How much free time do you generally have as an RN?

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2011

I work 12 hour shifts, generally 10 to 13 days per month, and my pay is great. I have lots of free time.

Zookeeper3 · Feb 21, 2011

I worked sun, mon and tuesday.... 12 hr. shifts... then sun, mon tuesday.... that was the bomb. Don't ask what I'm doing now... but I need some time with husband each night... argh... but good.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2011

I work 12 hours on a set schedule. I also work only .8 so i work 5 days every two weeks. Every two weeks i get 7 days off in a row...... its awesome and if i want to have a little longer break i can use 24 hours of vacation and get 11 days off in a row... :)

Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2011

I work 3 12hr nites, sun mon tues. I scuba dive, I run races, I camp, I see my friends. I see those 3 days of work as a small inconvenience for the other 4 days of freedom. ~Ivanna

wannabenurrssee · Feb 21, 2011

i would say it is possible once you are a RN but getting there you wont be able to. nursing school is very time consuming...and depending on the amount of school you have completed the shortest time will be 3 years.. but it is defiantly a good life to look forward too!

ItsTheDude · Feb 21, 2011

you can have lots of time if u want to. i generally only work 12 hours shifts 3 days a week, so the other 4 days a week are all mine. however, after a while of working only 3 days does get boring at times, that's why i and many nurses i know have 2nd or 3rd jobs also.

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2011

Working 3-12hour shifts sounds easy enought....but it is HARD work. I plan for one of my days off to rest and recoup (I work a very busy med/surg floor). My whole body hurts after my 3 days.

I say we work hard and play harder.

Example:

I wake up at 5am to get to work by 6:30- then I work until 7:20-7:40pm (depends on my shift) and I come home by 8pm. I get one hour of time with my baby (I go to bed by 10pm- he goes to bed by 9pm) and I do it over and over again.

Then I get 4 days off. Not too bad but I cannot do anything on my 3 day shifts, no md appnts, no lunches with friends, no shopping, nothing.

I feel relatively healthy.

pajoopie1 · Feb 22, 2011

You will have NO free time at work but TONS of free time on days off. When you get hired, try to get a contract that is consistent, like, "only weekend nights" Otherwise ur schedule may change so much you won't be able to plan things... If you are a "day-night rotator" you may have a sched of Monday, Wed, Friday day week 1.

then week 2 could be Tues, Wed, Sunday night...

talk to employers up front about what you want your sched to be but know that it may take 2 years for you have the seniority to shape your schedule.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2011

I totally agree with you rkitty! I generally only want 3 days per week max. 12 hour shifts is actually 13. I'm in charge on my shift in LTC which means no real break either, and I work nights. So I need 4 days off a week to get errands done and relax. 11 shifts a month is all I need. Life is more than just work, although I am enjoying my work.

I don't think people that only work 8 hrs realize how tiring 12 hour shifts can be.

amk8987 · Feb 22, 2011

Thanks for all of your input, everyone! All of your responses made me feel better about choosing registered nursing as a career. I looked into the travel nursing, that would be really interesting! I'm just having a hard time trying to decide what I really want to do; scared of making the wrong decision!

Nurserton · Feb 22, 2011

MOST nurses in a hospital work 3 12-hour shifts per week, either 7a-7p or 7p-7a. You can pretty much work your 3 days and do whatever you want with the other four. You can do your 3 days in the beginning of one week and the end of the next so you have a week off in between, and never even have to take a vacation day.

So, yes, as an RN, you have lots of free time if you're on a 3 day workweek.