RN's working overtime

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2009

I am a RN in the Pittsburgh area. I always work about 44 to 48 hours per week and a little extra during the holiday season. I will probably clear about $56,000 this year.

meadow85 · Dec 13, 2009

Well I can only speak from experience plus I love in Canada so I don't know if this is much help. At my old job we worked four 12 hr shifts then had 5 days off. At my current job we work three 12 hr shifts then 2 off. You get OT if you work more than 75 hours or if you work 3 weekends in a row. I think it depends on the organization and union. $70K + is ambitious .... I need to move there - hehe!

suanna · Dec 13, 2009

Shallow heck- I work as an RN for $$$- not the fulfilling job satisfaction. No money- no me. For most of my career I have been able to pick up a shift or two a mos whenever I want to. My hospital pays time-and-a-half for any time ove 40hrs/wk. That means the first four hrs are straight time but any subsequent hrs are OT. I sure it varies greatly hospital to hospital, and even within a hospital depending on the quatrerly budget numbers. At the tightest I had to look to units and shifts other than my own to pick up time, but it is almost always there if you want it. I knew one nurse who made in excess of $130,000 as a staff nurse. He picked up 16 hr shifts EVERY DAY. His record was 132hrs of overtime in one 2wk pay period. (that would be a total of 212hrs in 2 weeks- almost constant, back to back 16hr shifts). I've not been quite that motivated but if you are flexible, there is money to be made.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Dec 13, 2009

I'm in Missouri,...I am scheduled 3 12hr shifts in ER. I usually only pick up one extra shift a week or it bumps me up a tax bracket and I don't see the extra in my paycheck. I'm not allowed to be on the clock more than 16hrs and must be off 8hrs before I clock back in. I've been with the same hospital for almost 14yrs and $70K is unheard of unless you pick up shifts as a traveler. BUT,.....you must take into consideration the cost of living,..I just purchased a brand new,.4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3200sq ft home on an acre lot for $195,000,...can't do that everywhere!

MERRYWIDOW46 · Dec 13, 2009

My state, Maryland, you are only permitted to work 16 hours in a 24 hour period and no more than 60 hours or 5

MERRYWIDOW46 · Dec 13, 2009

Sorry, my puter is acting up.

Maryland only allows nurses to work 16 hours in a 24 hour period and must be off 8 full hours before working again. No more than 60 hours, or 5 twelves in one seven day period.

Patient and employee safety is the reasoning. However, no one notices when rest breaks, lunches, and personal hygeine breaks are not taken.

MERRYWIDOW46 · Dec 13, 2009

My last position I BARELY made 70K for 36 hours a week with 30 years experience. My current position I am making about 80k for 36 hours a week and have 33.5 years expreience. 70K for a new nurse is ALOT of OT. For someone in the Military I am sure the hours are not a problem. However, you mention wife and children. Not much time for what I call "WORK/LIFE BAANCE". New nurses here make about $24/hour, which is just under 45k for 36 hours a week, 48 hours a week is just under 60k. For a brand new nurse there is alot to learn, especially in critical care, ER, and OR, which are specialties that attract alot of male nurses. MORE than 48 hours doesn't leave time for the learning curve (you will need to study things on your own time). I still study and take classes with almost 34 years on the job.

Salaries vary state to state and region to region in states. Depends on cost of living in the area also.

Good Luck.

OrthoRN09 · Dec 13, 2009

I work 3 12's a week in a hospital. Have picked up overtime a couple times, but I have noticed that the more I pick up, the less I see it on my check. So it's really not worth it to pick up more than 1 OT shift per pay period. I will clear about $56K this year in MN. And this is my first year as a RN.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 13, 2009

I work regular part time (48 hours/pay period) and almost ALWAYS pick up extra shifts.

The problem is, I get canceled a lot. But there are shifts to be picked up on units other than my own.

OP-

also ,thank you for your service to this fine country! :up:

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2009

You don't mention where you live, making 70K + is doable, depending on where you live, but then take in to account cost of living. I've made 76k so far this year (one pay period left) and this is my second year of nursing. Last year I made about 65k. I got raises because of a union contract change and going from RN I to RN II payscale. Anyway, I live in southern CA and cost of living is very high here, so it really evens out. Also, I don't work a lot of overtime, 36hrs/wk of straight time, a few hrs of double time a week (from missed breaks and staying late). Anything over 12 hours is double time, if you pick up an extra shift, it is straight time for the first 4, then time and a half. With our short staff right now, there is plenty of OT to go around. However, I'd be careful about doing too much; enjoy your time with your wife, don't get greedy and don't burn yourself out!! Its really easy to make 12-24 hr of OT a week when compared to a lot of other jobs, but that doesn't mean you should do it!!

sunnycalifRN · Dec 13, 2009

A suggestion for you. As a vet, you have hiring preference at the VA hospital systems. I work at a VA and it's a great place to work. The pay is . . . . okay. I believe that since the VA is federal gov't . . . they are not allowed to pay the highest by regulation . . . so their pay is sort of middle of the road. The base pay for new hire is around $41K with adjustments for where you work (locality pay). The locality pay adjustment in San Francisco area is 34% because of the unreal cost of housing.

But, an added benefit . . . your prior military service counts toward retirement.

As to your original question . . . right now the VA system in my area is absolutely full . . . a lot of unemployed vets are using their VA health benefits after losing their prior health insurance . . . so there's OT available. It's paid as time and a half, for over 80 hrs per two week pay period or for over 12 hrs in a day.

Best of luck and thank you for your service.