RN work schedules, I'm confused

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2005

For those of you who are working as RN's what does it mean when they say that you work every other weekened. For example this girl told me that some RN's work like mon, tues, thurs and every other weekened, but she did not clarify. Does it mean that they will work, fri, sat, sun the following week? I'm confused.

Generally that there is not a "set" schedule, but that you will be expected to work some weekends - at least every other one. As to what you work during the week depends on your required hours and shift length (8 vs 12 hours).

This differentiates you from those who work only weekends/every weekend, those that work no weekends and those that may work every third or fourth weekend.

It would be best to ask your source for the specifics, as anything from us is speculation only.

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Jul 17, 2005

The 12 hour shifts I used to work (not in nursing) were:

Every Sun., Mon., Tue., every other Sat.

Maybe this is a similar situation.

I have to agree with the previous poster, though - checking into which ever agency you are considering personally will be the only real way to get a true answer.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2005

Essentially, you will have a set weekend- and the rest of your schedule will revolve around your set weekend. It's usually Saturday and Sunday, but some places consider night shift to be friday and saturday.

Example- in one week, you will work Sunday and two weekdays in that week, have the following weekend off, then work two weekdays in the next week, then work that saturday (then start all over again). How the weekdays are scheduled depends on you and your institution.

IMO it's not that bad- weekends are usually less busy (depending on where you work), the bigwigs and all the 'other' disciplines are not around. And you can plan your life indefinitely around your weekend (and hope you can switch w/ someone if you need a specific w/e off).

strenght1981 · Jul 18, 2005

thank you all for the replies

KimberRN1 · Jul 18, 2005

Where I work nurses work every other weekend....Sat. is the last day of the week and Sun. is the 1st day of the work week (in our work schedule)....If you work you're weekend then you've already worked one day that week with Sunday...Let's say you worked Sat and Sun....then wed and thurs...you're done until the following week....you could have 5 or 6 days off in a row every other week....

CashewLPN, LPN · Jul 22, 2005

my schedule for example, I work 12 hour shifts, with an every-other weekend...

I work Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Tues, Weds, Thurs, later, rinse repeat...

Seriously, though, I work an entire weekend, then the next weekend, I am off.

so on and so forth.

Nurse2B16 · Jul 23, 2005

hey guys to add to this discussion,

is there a lot of openings for 8 hour shifts in nursing (considering ill be a new grad)

Although i dont have a problem with 12 hour shifts, my husband certainly does and i am paranoid i wont be able to work.