How do Nurses handle the DEMANDING Work Hours?!?

SarasotaRN2b · Feb 18, 2008

Hi Gloria,

First, congratulations on your graduation! That is an achievement you should be very proud of.

Next, while it is true as a new employee you maybe lower on the totem pole and may have less choice about working holidays, that depends on where you work.

Finally, I would be very hesitant in accepting a position with that nurse manager. The way she (he?) came across is very antagonistic and offensive.

yes, you can have both a nursing career and a family...many have done it before, and many will do it again.

Kris

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Feb 18, 2008

Hello there, and congrats!!!!!

Well...she is right, and not beating around the bush...but sadly I guess she has not seen a patient in forever and forgot she was still dealing with human beings! My goodness, when I tell new grads this...at least I use humor and advice on how to survive the trials and tribulations of being new and the aire that you are the being the lowest part of the old nursing totem pole!

I can so handle every other weekend now, and as far as holidays are concerned, I learned to go around them by either celebrating ahead or after. It actually turned out kinda cool really...that was it was a nice family affair that was more memorable because it wasn't on the exact date! Also, you will learn quick on who is your friend or real loving family members are! (they will help you schedule it to simply have you there...those that don't care won't...which shows that your new found career doesn't hold the respect that you deserve...in healthcare, people don't choose what days to get sick, and nor do you!).

Good luck to you...and yep, you will be working holidays no doubt...and as far as mandatory overtime...well, I make sure I work in places that doesn't have that...so that is my answer there!

Huggles,

Triage

oramar · Feb 18, 2008

Hello,
I recently graduated from a BSN program and am going to start working in early April! At a recent interview the nurse manager told me in a rude way, "you are aware that as a nurse you must work every other weekend, and as a new grad you'll have none of the holidays off...you will also be expected to work mandatory overtime without question!" I was shocked by her tone, but upset at the information she was telling me.
I had been a full-time nursing student and full-time mother/wife for the past three years, and something inside of me at that moment wanted to scream at the nurse manager, "when can I finally have time for my family?". But, of course I just nodded and told her that I understood.
How do Nurses handle the demanding work hours? Will I end up being that mother that doesn't attend all the T-ball games, PTA, or any other Extracurricular activities my son will be invloved with because of work?! Will I always be missing on Christmas day when my family is celebrating and my son is joyfully opening his gifts? Will I miss once in a lifetime milestones?
It truly makes me sad, to even think that all this is my future as an RN. That, along with so many other reasons, is why I'm pursuing my passion to be part of the School System as a Counselor, Psychologist, or even Teacher...at least I'll have weekends, summer, and holidays off!

I know how you feel and I know what you mean, I never liked working weekends and Holidays. But that is not the same as being suprised or shocked by the fact that I have had to work them. I am suprised that you seemed shocked by the news. How do people go through several years of nursing training without guessing as much? Didn't you notice that the patients were in the hospital 24/7 and that staff had to be there with them? All bedside nursing involves loss of family time to some extent. The rules do vary from place to place. For instance, some facilities do take senority into account when assigning holidays and other go by last years schedule. So if you had Christmas off last year you will work it this year. There are some other things you should know. Some places go by unit senority for vacation time and you can forget about putting yourself in for vacation from June 1st through September 31st. It will take from 2 to 7 years of senority before you can request vacation time when your kids are home in the summer. My guess is the manager had to be so blunt because she keeps running into these shell shocked new grads. :uhoh21:

Altra, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2008

Time to take a deep breath ...

A couple of thoughts here:

1. The every other weekend thing is fairly standard in clinical health care for nurses, radiology & cardiology staff, dieticians and house/staff MDs. Some units do manage to work out staffing where everyone alternates every 3rd weekend -- depends on the type of unit. Working every other weekend also means that you're off the alternating weekends, and you know this in advance. Advance planning is your friend. Co-workers are often willing to switch weekends (again, in advance) for special events like weddings, etc.

2. Yes, you will likely work a variety of shifts and not standard business hours, but being off mid-week has its benefits too. You'll discover that shopping at 10 or 11am is often much more pleasurable. You can meet hubby or friends for lunch. Catching up on housework/yardwork is, for most people, less tedious in the daytime rather than trying to squeeze it into the remaining daylight hours after working 9-5. And while you may very well miss a teeball game on Tuesday at 6pm, being off the following day allows you to be the Homeroom Mom for the field trip. You get the idea: nothing short of being a SAHM will guarantee that you never, ever miss an event. But there's no reason to worry that you'll miss them all. (and by the way, I know a number of SAHMs who still don't see every event/function for all of their kids -- they & their spouses are too busy "tag-teaming" to do their best to make sure that at least one of them is present at each of the kids' various functions.)

3. Remember that there are plenty of holidays, and plenty of ways to celebrate them. Working on a holiday doesn't have to take the meaning out of it. My daughter has opened Christmas presents very early on Christmas morning before I went to work at 7am, and later in the day after I came home. She was perfectly content with both scenarios. The magic isn't lost unless you transmit the message that it's only a "good" holiday if you do things a certain way.

Life isn't perfect, not for you, me, a SAHM, or anyone else.

However ... I'm a little concerned about your manager's comments, and your response to them. How are holidays scheduled? If it's strictly by seniority then certainly as a new hire you're at the bottom of the list but even that should not automatically mean that you'll work every holiday. If she's telling you upfront that there is mandatory overtime, she's not kidding, and that indicates chronic staffing problems in that unit. How are holes in the schedule addressed? Is there a sign-up sheet listing open shifts? These are questions that you needed to ask.

