Three Questions - New Grads, Please Read

EmmaG, RN · Aug 16, 2007

You didn't specify what field you're asking about, but I'm going to assume you mean working in a hospital setting.

It varies from hospital to hospital. Most I know of expect you to work every other weekend (or 2 of 4 per schedule). Some have weekend positions that allow the other staff to only work one weekend a month. It's all laid out for you when you're hired, along with what shifts you are expected to work.

At my hospital, all staff except for administrative were expected to work every other weekend. We also had a relatively new position open up for a day charge that was Monday through Friday. I chose to work every weekend (12 hours on Fri/Sat/Sun) and have the week off. We were required to be scheduled to work one 'summer' holiday (Memorial Day, July 4th or Labor Day). For Thanksgiving and Christmas, we alternated. For example, if you worked Thanksgiving day, you had Christmas day off. We were required to be scheduled to work either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Again, that alternated every year. If you worked Christmas day one year, you got it off the following year. We were also forbidden (except in extreme circumstances handled on a case-by-case basis) to take any vacation from mid-December until the first of the year.

Now all that being said...

It wasn't too difficult to switch around. When my kids got older, I'd volunteer to work Christmas Eve for those who had little ones at home (I worked nights). After the kids moved out on their own, I'd work both days, in return for a stretch off either before or after. It never matter so much to me when my family got together for holidays, and I'd much rather have several days off in a row than have to work a night on, a night off, and back again. We were allowed to switch shifts, provided the same level of care was left to cover the floor (for example, I had to make sure that whoever I switched with could do charge and administer chemo)

You need to keep in mind that hospital nursing, at least, is a 24/7 business. The priority is providing safe patient care. Most managers do what they can to accommodate staff requests in scheduling, however they can and will place staff where they are needed. This is not to say you should expect to be jerked around in your schedule; but if you think you're going to go into (hospital) nursing and not have to work weekends and holidays, you're in for a big shock. Unless you have it explicitly in writing in your employment contract, you WILL work these less-than-desirable shifts.

I'd also advise you not to go into this with the attitude you shouldn't have to work these shifts. Other staff can be pretty brutal to those who they feel believe they're privileged (not to say you feel this way... but it could be perceived as such by your co-workers if you make a stink over what everyone else is expected to do).

As far as vacations go, it was first-come, first-serve, so to speak. You signed up for time requested off, and there were rules as to how many staff could be off during the same time. We earned PTO--- paid time off. It started at 28 days a year, but was earned by the pay period. Something like 4 1/2 hours per check. After a year, it went up a little. Then it increased at 5, 10, 15, 20 years. I forget what the maximum was... PTO was used for any time off--- sick or vacation. For sick time, it was for the first 24 hours out sick, then extended illness kicked in. We earned 16 days a year EI. There was a cap on how much PTO you could carry, but not on EI. I had something like 8 months of EI built up when I left. The hospital also allowed us to cash in PTO twice a year, provided you kept at least a week (40 hours) in your PTO bank.

Just be flexible as possible. If someone approaches you to switch with them to work an off shift, try to remember that you may need their help someday. I was very lucky; I worked with a very tight group who looked out for each other, and would go to the mat for a co-worker in need. Like I said on another post, hospital nursing is a team sport.

Jen1228 · Aug 16, 2007

I got lucky as a new grad with a day shift job, 7a-7p. I work at a LTC facility in the rehab, but the local hospital told me pretty much all new grads were stuck with nights. I am required to work every other weekend. The nurses that have been there for a year or two only have to work Monday thru Friday and are on call one weekend a month.

As far as holidays go, we get a list of the holidays, like Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and New Years. You mark your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd preference to have off. They try to give you off your first choice.

I am not too sure about vacation time, but I think we get 1 week paid for each year, and I believe it tops out at 5 weeks.

JHURN · Aug 16, 2007

I am on orientation for 4 months so right now I am following my preceptors schedule.

