Hours?

Thank you!

Is it 12 hour shifts and every other weekend, but you get 3-4 days off a week?

-I work 12 hour nights with 4 days off a week, but 8 hour shifts are still available at some hospitals. Personally I like having 4 whole days off to do stuff, or put in an OT shift.

Is there a lot of mandatory overtime?

-On my particular floor (neonatal ICU) we have to be on call for 3 shifts every 6-week schedule. We get called by 5:30am/pm if we are needed for that particular shift. If that call doesn't come, we have off.

Is it terrible working weekends and holidays?

-We work 2 weekends + 3 fridays per 6wk schedule, get paid a differential. It's not too bad. You get used to planning your activities around you weekends off. We have to work every other holiday. We get paid a differential, and usually have a lot of fun on the unit. Sometimes we'll all bring a dish and have a little party of our own. Often you can plan your family's holiday around your work schedule, eg eat Thanksgiving dinner after/before work. I am actually looking forward to working Christmas eve in the NICU this year. It should be really special celebrating the babies' 1st Christmas with them and their families. Sometimes you can switch holidays with coworkers.

Does the scheduling work out well in most hospitals?

- Hah! It all depends on if your unit is well staffed. Up until last month we worked "track" schedules, where we worked a set frequency of days per schedule, which repeated itself every 6wks. We now self schedule, and it's great being able to work the days you want, as long as you follow the rules [certain # of weekends, holidays,] and dont overstaff one day, and understaff the next.

As a newbie on the floor, would I have to work nights?

-It depends on where you want to work, and how badly you want a certain job. I desperately wanted NICU, and will be working nights for a year or so. Staff moves to day shift according to senority at my hospital. nights aren't as bad as they sound. i actually prefer the extra $6000/yr my night differential pay gives, and it's easier to work 3 nights in a row than 3 days.

Is is possible to work part-time in a hospital or would I have to be an agency nurse to do that?

-As a RN you can do whatever you want. You can work FT, PT, or PRN, which means as many days as you want, whenever you want. Benefits are usually not included in those positions,the pay is usually higher, and you may have to work a few weekends or holidays. Check with the hospital you are interested in.

My husband is already up to something like 5 weeks of vacation a year, I know there is no way to match that (he's been working at the same company for a decade) but is there a way to plan 3 weeks off together? Or is that pretty much impossible?

-It's usually possible to get 2-3 weeks off between using your paid-time-off that you earn every pay period and self-scheduling yourself to where you work 3 shifts the beginning of one week, and three at the ends of the last week. (doing that gives you 8 days off in a row)

Hope this helps! Check out NICU nursing. I love taking care of those preemies, and ANYONE is capable of learning to do it, so don't say "oh. I could never do that!":clown: