No weekend jobs

RN1989 · Jan 24, 2008

It is highly unlikely that you will find a job as a newbie particularly, that does not require you to work weekends. Nursing is 24/7/365. The only times that I have seen a anyone get a job without weekends in a hospital is if the hospital has a large percentage of nurses on the Baylor plan. Then the other nurses have more weekday opportunities. Clinics, schools, etc don't always work on weekends but it is not advisable to take a position in one of these as a new grad if you value keeping your license.

sheluke · Jan 25, 2008

good chance it will be tough with no experience, but one possibility would be Dr office. Though some are open some weekends, it's often only rotation and a Saturday morning.

Another alternative if you can get a little experience under your belt first, is managed care/insurance companies.

good luck!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 27, 2008

I started working in a clinic right after I received my license in 2006. This happened because my facility offered to pay for our education to become nurses. I was under the assumption that I would be assigned to work on the floors since they paid for my education and had a leave of absence with 100% of my salary. I was astonished that I was told I would return to the same clinic I worked at as an aide. I do not work weekends or holidays. I am grateful to have gotten this position, because most nurses 'pay their dues' by working the floors as new grads. We did have 6 weeks of med-surg before we were assigned to our permanent positions, and I plan to work per diem on med-surg just to maintain my bedside skills. I don't EVER plan to leave the clinic.

But, it is hard to obtain 'banker hours' just fresh out of school.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2008

I haven't worked a weekend in well over a year. But I just lucked out, as the place I work has a weekend program, so they've got a group that work only the weekends.

You might want to check at places like that, that offer weekend programs. Other than that, I think it's pretty common to have to work nights and weekends as a new grad.

Mulan · Jan 27, 2008

Have you checked what's available? I have seen job listings on hospital websites for fulltime positions, no weekends.

yajaira · Feb 3, 2008

No weekends and new to the game? It wouldn't hurt to ask what the policy is at the facility you interview at. Someplaces is only 1 weekend shift a month...it usually depends on what they already have on staff.

I definitely wouldn't make it a deal breaker...trust me I know nurses who have worked every other weekend for years...you show up on their unit thinking you are too good for that? don't expect a warm welcome.

most clinics expect a nurse with at least a year experience so maybe suck it up for a year and keep your eyes open for opportunities.

another option is with HMO call centers...they usually want experienced nurses to but an interview is an interview and if you sell yourself right they might overlook it...

good luck

HealthyRN · Feb 3, 2008

If you want to be a floor nurse, you will have a tough time finding a position with no weekends. If you are willing to expand your horizons, you may be able to find something (clinic, home health, etc.). It's true that these type of positions usually require experience, but you never know unless you try. I lucked out on a position without weekends after 10 months as a floor nurse. It was working as a community educator for a home health agency. I believe my lack of experience was overlooked due to good interviewing skills and a BSN degree. I never felt that my lack of experience was a problem for me while in this position and I was never in danger of losing my license! That would have been more likely to happen under the atrocious conditions in the ER that I worked in for my first job. Good luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2008

The no-experience part might be a snag. You might have to work weekends with a preceptor fill time, if that is his/her schedule, during your orientation.

I work with three per diem nurses that do not do weekends. I don't do weekend either, but I'm an experienced charge nurse. This seems to work out because there are three mothers that can only work weekends.