Have you noticed a better quality of life going from full time to part time?

[A Hit With The Ladies]

I used to work in acute (inpatient) dialysis, and I remember when I was full time with my then-company, I felt that the hours were unmanageable. I worked 18+ hours a day(!) three days a week. All I did was work, sleep, do laundry, and work again. Rapidly burnt out. Then I went part-time, which meant two days a week, 12-13 hours a day. I noticed that I was so much happier, because I felt like I had a life again. Sure, I made less money, but work stopped feeling like a prison sentence.

I work in inpatient psych now, and have been full-time for almost a year. One of the things I hate the most about my current job is that it's on a rotation system, so you're really off work for 2-3 days and then back on for 2-3 days of work. So I never really feel that I'm mentally off work because I'm spending a solid chunk of my time off resting and recovering (I work night shift as well). I'm going part time in a couple of weeks (so it'll be just 4 shifts in a two-week period versus 7 shifts in a two-week period). Very much optimistic that I'll feel less grouchy and drained from work with this one too.

Anyway, my question is, if you've gone from full time to part time, have you also noticed any quality of life changes?

[turtlesRcool]

Fortunately, at my hospital, 32 hours is considered full time. So, I work 4 8-hour shifts per week. Of course, I'm rarely out exactly on time (thank you, bedside report with 2 RN skin check), so probably more like 9-hours. Still, it's much more do-able than 12-hour shifts.

I feel like when you work 12s, it's usually more like 13 or so, and you've missed the WHOLE day or the WHOLE evening/night. I'd rather have dinner with my family every day than an extra day off. Plus, when I work a holiday, I can still celebrate with my family on the holiday itself. So what if the main meal is at dinner instead of midday?

Unfortunately, many of the departments at my hospital are 12-hour shifts only, which prevents me from applying for critical care jobs. Still, as long as I don't switch departments, I'm grandfathered into my 8s, and I'm happy enough where I am.

[NurseNelly24, BSN]

I've been part time (on paper) for the past 3 years at it was the BEST decision I had ever made. There was only a slight change in benefits, but otherwise no other issues. I have way more flexibility in my schedule, it's easier to pick up shifts when I WANT to work w/o switching with coworkers, and I felt empowered knowing I'm still working in a specialty I love, but I don't have to work about a 3rd 12hr for the week if I wasn't up to it; not to mention that it was easier to pick up a per diem gig. I encourage ANYONE who is experiencing burnout at their jobs to go part time, and remember in comparison to being per diem and getting no benefits, you're STILL getting benefits!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

My employer added smoothing shifts, meetings and education days after the schedule came out so it was that plus the three 12s a week. I never recovered from one set before I was back into another. I went to a 0.75 position, and life is so much better!!