How come you don't work more?

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

I have to say I find more than 3 days in a row too much. Not that I can't handle it, but it really wears on me. Working 24 hours, I have very little stress. I work my butt off when I am there, but I know a day off is around the corner. I am more patient, happy and "with it."
I think being a parent is very hard work, but I wouldn't even make a comment about a single guy working part-time. Why would it be any of my business?

At day 3 I'm ready for a weeks vacation. A previous DON once put me on 5 days a row. Mind you.. I'm part time. The sight of the schedule was just insulting with those 5 days in a row. Nobody else had that. Not even the full timers. I roared about that and her response was "I'll see what I can do". I sucked it up and did it but I don't do them any favors anymore.

I don't think I could do full time with 8 hour shifts. If I ever work full time I want 3-12s. Doesn't have to be in a row but I hate working so many days in a row. I get drained.

rn/writer, RN · Jan 4, 2011

If you, your husband and your kids are happy, no one else gets to say boo about it.

Besides, time at home isn't a vacation. Even if you enjoy the job of homemaker and mother, it's still work.

My husband goes through this kind of interrogation at times. He does work full time, but he doesn't bid the highest-paying jobs (he's in the transportation field), even though his seniority would let him take almost any assignment he picked. When others ask about his choices, he says the money isn't everything, and he means it. The more lucrative jobs would require many hours away from home and generate a lot more stress.

He also points out that many of the ones who are pushing to earn every last nickel have expensive habits to support (smoking, drinking, gambling, extravagant vacations, lots of big boy toys), while he is content to go fishing or fly his remote control airplane or just hang out with me :redbeathe.

Some of the top earners aren't happy at home and want to spend as little time there as possible. That is sooo not the case with us.

One other factor may enter into the discussion. Personality type. If you're an introvert, you need time at home to recharge your batteries. Extroverts feel hemmed in when they're away from the excitement and don't understand that introverts feel drained by the very things that get the outgoing ones charged up. That's okay. I don't understand how being at home can leave the live wires itchy and edgy, but it does.

It's okay to be satisfied with your life. If anyone questions you or tries to give you the business, just smile sweetly and say, "Aren't you nice to be so concerned about my well-being. The fact is I'm quite content."

prinsessa · Jan 5, 2011

I work full time and I'm ready to cut my days down. Working 3-11 5 days a week is just too hard when you have children. The only reason I am working so much right now is because we are saving to buy a house. Once I pay off some bills and have a down payment, I plan on cutting my hours (unless I find a M-F 9-5 job). Some nurses that I work with are constantly working doubles but then order food every day and buy their kids all kinds of junk. I don't think my kids need a new laptop or cell phone.

Peeker19 · Jan 5, 2011

I work 2 16 hour Baylor shifts at a CRAZY skilled/LTC facility and have 5 days off a week. I am married and have no kids. I get called everyday to come to work. I am a new RN and I just don't answer the phone anymore. Most of the time they are just looking for a warm body and I am not their warm body. My two days a week are enough I am physically and emotionally exhausted by the end. When I do pick up an extra shift by the end of my two regular 16 hours I feel like I have not done a good job because I am just too tired. I am young and have made it a moto in my life that I do not live to work but work to live. Alot of the time I do feel guilty that I do not work more, but at the same time I have created a lifestyle that does not require me to have to work more. I live as if I were a student still and it works for us. I get looks and comments all the time from some of my co workers that are killing themselves picking up extra shifts and trying to raise a family and I am trying to learn to not let it bother me. I am actually going in today to speak to the manager to tell her to stop calling me for extra shifts....we will see how that goes :eek:

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2011

I did 3 days in a row (2 8hr shifts and a 13 hr one) and then came home to my family of 5 kids and was expected to be a mother also.

