Don't get me wrong - I expected weekend and holiday work when I became a nurse. At my current job, I work every other weekend, Fri/Sat/Sun. The 3 shifts in a row are hard enough, let alone them being my entire weekend every other one. I'm usually there between 13-14 hours (again, I know that's often the case with a nursing job).
I'm just wondering how often others have to work over the weekends? I just found out 2 of my friends that work in hospitals and only have to work 2 weekend days per month.
I like my job but the schedule is difficult. Just looking to see if this is the norm or not. Thanks
I'm curious as to why 3 in a row is so difficult, no judgment, as you get your entire week done at once and then have the rest of the week free.
Not even all younger nurses can do it. For health reasons or childcare reasons, I know several nurses in their 20s and 30s, including myself, that struggle with working frequent 3 day stretches of 12 hour shifts. I just do better when my days are split up more.
I totally understand! I work every other weekend 12 hour night shift F/S/S also. After 2 1/2 years, I am tired of it already. They seem so long and seems to come back around so fast.
We are every other weekend, same as OP. I hate it. But unless you're in a specialty unit or in school & need accommodation, that's the way it is at all 5 hospitals in the area. So we all just deal. The 3 12s in a row are tough on this old body, but I do it. Just hate missing my grandkids games & activities. One thing that helps me is to never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. My feet just aren't as tired at the end of the day when I rotate shoes. But we still work days through the week, too. That's not it for the week, unfortunately. Our weeks end Saturday at midnight.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
We are every other weekend, same as OP. I hate it. But unless you're in a specialty unit or in school & need accommodation, that's the way it is at all 5 hospitals in the area. So we all just deal. The 3 12s in a row are tough on this old body, but I do it. Just hate missing my grandkids games & activities. One thing that helps me is to never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. My feet just aren't as tired at the end of the day when I rotate shoes. But we still work days through the week, too. That's not it for the week, unfortunately. Our weeks end Saturday at midnight.
I'll second the idea of rotating shoes. It really does help -- your feet aren't as tired (or your back and legs) and it helps your shoes to last longer as well.
This is normal. This is how it's always been any place I have worked! Unless you have great staffing some places will do every 3rd weekend, but I believe most hospitals are every other. Welcome to nursing!
Every other weekend where I work. Charge nurses work one long weekend a month (Fri-Mon). I don't mind, actually. I love weekdays off when noone is around. I am all "human interacted out" after work. Love my alone time.
Julius Seizure
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Not even all younger nurses can do it. For health reasons or childcare reasons, I know several nurses in their 20s and 30s, including myself, that struggle with working frequent 3 day stretches of 12 hour shifts. I just do better when my days are split up more.