When I am on my own I will be working every other weekend for 2 years, after 2 years it becomes every third weekend. I will work 50% days and 50% nights but would be able to switch when another shift became available. I personally like doing days and nights though so I dont think I will switch for awhile. Plus I like the shift differential that comes with weekends and nights :)

I think my hospital is pretty generous with PTO, I get 5 weeks off a year for the first 5 years and then it goes up from there to a max of 7.2 weeks after 20 years of service.

Every hospital is different though, and not only every hospital but every unit on every hospital is different.

EmmaG, RN · Aug 16, 2007

Plus I like the shift differential that comes with weekends and nights :)

My charge, night and w/e differentials came to about 10k a year over my base pay. :)

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 17, 2007

I will be starting as a GN in 2 weeks. I got to pretty much pick days or nights so I went for days since I want to be able to study for NCLEX.

I am working 3 12's with every other weekend and no mandatory OT (we will see about that)

Perseus Mandate · Aug 17, 2007

Yes, I was talking about a hospital setting or something of that nature.

I didn't mean to sound as if I deserve to have those days off - whatever I have to do, I'll do. I just wanted to have a general idea of what I was getting into. I didn't want to glorify the field of nursing in my mind, and be in for a bad time when I got there.

Everything about nursing, thus far, sounds ideal for me. One big thing is, I want to have a lot of time off and make decent money - enough to support myself. I like the option of being able to have 4 days in a row off, so I can go on mini-vacations (you know, go visit a friend for a 4-day weekend, etc.).

Obviously, some weekends or nights would be covered - and I'd be more than willing to help out another RN who needed it. I want to head into the field for numerous reasons, one of them being so I can care for people. In particular, I'd want to care to children - just something about their innocence that makes me want to really reach out and help them feel secure when they're ill. I'm hoping to go into PICU, but we'll see what happens.

Anyway, I wouldn't mind taking one for the team - I know it would likely be appreciated, and I don't need EVERY weekend off - I just want TOTAL free time to be a lot - and from what I'm hearing, it sounds like it will be, especially compared to other jobs and other fields. IT? 60-80 hour work weeks. Investment banking? 70-100. Law? Varies, but it's certainly got a fair share of work.

Nursing gives me:

Quick entry into medicine - I can help people, be there for them, feel good about what I do

Quick entry into a job - $28.73/hour for new grads on Long Island? Pfft, of course I'll take it! Only an associate's degree.

Time off - 3 12's, and of course some extra here and there, but eventually I'm sure, depending on where I go, that will settle

Lateral Opportunity - the ability to move into so many different areas of nursing. A doctor chooses a specialty, and he's stuck with it after his residency. An RN can go anywhere, at most any time.

Career Advancement Opportunity - from having an ADN, I can go to earn my BSN, and from there, aim for a CRNA program if I desire. Also, I believe you can go for PA or NP as well, right?

Just seems like nursing is a great thing. A lot of stress, hard work, but what job doesn't have that? You pay your dues with every job.

txnursingqt · Aug 17, 2007

After I get my 1 year of experience I plan to work agency. I am in the DFW area in TX and currently work for an agency that staffs nurses. The demand is huge and my nurses get to work when and where they want. I love the flexibility! I can not wait! I am also lucky because I am already on a personal basis with the nurse managers at most of the facilities in the area and they all know that I am trying to get into NS. I have been told by several that as soon as I am done and get some experience that they are ready for me.

I feel very blessed with my current job. But I will tell you that I have alot of new grads working for me. But it does take a flexible person to go into new settings all the time. Once you have orientated at the hospitals you want to work it isn't so bad, but that takes a while. The nurses that do best at agency do not get nervous around new people and can roll with the punches. It is definitely not for everyone.

Perseus Mandate · Aug 17, 2007

After I get my 1 year of experience I plan to work agency. I am in the DFW area in TX and currently work for an agency that staffs nurses. The demand is huge and my nurses get to work when and where they want. I love the flexibility! I can not wait! I am also lucky because I am already on a personal basis with the nurse managers at most of the facilities in the area and they all know that I am trying to get into NS. I have been told by several that as soon as I am done and get some experience that they are ready for me.
I feel very blessed with my current job. But I will tell you that I have alot of new grads working for me. But it does take a flexible person to go into new settings all the time. Once you have orientated at the hospitals you want to work it isn't so bad, but that takes a while. The nurses that do best at agency do not get nervous around new people and can roll with the punches. It is definitely not for everyone.