I'm not going to chastise you for your non-response when she talked with you. But I do suggest you give some thought to "but of course I just nodded and told her that I understood." Assertiveness is a necessary skill whether you are a nurse, a teacher, or a CEO.

SDS_RN, RN · Feb 18, 2008

Where I work it's every 3rd weekend and holiday rotation. It just depends on the facility you work at. Some of our new grads recently hired were told upfront that they would be working everyother weekend and more if short staffed same for the holidays. This was just a temporary solution unil more nurses were hired, then the new grads would also be q 3rd w/e and holiday.

However, the nurse manager should have told you in a more tactful mannor. If she treated you that way I would strongly consider a different area in that facility w/ a diff manager or a different facility all together. Nursing is quite flexible and the people you work w/ will understand so they will trade shifts around if you have stuff to attend for your children. I work 12hr shifts so I work 3 days a week and have 4 off so I get plenty of time to spend w/ my family probably more than most people who work 9-5 jobs.

I find nocs work well for me . It allows me to take them to school in the am and pick them up after school get them fed, then off to work and they are at home asleep so I don't miss much. As for the holidays yes you will miss some x-mas's, thanksgivings, easters but your kids/family adapt to it and you learn to work around it.

Miss Mab · Feb 18, 2008

First of all, congrats on graduating and passing NCLEX!!

Second, and do please take this with a pound of salt if you need to, but between you and me, I think there's a lot of time between now and April and unless this was the ONLY unit I wanted or it's a particular dream position you desperately need, I'd be out there looking for a better fit.

Certainly new grads can't expect the world's perfect schedule or situation but if you really are in Chicago, I know there's better than this!

I've never worked anywhere with mandatory overtime so I don't know how I'd address if it came up, but if my 'not even yet' manager told me that it was expected and NO QUESTIONS ASKED---well, you're darn right I'd have a question and it would be......where's the door???

Good luck and congrats again...!

Haunted · Feb 18, 2008

What has nursing become? The Foreign Legion? How can anyone FORCE you to work mandatory overtime, which I assume means beyond the 12 hour shift??? Does this manager have any idea what it's like on a unit? Yikes. I wouldn't want to have her/him as a supervisor.

On another note to this poster, you are 22 years old. You have spent most of your late teens and early 20's either in school or having kids. You have accomplished a great deal at a very young age. What's the rush ? Why not work part time? How about working a few days a week with a registry? You do have a lot of options as a nurse, you only have 1 as a Mom. Doesn't sound like a difficult choice at all.....

allnurses Guide · Feb 18, 2008

Time to take a deep breath ...
However ... I'm a little concerned about your manager's comments, and your response to them. How are holidays scheduled? If it's strictly by seniority then certainly as a new hire you're at the bottom of the list but even that should not automatically mean that you'll work every holiday. If she's telling you upfront that there is mandatory overtime, she's not kidding, and that indicates chronic staffing problems in that unit. How are holes in the schedule addressed? Is there a sign-up sheet listing open shifts? These are questions that you needed to ask.
I'm not going to chastise you for your non-response when she talked with you. But I do suggest you give some thought to "but of course I just nodded and told her that I understood." Assertiveness is a necessary skill whether you are a nurse, a teacher, or a CEO.

:yeahthat:

I am VERY concerned about your response to the manager's comments regarding especially mandatory overtime.

Assertiveness is needed here and I do understand that it is hard to learn. I was very timid - so much so that I froze when confronted with sexual assault by a boss when I was your age - but that is another story.

You should never ever take a job where someone MANDATES overtime. The other posters are right - this shows a staffing problem, which should not be solved by mandating dangerous overtime. The managers tone is completely disrespectful. You are a professional nurse now and should not take that kind of condescension.

I would be looking for another job. Truly.

I wish you the best and please don't let anyone take advantage of your youth or inexperience. This will happen in any field, by the way. I worked for a paving company when I was treated badly. :icon_roll

Congratulations on becoming a professional nurse!!

steph

leslie :-D · Feb 18, 2008

whether the nm's demeanor was friendly or snotty, i would run from mandated ot.

my (other) main concern is the nm's tone with you.

is she like this with everybody?

if so, how approachable would she be when you or others are in trouble?

she doesn't sound like someone who one could go to in time of need.

yes, nurse's hrs are crazy and undesirable in many ways.

but it's definitely doable.

and of course, you always have the option of saying 'no thank you'.

if able, try to be selective in where you work.

working some we's and holidays, is the norm.

mandated ot, is a big, red flag.

and above everything else, you are worthy of respect.

do not let anyone bully you.

you have much to offer in the workplace.

it's important that you project that during any given interview.

best of everything.

leslie

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 19, 2008

Every other WE is OK, working every holiday is not OK, but I wouldn't expect to get my first choice of holidays until I had some seniority. I would tell anyone that expected mandatory OT to bite me, hard. In real emergencies you will have more nurses than you can use volunteering to come in. If it's just chronic bad staffing, that's when the mandating happens.

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 19, 2008

What we would consider demanding work hours, the interns and residents would call "part-time".

I detect a bit of frustration on your manager's part about staff expectations for schedule. It sounded like she wanted there to be no misunderstandings about what is expected.

The "mandatory overtime" raised a red flag for me. What the manager (rather gracelessly) laid out is standard for hospital nursing. The mandatory overtime however, is not standard. Often it points to a serious problem. Why is there mandatory overtime? Staff exodus? New beds opened?

If you have not accepted the job, keep your options open.