question for young nurses

LegzRN · Jan 22, 2011

22 here... been an RN since I was 19.

First year I worked ED full time (3 12's/week, nights) and went to school for my BSN full time. That left really only two days off and those were usually random week days. I spent most of my free time then just recuperating from the previous week and recharging for the next.

Second year I continued full time ED, which left four days off. What I learned during that time was that if you want to go out, it might not be during the typical Friday and Saturday, so I learned to be okay with bar nights during the week. We would even go out some days right after night shift at this divey bar that was open 24/7.

Right now I'm working per diem at a different ER (regional trauma center) and going to grad school full time. School is 2 nights a week and I work 48 hours a month. I'm still in shock from how much free time I have.

AngieL · Jan 22, 2011

I'm 28. I've been a nurse for 5 years. When I worked 3- 12 hour shifts in the hospital I found it difficult to make weeknight commitments to things I wanted to do, like play on a volleyball team or attend a weekly fitness class. In the hospital I also had to work everyother weekend and holiday. If you can be creative with your schedule it IS possible to have an amazing amount of time to do the things you want to do. Unfortunetly I didn't have too much input in my schedule at the hospital.

Now I work technically 8-5 M-F with weekend and on call responsibilities once per month. I'm in home health. The paperwork and care coordination has exploded the hours I spend working to 50+ most weeks. I still have a life and can do the things I want to do, but I'm always worried about when I'll be able to get my paperwork finished. I'd love a M-F job where I could clock out and be finished! Hope this helps!

Blackheartednurse · Jan 22, 2011

30 years old, I'm doing home health care and BSN program,plenty of time.

LongislandRN23 · Jan 23, 2011

I am 22 and work 4 10 hour shifts at an outpatient Dialysis center on Long Island. In LPN school I barley had a social life although I did go on 2 one week vacations that year. I am not married and have no kids, and barley had a social life in nursing school, but I did graduate Salutatorian from my school which is a University. So my hard work did pay off. I have plenty of time to go out a socialize now that I work and not am in school.

rdsxfnrn · Jan 23, 2011

I am 46, school nurse M-F, 8-4. All holidays off, w/e's off, summers off..... Plenty of free time :)

RNMeg · Jan 23, 2011

I'm 26 years old, RN, BSN, and I work in ICU stepdown/telemetry 36 hours per week. I work nights, so while I technically have 4 nights off per week, the first night off is spent getting back on a day schedule, and the first day back is spent sleeping. I do still feel like I have enough time off, in fact, I picked up an extra shift last week and still feel ready to go back to work on Sunday night.

JulVaccRN, BSN · Jan 23, 2011

I'm 22 years old, RN-BS, work on a surgical-vascular unit, and work 160 hours/month. (not always 40hrs/weeks, sometimes more, sometimes less) I work a rotating schedule-days, eves, nights-and still have plenty of time to hang out with my friends. Some weeks are tough, some are great, it all evens out!

whyspir · Jan 23, 2011

Im 28, I work in the ER, I do night shift. My life somewhat revolves around work, but thats mostly because I like it that way right now. I have time to hang out with friends and do other things, including play video games...and warcraft...::cough::. The only drawback is that working nights makes it difficult to interact with anyone who does not also work night shift. Its possible to flip your sleep schedule around, but I always end up feeling like a zombie when I do that.

Jane Doe, RN · Jan 23, 2011

I am 21 years old and work FT nights in a rural hospital. Been a nurse for 18 months. I have a wonderful 2 mo old daughter. I am also taking classes PT so I can one day be DONE with school :) I stay busy with family and friends. However, my social life is a quiet one...by choice. I really enjoy staying home most of the time. When I do go out most of my friends are nurses. So they understand my humor:jester: I would say that my life is family first then work.

K+MgSO4, BSN · Jan 23, 2011

I am 25 (for another week!) been nursing for 6 years. I work full time in Australia which is 8hr shifts so 5 days a week. we rotate between AMs PMs and nights. Usually a month of days then 2 weeks of nights(4 nights a week 10 hr shifts).

I just have to discipline myself to get up early when I am working a PM so that I do things (I love sleeping!) But yeah I get to the gym 3-4 times a week, the pool at least once. Over to a friends house for dinner once a week, have a friend over for dinner to mine once a week. Out for a few drinks. do stuff in the city or go an explore the state of Victoria.

We get 6 weeks annual leave a year. Most of mine goes on my trip back to Ireland but I do have a few days up my sleeve. A group of nurse friends are thinking of enjoying summer and going to a water theme park or a trip to Tasmania for a few days, but co-ordinating 4 different nurses schedules is hell as 2 of us are senior RNs!

Yeah i'm single and child free!

LadyTiger44 · Jan 23, 2011

I am 26 and been a nurse for 2.5yrs. I am doing traveling right now and working nights on a med surg floor. I do have plenty of free time, I have just had to get adjusted to nights.