Looking forward to new job and schedule

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Any other NPs out there sick of an 8-5 Mon-Fri schedule???? Well, I'm finally escaping from it. I have been an NP since 2000. It was a very worthwhile and rewarding career move. I have love everything about being an NP except the schedule. I absolutely detest working a Monday-Friday 8:30 to 5 schedule. 5 days a week is terrible. I have always so much missed the 12 hour night shifts I used to work in the hospital. I loathe having to worry about what I'm going to wear and miss throwing on a pair of scrubs. I worked my first NP job for 8 years doing a combination of hospital rounds and office work. My current job is all office work and it is not for me. I have found out that I prefer to work in the hospital environment with acutely ill patients. So I have been looking for a job and I found one that meet all the criteria I have been looking for. I get to work in the hospital with a group of hospitalists, get to work night shift (12 hour shifts)- I chose to work 5 day on and have 5 days off, get to wear scrubs. I am so excited about this change. I have been looking for a long time and had even thought of quitting being an NP and going back to being an RN at times so I could get off this 8-5 day shift schedule. Also the pay is better than my last 2 jobs. I'm so happy!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Congrats. I too hate the 7 to 5 and the endless phone calls! However, I love my very little part time ER job where I get to wear scrubs and come in on time and leave (usually) on time.

I know exactly what you are saying and yes, I love wearing scrubs too.

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i know exactly too, but there are a lot of people that like the 8-5 or 7-4 because of getting kids from school, or cooking meals for family. i worked the past 3 yrs as RN 2-12's and 1-8hr and LOVED it, now i didn't like having to work every other weekend.

I"m trying travel nursing and a BIG reason i wanted to take this job was the schedule, 3 nights one week, 4 the next, 10 hour shifts, so 70hrs/pay period. i'm just starting now tom. is 3rd day, orientation, don't start nights til jan 22, so these day shifts wear on you..

I can wear scrubs too, i'm waiting til on night shift though, so i look nice. i like the fact i can do either/or.

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Specializes in NICU/PICU.

Is it really that bad? Im looking to go back to school, and you make NP sound like a chore? Ive been used to 3 12s a week... is it hard to transition to m-f?

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Eh, there are pros and cons of both schedules. Personally I love having all holidays off and working at a place where we can be closed (unlike the hospital). The other pro is having a schedule that matches most other working professionals, so we can socialize a lot more easily than when I was doing 12's. Although I have an office job I wear scrubs (+ lab coat) at least once a week. That is one perk of nursing I am NOT giving up! So, choose your own adventure. The best part of this career is that we have options. I love being an NP!

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Is it really that bad? Im looking to go back to school, and you make NP sound like a chore? Ive been used to 3 12s a week... is it hard to transition to m-f?

Sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like a chore at all. I love the NP role but I cannot stand the schedule. It is a totally different lifestyle working 5 days a week compared to 3. There is alot less time it seems. Plus dealing with rush hour traffic. It is just not for me. I would highly encourage you to go back to school to be an NP.

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