How many hours per week do you work?

[spicychickensandwich]

I've been considering being a nurse AND something else. Not because because I'm an overachiever, but because I'm the type of person who gets bored easily. If I had to work as a nurse (or any other job) all the time, I'm pretty sure I'd consider a career change within five years.

The other job I'm considering is going to be from Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm. To be honest I think I like doing this better than being a nurse, but face it: it's not going to make me enough money.

In keeping with my rambling mode, there are several things I have on my mind:

- How many hours per week does a nurse typically work?

- How many hours per week does a nurse typically need to work to be able to pay rent and stuff?

- Is it possible to hold two jobs at the same time without killing myself?

That's all for now. Input is appreciated.

[RN1982]

Lets see..I normally work 36 hours but pick up an extra OT shift a week so forty eight. If I need money and am feeling ambitious I've worked 60 hours before. Now that I think about it I work 60 hours next week.

[ilstu99]

I work 36h/week at my FT RN position. I also work part-time for my kids' school district and pick-up extra shifts when I feel like I'd like some extra cash.

Most people I know work 36.

How much you need depends on your expenses. I've lived where my monthly expenses topped $5K, and where they were under $2K.

New grads seem to earn between $20-$25 per hour, on average. It varies by facility, geography and the like.

Is it possible? Sure.

The real task is to find a job...ANY job that you love doing so much that it outweighs the potential boredom. That's one of the reasons I picked critical care. It's on the go...24/7. Really, if I can't find something to do during the few quiet times....the problem is with me, not the job.

[icyounurse, BSN, RN]

You could definitely work nursing and another job as there are a variety of jobs and hours to work as a nurse. Most of us work 12 hour shifts, 3 a week, and every other weekend either 7a-7p or 7p-a. There are M-F jobs too and those are generally 8 hour shifts 7-3, 3-11 or 11-7.

But I gotta tell you, if your passion lies somewhere else and you just want to do nursing to pay the bills, I strongly advise against it. Nursing school is hell and the profession should not be entered into lightly, it is not fair to the vulnerable people you care for. Believe me there are MUCH easier ways to just pay your bills.

[Xbox Live Addict]

I used to work 50 hours a week regularly, in LTC. I wouldn't do it anymore after awhile though, because I felt like a monk, and was physically tired and hurting too, so I limited myself to 40 hours. If they wanted me to stay over to cover nights, I would extract a firm promise to them to cover my 3-11 the next day before I would agree to it. I didn't love the work enough to want to devote my every waking hour to it (or at all, really); I had, and have, needs that are away from work. I'm not allowed, at my present job, to work more than 40 except during very high-volume periods; management is very strict on no overtime, and this isn't a 24/7 business like inpatient nursing.

Depending on what your financial needs are, nursing skills will pay the bills for the most part on a standard 40-hour week. I would probably not be saying this if I were a single parent with no outside support though.

Can you hold two jobs in nursing? Absolutely. BUT - Is it worth it to YOU? Nursing is not the entire objective to my life. I work to pay my bills and use what I have left, if I have it, to do fun things entirely unrelated to work. I will be more than happy to retire someday, and never look back. Like I said, I can't speak for the single mom who is the entire means of support for her two kids and would love to have a life outside of work, but that's just me.

[nursemary9, BSN, RN]

For 10 years I worked full-times nites at a hospital----------8 hr shifts; 40 hrs/wk. During this 10 yrs I also worked 3/4 time in Home Health during the days. Even tho I was part-time, I usually made more visits then the full-time nurses.

I no longer do this, because I'm getting too old for it--however, if it was a less physically taxing job, I could still work days at something part-time--even tho I still work those full-time nites at the hospital.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I work 4 to 12 hours a week per diem. The rest of the time I eat bon-bons, and look after my young children.

There are not many nursing jobs with hours that would easily acommodate a 3-6pm job. A new grad has fewer choices about hours and flexibility and most hospital jobs are 7-7.

[iwanna]

If you think that you will be bored with nursing and want to do it because it pays good, then please don't. Nursing is a career that if you don't have your heart into it, then why bother. You should check with a career counselor and find your passion. There are careers that pay good and are not boring. It sounds as if your goal is to find something that pays well and there is nothing wrong with that. However, please don't get into a job that will affect others if your heart is not really into it.

[Thankful RN,BSN]

I work 36 hrs per week normally. However, since the holidays are around the corner i will be working 48 hrs per week until the new year.

[Atheos]

I work M-F 7-3:30pm and Sa+Su 7am-11:30pm and go to school in the evenings.

It all depends on my mood. I don't need the extra money but getting extra checks is nice and my weekends are PRN. So I can stop anytime I feel like it.

Sometimes it is all about the money. I like nursing. I love money. Nursing gets me money. Done deal.

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

Now 37.5 per week, which means three weeks of 3 x12 hr shifts and one week 4x 12 hr shifts per month. Counted as full time.

[Quaffetti]

I work 3 eight hour shifts per week which is 24 hours per week. Our hospital gives benefits to anyone with 20 hours a week or more.