the nursing shortage, it should be easy to find a weekend option job. Alot of facilities are offering "no weekend" schedules to attract nurses, since alot of nurses prefer to have weekends off. Good luck with your search.