a nurses work schedule???

Gompers, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2005

i heard that nurses usually will work a week and get off a week, or work double shifts everytime they work that way they actually have days off. i was curious is this true. can someone please let me know what a nurses work schedule can be like...thanks alot!

I don't know who you've been talking to!!!

Most nurses who work full-time work 36-40 hours per week. Some work 3 12-hour shifts a week, some do 2 8-hour and 2 12-hour shifts, and others work 5 8-hour shifts. You'll find so much variation, it's impossible to tell you what a "normal" nurse's schedule is like. Now, there are some nurses who choose to work 7 days in a row, and be off for 7 days - but that's almost always a CHOICE they've made, not something enforced on them.

If you work in a doctor's office or clinic, the hours are pretty "normal" - usually Monday-Friday, morning until early evening, and sometimes Saturdays as well. But if you work in a hospital or nursing home, it's a 24/7 job. Nurses work day, evening, and night shifts. Shifts can be anywhere from 4-16 hours.

This probably hasn't been too helpful, but I just wanted to let you know that whoever you talked to doesn't have a typical nurses' schedule. You can pretty much find any kind of a schedule you could ever want in nursing.

suzanne4, RN · Oct 10, 2005

Yes, you can work a seven day on/ seven day off schedule but only with 12 hour shifts. And if it works out on your specific unit. I work with several nurses that do this, and have done it like this for years. But again, it depends if you can do self scheduling where you are, etc.

As stated above, it depends on what the nurse chooses to work first of all. Almost anything can be done..............if you want it.

neneRN, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2005

Alot of hospitals have weekender positions too. Where I'm at, positions are posted for specific shifts; I do weekdays, which means three 12 hour shifts 7a.m. to 7p.m. only M-F. You can also be hired for weeknights; three 7p.m. to 7a.m. shifts. The weekenders only work two days a week, but are given a weekender differential so that it comes out that they make the same as a nurse working the full three shifts, these guys either work Sat and Sun during the day only OR Sat and Sun nights only.

mstigerlily · Oct 11, 2005

i heard that nurses usually will work a week and get off a week, or work double shifts everytime they work that way they actually have days off. i was curious is this true. can someone please let me know what a nurses work schedule can be like...thanks alot!

It depends, some hospitals do 8 hr shifts, 10 hr shifts, 12 hr shifts or combinations of the above. There is LTC, doctor's offices, home health, hospital, outpatient surgery, school nurses, public health nurses, the list is endless. Their schedules can be more 9-5.

We do 12 hr shifts. Full time is 6 shifts every 2 weeks. Part time is anything less than that. I do full time, I like to work 2 12s then have 3 days off but I occasionally vary this with 2 12s, 2 days off, 2 12s, 4 days off or a random 1 day on, 1-3 days off thing. I work nights only but there are a few nurses who work rotating day/night schedules or for a brave few, even days and nights within the same pay week.

Conceivably you could work 3 days in a row the first three days of a pay period (Sun, Mon, Tues) then have 8 days off, then work the last three days of the same period (the following Thurs, Fri, Sat). Some people do this instead of taking vacation days, they just schedule themselves the time off.

Flexibility is one of the things I really love about being a nurse.

Melissa

MsDrea03 · Oct 11, 2005

ok i kinda see...lol...guess its a lil hard to experience when im not a nurse eh??? i see that being a nurse has flexibilty as far as schedule wise. i need the flexibility in my work schedule and days off...i get scared sometimes because i hear that nurses sometimes are pretty much at work all the time and barely have time off.. i want to pursue a career where i can still be a present parent and things of such..thanks everyone for the input!!!

suzanne4, RN · Oct 11, 2005

You can chosse to work as many hours as you want. Sure, there are nurses that work all fo the time, or so it seems, so that they get extra money for something or want more time off in a row.