I am considering a career in nursing. My main concern is that the rotating schedule that nurses are usually on will be a draw back to my enjoyment of the job. Being centered...having much time with myself and friends and family is important to me. I am not married, but my boyfriend and I have lived together for 3 years.
We enjoy our time of relaxing, eating out on the weekends, etc.
For those of you that are in nursing and are in the same or a similar situation, how do you feel your life is impacted by your rotating schedule?
There are many police departments who still do the traditional old fashioned rotation. Best not to get stopped by one of those, as they still don't know if it is day or night. They are so cranky, they would write their mother's a ticket.
:chuckle
A little off topic, but as usual BarbPick, you put things in perspective plainly and clearly and with a sense of humor!
At the hospital I work at, scheduling varies by floor. Ideally, I would like to work 7a-7p 3 days per week and possibly pick up a 4th day for overtime.
On my floor, EVERYBODY works every other weekend. If you want 7a-7p, you do that 2 weeks, and then 7p-7a two weeks, which is why I don't do that......I am not interested in nights.
If you work 7-330, you have to work 3-1130 (switching off every two weeks).
OR, you can work straight nights.
Again, I'd much rather work straight days, evenings, or even better 7a-7p, but that is not an option. I love the floor I work on a lot, so that is the sacrafice I have made for now. It works great but I'm single..young... We will see what the future holds.
The hospital that I am at does not allow anyone to choose either straight nights or straight days. You have to work both. To avoid the daylight trigger, get yourself a really good room darkening shade and tape it down on the sides... don't let any light peak through. This works for me.
Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.
At my hospital, we also have to work every other weekend. As for getting to pick you schedule, they will usually work with you to try and get you what you want, but it is more like work in process and dosen't usually happen upon hiring. As for my unit, unless you were on call, there is no way you would start on days. There are some units in the hospital they would hire during the day. In my unit, the day positions are first offered to the night shift and it goes by senority. Nights is good because all of my shifts are bunched together. I work two on two off four on six off. Day scheduling could be one on one off two on....etc you get the pictures, the days arent as grouped (some might find that good...). Personally, I am one of those that also does not miss the 8-5 thing at all, if I can stay away from that I will :)
At the hospital I am at, there are a few units that still do the "traditional" shifts, but you have to wait for someone to die or quit to get a day shift position. We do have a 3a-3p position...but let me tell you...getting up at 130a is no piece of cake!
We have offer 12's on all the shifts we work, only a handful still do 8's. We don't offer a weekend program anymore, but we didn't have anymore weekends off than usual
Like third shift guy said....when you go into nursing, the hospital doesn't close down or lower census for anyone! It is a 24/7 job including weekends and holidays, so you might as well resign youself to that now. Or find a nice doctor's office to work in..at a much lower pay.
Altra, BSN, RN
6,255 Posts
:chuckle
A little off topic, but as usual BarbPick, you put things in perspective plainly and clearly and with a sense of humor!