What are the benefits of being with a nursing agency, as opposed to going it alone?

What are the drawbacks?

txnursingqt · Aug 17, 2007

What are the benefits of being with a nursing agency, as opposed to going it alone?
What are the drawbacks?

Benefits: Better pay with lots of sign on bonuses and free gifts. We have given laptops, ipods, cell phones etc. as gifts to our nurses to say thank you! We have full benefits so you don't lose that all all. Our insurance is United Healthcare and the company pays for you, you only pay for dependents. We also have paid vacations and 100% matching 401K. You get free CEU online that you can do 24/7. And you have someone that has your back. We back up our nurses with any issue that have. We also go out of our way to help with anything and I mean anything. For example one of the recruiters went and picked up one of her nurses dogs for her from the kennel because they were going to close before the nurse got off. The recruiter watched the dogs for the nurse until she got off then dropped them off. That is just one example of how this company will go out of its way to help and there are many others and I am not exaggerating. We are one big family and it shows. Oh and you have flexibility, as in you work when you want. And if you need an advance on your paycheck you can get one every week if you need to, even though I would not want to continually do that, some of our nurses do but it would be nice to have the option in a pinch.

Drawbacks: If you don't go on contract and work per diem you can get canceled but you can always make the day up later in the week, if it is the beginning of the week. You may have to go to new places alot and float. Our contract nurses have it easier because they normally stay in one place for a long time. Contracts are normally for 13 weeks at a time. But most of my nurses that work on local contracts find a facility that they like and the end up renewing their contract over and over. Some nurses have been at the same facility on contract for 3-4 years that I know of, while others like to change so they don't get so bored. You can easily change jobs alot but on your resume you are still working for one company. Another drawback is that sometimes agency nurses get the crappy assignments on their unit. That is not always the case but it does happen. You also have to pass the PBDS test at alot of facilites before they will let you work there. And there is normally an orientation at every single facility that you have to go through. I am sure that gets boring.

Overall I would say most of my nurses are very happy with their jobs and tell me that I am going to love it when I am done with school. But I have also seen nurses that absolutely hate agency work. I know that I won't want to do it until I am confident and comfortable at my job. So I am sure that it will be more like 2-3 years after I graduate but I am hoping sooner. I absolutely love the ICU nurses that we have working for us and that is the area that I want to go into. I can't wait to join them on the floor.

If you have any other questions let me know. I don't mind sharing the thoughts that float around in my world. :lol2:

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · Aug 17, 2007

At my hospital, everyone gets treated the same. Once you're off orientation, everyone has the choice of a traditional D/N schedule, or our new schedule with 2D 2N then five days off. Seniority only really comes into play with promotions, getting time off, or moving into a strictly Days shift (which are VERY few).

Our vacation time is accumulated. You don't start with two weeks and after a year are bumped up to three. With each payperiod (2wks) you earn X number of days of vacation (maybe 1.2 or something like that) and with each pay period it is accumulated. Then as you take a paid vacation day it is deducted from your running total.

Perseus Mandate · Aug 17, 2007

At my hospital, everyone gets treated the same. Once you're off orientation, everyone has the choice of a traditional D/N schedule, or our new schedule with 2D 2N then five days off. Seniority only really comes into play with promotions, getting time off, or moving into a strictly Days shift (which are VERY few).
Our vacation time is accumulated. You don't start with two weeks and after a year are bumped up to three. With each payperiod (2wks) you earn X number of days of vacation (maybe 1.2 or something like that) and with each pay period it is accumulated. Then as you take a paid vacation day it is deducted from your running total.

A traditional D/N schedule? Is it the case, then, that most nurses work both days and nights? You said it's rare to have someone with strictly day shifts?