Yeah, that is why I don't work more. Its just not for me.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

I work 2 16 hour Baylor shifts at a CRAZY skilled/LTC facility and have 5 days off a week. I am married and have no kids. I get called everyday to come to work. I am a new RN and I just don't answer the phone anymore. Most of the time they are just looking for a warm body and I am not their warm body. My two days a week are enough I am physically and emotionally exhausted by the end. When I do pick up an extra shift by the end of my two regular 16 hours I feel like I have not done a good job because I am just too tired. I am young and have made it a moto in my life that I do not live to work but work to live. Alot of the time I do feel guilty that I do not work more, but at the same time I have created a lifestyle that does not require me to have to work more. I live as if I were a student still and it works for us. I get looks and comments all the time from some of my co workers that are killing themselves picking up extra shifts and trying to raise a family and I am trying to learn to not let it bother me. I am actually going in today to speak to the manager to tell her to stop calling me for extra shifts....we will see how that goes

I got calling in 7 times(Both house and cell phone) over a period of Friday through Monday off. I didnt pick it up once. They might have called me on Tuesday but I turned my phone off.

I went back to work on wednesday and took my house number off the rolodex. I've gotten calls as early as 6am. So they just have my cell phone number.

bethann27 · Jan 15, 2011

I have worked with the dying alot and I have never heard one person say that they wished they had worked more hours or had two jobs. They long for the time they missed with people they loved...

This is exactly what I hear from the dying - poor & wealthy alike. I take that to heart and try to learn from their mistakes.

Also, I have learned that any nurse that admits to valuing family over job will be ridiculed by those who have made life choices that either:

a) do not permit them to work less OR

b) they didn't choose to work less & now have grown children, are divorced and are aging with little hope of ever having that desire fulfilled

Listen to YOUR heart & budget.

tntrn, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

I went back to work on wednesday and took my house number off the rolodex. I've gotten calls as early as 6am. So they just have my cell phone number.

My work only has my home number. Because I do not want to have my cell phone ringing when I am out and about and have it be them. At home I can screen, and I do. After 34 years, I have gotten used to "just saying no."

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

I work 2 16 hour Baylor shifts at a CRAZY skilled/LTC facility and have 5 days off a week. I am married and have no kids. I get called everyday to come to work. I am a new RN and I just don't answer the phone anymore. Most of the time they are just looking for a warm body and I am not their warm body. My two days a week are enough I am physically and emotionally exhausted by the end. When I do pick up an extra shift by the end of my two regular 16 hours I feel like I have not done a good job because I am just too tired. I am young and have made it a moto in my life that I do not live to work but work to live. Alot of the time I do feel guilty that I do not work more, but at the same time I have created a lifestyle that does not require me to have to work more. I live as if I were a student still and it works for us. I get looks and comments all the time from some of my co workers that are killing themselves picking up extra shifts and trying to raise a family and I am trying to learn to not let it bother me. I am actually going in today to speak to the manager to tell her to stop calling me for extra shifts....we will see how that goes

I think that is great. If you live within your means, are happy with what you're doing keep on doing it ! Who says everyone body need to work full time + for the rest of their lives? If one doesn't care about keeping up with the jones' this is a perfect stratigy. You don't have to dictate your life to work. Work a couple days a week and do your own thing the rest. That is the beautiful of this field.. so many options.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

I think that is great. If you live within your means, are happy with what you're doing keep on doing it ! Who says everyone body need to work full time + for the rest of their lives? If one doesn't care about keeping up with the jones' this is a perfect stratigy. You don't have to dictate your life to work. Work a couple days a week and do your own thing the rest. That is the beautiful of this field.. so many options.

I have a week and a half off and I didn't even ask for it. My vacation time is still untouched(for cruise in april). I'm happy working a couple days a week. I don't have much financial obligations at the moment and I have a private duty job that I do twice a week.

I guess I have no excuse not to clean my room this week lol

akanini, MSN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

I'm so jealous and wished I could work only 3 days. I'm a LPN in LTC and we work 5 days...it's TORTURE!

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

I'm so jealous and wished I could work only 3 days. I'm a LPN in LTC and we work 5 days...it's TORTURE!

One of the reasons I don't want a full-time position. I have other obligations(anatomy and physiology starting next week :x , and I have another job 2x a week) I think if I worked 5 I'd have way too much on plate.