Nights and weekends as neede

loriangel14, RN · Mar 30, 2013

That is completely normal where I work. there are some straight day lines but most are days/eves or day/night lines.Everyone one works their share of weekends.We also have both 8 and 12 hour shifts. I work part time and I will sometimes work all three shifts in the space of a week.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2013

Rotating shifts are EXTREMELY common in my neck of the woods. The vast majority of hospitals around here have their nurses on a rotating schedule. Straight days is rare- only a handful of people were allowed to do that when I worked in the hospital and they had all been around for 10+ years.

Rotating shifts is horrible. Ideally when I worked in the hospital, we were supposed to be 3 weeks of days and 3 weeks of nights every six weeks but it rarely worked out like that. You could very easily work Fri, Sat, Sun nights and then be expected to be back at work on Tuesday morning and then be back on nights on Thursdays. Or you could be on Sunday night, Tues/Wed evening and Friday day.

julz68 · Mar 31, 2013

I think being a rotator would be awful! Very hard on your body and your circadian rhythm. Where I work, there are very few rotating positions and their schedule is 6 weeks days, 6weeks nights, which would be easier to adjust to. I work straight nights and love it! Wouldn't have it any other way :)

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Mar 31, 2013

At my hospital, I'm with the float pool which meals I set my own hours whether the hours are 8 or 12, days or nights.....along as I work three weekend and 3 weekday shifts per 8 weeks. So I work every Thursday and Friday night and those two days have me exceeding my requirements....anything else is extra for me! But the pay for those two nights/week exceeds the fulltime position I left 6 months ago. Definitely works for me! It's like having a vacation every week!!!

PediLove2147, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2013

I work a rotating schedule, days/nights. In one six week period though we usually only have to work one week of nights. I actually don't mind it. I prefer days but the nights I work are usually low key and it's a nice break. Not great on the body though. I don't think my floor hires for straight days although I think straight nights is something they are looking for.

SleeepyRN · Mar 31, 2013

I think being a rotator would be awful! Very hard on your body and your circadian rhythm. Where I work, there are very few rotating positions and their schedule is 6 weeks days, 6weeks nights, which would be easier to adjust to. I work straight nights and love it! Wouldn't have it any other way :)

Exactly! What is the rationale for places doing this? I have first hand experience with a seriously screwed up circadian rhythm. I cannot imagine rotating shifts. Absolutely unimaginable for my preexisting sleeping problems.

SnowboardRN · Mar 31, 2013

I work only days at my hospital, with a weekend shift twice a month. I'm never required to do an evening or night shift.

missladyrn · Mar 31, 2013

I did it for 6 months. I had 3 car accidents including rear ending a cruiser. The police officer gave me a field sobriety test. Then I quit. Some people had been doing it for years, I could not handle it I turned into a zombie.

loriangel14, RN · Mar 31, 2013

I an surprised at these responses.Where I am most positions are more than one shift. I recently didn't apply for a position that was straight days.I would be bored to death. I like working different shifts.Yes it is hard on my already bad sleeping but I adjust.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2013

That is completely normal where I work. there are some straight day lines but most are days/eves or day/night lines.Everyone one works their share of weekends.We also have both 8 and 12 hour shifts. I work part time and I will sometimes work all three shifts in the space of a week.

Same. At the hospital I currently work at, all shifts are subject to rotation as needed EXCEPT night shift. This is why I started working nights there (which I turned out to love).

I hate rotating- nothing is harder on my brain and body than a rotating shift.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2013

A hospital in my area has recently been posting day shift positions that require evening and night shifts as needed. I've spoken to nurses who have taken these positions and they are already looking for other jobs because switching shifts is hard on them. I've seen hospitals that have rotating shifts but also have some positions that are strictly days. This hospital has said that all new day shift positions will require other shifts as needed. Is this a new trend? I hope it isn't.

NO...this has been the norm for years at most facilities and I have been a nurse for 34 years. Straight Night shift is the only shift not rotated unless requested.

I am actually a strong believer that the other shifts need to experience the other shifts because if we walk in each others shoes...it leads to new understanding.