How do you deal with working weekends?

Nurses New Nurse

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As a young, unmarried nurse, I am very much bothered by the fact that I have to work weekends. I know that some people even prefer working weekends, but I despise working weekends. That has got to be the thing that I HATE the most about being a nurse. It's not that I like the weekends to go out and party all night. I just want to go out and play with my friends who do have 9-5 M-F work schedule. They go and ski in the winter and go camping/hiking in spring/summer. I miss out on it a lot. I know it's only every other weekend, but it's still a hell of a lot. I'm about to finish a training program in ICU and already wanting to go per diem because of mandatory every other weekend on as a regular staff nurse. I'm actually considering leaving nursing or even getting my NP for the sole purpose of having a regular M-F 9-5 schedule like my friends and family :madface: I just want to know how you deal with such a schedule?

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

see i am just the opposite . i just cannot figure out why anyone would want to work m-f. i work weekend doubles 32 get paid for 40. two days and i am done, this leaves 5 days for whatever...

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Just keep in mind that getting your NP solely to avoid weekends is a poor choice.

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Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

Nursing jobs that permit you to work 9-5:

1. If you have a BSN you can work as a PHN in a clinic

2. You can work as an RN in a Dr. office

3. RN in a day surgery center

4. insurance companies as case manager/case review

5. case manager in hospital

6. school nurse

7. Plenty more . . .!

I see NP's working weekends and on call too, so I dont know that will help.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health/Hospice, Cath Lab,.
Nursing jobs that permit you to work 9-5:

1. If you have a BSN you can work as a PHN in a clinic

2. You can work as an RN in a Dr. office

3. RN in a day surgery center

4. insurance companies as case manager/case review

5. case manager in hospital

6. school nurse

7. Plenty more . . .!

I see NP's working weekends and on call too, so I dont know that will help.

8. Cath lab (some hospitals)

9. Endo Nurse (some hospitals)

10. OR and PACU (some hospitals)

11. Nursing management (mostly - odd weekends every now and then)

12. Joint Center (at my hospital - Mon 11a through Fri 3p)

Just a few more I could think of in my hospital - although 8-10 usually involves call only 10 had frequent call ins.

You could also try my schedule which I love - 6 12's in a row (Thu-Tue) then off for 8 days. A mini-vacation every other week.

Hope this helps,

Pat

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
see i am just the opposite . i just cannot figure out why anyone would want to work m-f. i work weekend doubles 32 get paid for 40. two days and i am done, this leaves 5 days for whatever...

i love my weekdays off, and the only way to get them is to work weekends! i hate to go out on the weekends -- too many people everywhere you go! dh had a m-f cath lab job for awhile, and it nearly ruined our lives!

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Specializes in ICU, Triage, Home Health, primary care FNP.

For the first time I got a lot of responses in a few days. Thanks a lot I feel really validated. Thank you also for offering/listing options for me. I guess I haven't really found my niche in nursing yet. I've been a nurse for 3 years, and I still don't know what specialty I want to do. I guess if I really love or have a passion for the type of population that I work for, I wouldn't mind working weekends. I'll look into PACU after getting my ICU experience. Thanks again, everybody.

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I feel this way a lot.I seem to miss out on a lot of weekend outings. It makes me feel isolated and lonely.

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Wow I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way...working every other weekend is definently one of the things I dislike most about my job; I mean it's nice having those days off during the week but when every else I know is relaxing and enjoying themselves on the weekend I just feel like I'm missing out, and I miss spending time with them. I hope I can find a job with more normal hours soon.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Ummmmmm....did none of you gals realize that nursing is a 24-7 job?

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I guess because most of my friends are nurses/docs etc, this type of schedule never seemed to bother me.

The last place I was staff at (Travelling now), we actually had no weekend requirements, but we did have to work 2 Mondays (Day from hades) and 2 fridays (Day from lesser Hades) each month. So some people never really ended up working too many weekends.

I'd look for a job which has more flexible scheduling. Over time, as your lifestyle changes (You may get married or have kids, or develop some passion for plants that can not be left for more than 9 hours at a time...) you may find having a weekend on is not a bad thing.

I love the nursing schedule because I can shop during the uncrowded times, and I never have to fight for an MD appointment!!!

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For several years, I worked every other weekend (3 12's per week). Everyone else I knew had 9-5 M-F jobs, including my boyfriend. I missed more than my share of Friday night happy hours, camping weekends, etc.

The great thing was my amazing 9-5 friends. If there was a big party to be planned, they'd check to make sure I was off. If I was working anyway, I'd show up after work in my scrubs, and join everyone for as long as I could stay (I do remember one particularly 'messy' day in L&D when I called in my regrets to a fancy dinner party because I was drenched in amniotic fluid. "Come over anyway", says my friend. "I'll have the shower ready and a set of sweats, and you'll be just in time to sit down to dinner."). So I did- me in wet hair and no makeup, myfriends in dinner jackets and dresses. And I had the best time ever.

Even though it must have been a pain to schedule the brunches, parties, and outings around one person, my friends never once complained. But then again, I have the greatest friends ever. :cheers:

Now I'm on the 9-5 M-F schedule, working for a state health dept. (thanks mom, for insisting I get my BSN!). I pick up per diem hours at the hospital on occasion, so it's like having the best of both worlds.

Although, I do have to say, running errands, going to appointments, and housework was so much enjoyable when I had those leisurely Tuesday afternoons off!

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Specializes in ICU, Triage, Home Health, primary care FNP.

Exactly the kind of response I needed. Thanks for not chastising me for wanting regular schedule. Yeah, your friends seem great...and your social life as well. I'm inspired You made it sound possible. thanks!

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