Opinions on weekend only night shift position

NoviceRN10 · Jul 10, 2011

I would never do it with a hubby and kids to consider. I didn't like even working every other weekend!

cmgLPN09 · Jul 10, 2011

I worked nights on a internal medicine/telemetry unit full time and i have to say I loved it. I also have a family which consists of 12 y/o twins, a 4 y/o toddler, and a 10 wk newborn. Now while I was working, I was preggo and did get tired and have to leave at 8 months. Before that though, I have always been a night owl, so I knew I would work nights. I like the fact that during the night shift there is not much chaos from all the medical team and patient family running around the floor. I did sleep most the day when I got off, which does take away from family time, but when I was off I was enjoying those nice long days of spending time with my loved ones. My friend worked day shifts and still found it the same that she didn't have lots of time to share when working due to having too hit the bed as soon as you get home and waking up extremely early to head out. I also love the pay you make working nights. So I would take the night position especially being able to have the whole week off. JMO

diva rn, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2011

I am so jealous....this was my exact shift for several years by choice and I LOVED IT.

First I must state, I am and always have been a night owl, so nights was the logical shift for me...there is another current thread where I have posted all of pros and cons...if you can find it;)

Basically, I would walk out of the hospital on Mon morning around 8am and not even think about working until Fri night at 7pm...I never felt like I was working!:)

I would sleep while the kids were in school and be up when they got home, we had a normal weekly life..the weekends were different...however, since I was divorced and the kids stayed with their Dad, it was not abnormal for them at all....

If there was something that was so extremely special that I absolutely had to do on a weekend night...then I asked for time off and worked to make it up or took PTO..it rarely happened.

I Loved this schedule, loved it, loved it.....:D:D...and it was more $$$$$ for the shift differential and for the weekend differential.....tada!

itsmejuli · Jul 10, 2011

I worked every single weekend for a year. At first it was ok, but after awhile I really started missing my social life. And yes, getting someone to pick up a wknd shift is not the easiest.

ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2011

I did that schedule for a bout 9 months while my mom took chemo....I was never so glad to be off that shift in my life! (made good shift diff though!)

lorilvnb · Jul 10, 2011

Three overnight 12's in a row. on the weekend. Not that any day of the week would be any better. As much as i hate to admit it, i worked the night shift, i loved it and hated it at the same time, the most bothersome thing is the not sleeping, the exhaustion that sets in. You had better be sure it is something you can handle because three days of nights with no sleep can be harmful. personally i would not give up my day job! good luck in what ever you decide!!

diva rn, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2011

Just a note....the trick to any really successful night shift worker is to keep to the night schedule as close as you can even when not working. The exhaustion sets in when you try to flip back and forth. I always kept pretty close to those hours and never had a problem with sleeping or extreme fatigue. Also, make sure your bedroom is well equipped for daytime sleeping...blackout curtains, phone ringer off and voice mail on or however you get your messages, it really works.

Butterfliesnroses · Jul 11, 2011

I was working every Thurs, Fri, and Sat on nights. I was missing out on a lot of events that happen during the weekend! I work LTC and looked and I was the ONLY nurse that was scheduled EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND! So I asked for a weekend or 2 off a month and my boss has started giving me a weekend off a month. I feel much better knowing we can hit up the farmers market on a saturday or attend other such things. Most of the other nurses get every other weekend off. Except for me. The other two night shift nurses won't work weekends. Just another reason I want a day shift position! Then I won't be stuck working every weekend! LOL

bjtmict · Jul 13, 2011

I have been a night shift nurse for 10 of my 12 years and I love it! I am planning to start in the MSN program next year and have talked to my co-workers about working F-S-S nights every week so that I'll be free for classes and clinicals during the week. It will be 3 years, and if I want/need a weekend off I'll just take vacation. My kids are all grown and out of the house, my husband is a firefighter and works 24 hours every 3rd day, so weekends don't really hold that much importance for me most of the time. Good luck to you, and let us know how this works out for you. :nurse:

Jules A, MSN · Jul 13, 2011

I have also done this for years. Love working weekends and find it a pro that I don't have to attend baby showers and weddings! If it is something special I take a day off but other than that the money is great and the weekend is a different, more appealing to me, atmosphere than week days.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jul 13, 2011

I have done this for about 6 years and I like it alright, only I work two nights/weekend instead of three. It works - dh keeps the kid(s) while I'm working sleeping and I keep them while he works during the week. It stinks to miss church and some soccer games etc. but it's worth it to be able to pick up ds from school (dd is still a baby, so no school/social activities yet, thankfully). Hubby's job has rather flexible hours so it's not like he's gone M-F 9-5.

I like it pretty well, but I work with some girls who could never imagine this schedule so they work during the week. To each their own, I say.

BluegrassRN · Jul 13, 2011

I worked fri-sun nocs for several years. It was great for childcare and family life. I did it while my kids were young. Once they both were in mid elementary school, I switchednit up a bit.

At the time, social outings weren't as important as being able to avoid childcare and having one parent available at all times. I enjoyed it at the time.