Weekend Only Nurse?

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Hello, I'm 19 and considering nursing as a career. Someone said you can make a living just doing all weekend shifts, day and night I'm guess is what she meant?

Is this possible? Can you really make a living doing that? Is that considered full or part time?

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I work nights. You could do 3 12's either Th-Sa or Fr-Su. If days, you could do Fr-Su and get your full time hours.

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I work weekend nights, every Saturday and Sunday 7p-7a. I get paid for 36 hours and only work 24. I also get full benefits.

Yes, it's possible.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

The positions like the one you described are around. As far as "full time" vs "part time" or somewhere inbetween- that is up to the indivigual institution to define. Most of the time it goes like: work two days every weekend for 3 days pay with benifits (sometimes reduced or higher cost)and reduced benifit time (sick time, vacation). Frequently these positions are for experienced staff with skills in specialty areas or a willingness to work in multiple areas with little additional orientation.

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Specializes in ICU.

Yup.. The old job I work at (a nursing home), they have a weekend program.. U do 16-hr shifts on sat & sun.. So that's 32hrs already so they're considered part time but u get paid more because of the weekend differential.. :) at my hospital right now, the weekend program is 12-hr shifts fri, sat & sun.. 36/hrs per week considered full time.. Then the rest of ur days off, u can get a part time job too if u need more moolah :)

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We call it the weekend warrior! They do Friday-Sunday 12's, 36 hours and get paid for 40.

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We have "WIP" nurses, stands for Weekend Incentive Program, apparently they are considered full time I think...and make more then everyone else just working their weekend shift, but they are scheduled 12 hour shifts EVERY weekend

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Specializes in OB, ER.

We have a program where you work 12every sat and 12 every sunday. So only 24 hours a week and you get paid for 36. Basicly like working for time and a half all the time. The only problem is you have to work EVERY weekend. We were only allowed one off every 6 months and that included calling in sick. If you took more off or called in sick after you used your weekend for the 6 months you lost the incentive. It is wonderful with young kids. My husband works mon-fri and I work weekends so no day care needed. It's hard though because you miss things like weddings, and all the weekend fun. Weekends are when most of the world plays and relaxes and sometimes it sucks to be at work then. However to make full time pay in 2 days and not to have to pay child care makes it very worth it.

Another bonus the hospital is free of all the management type people and extra staff so it's quieter and calmer. I like that a lot.

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I did weekend only... Every Sat and Sun for 12 hour shifts (7a-7p). I made quite a bit more per hour ($7/hr) and it worked for me for a while. But it is every weekend. I only got 2 weekends off a year and was expected to work all others.

It was considered full time, although I only worked 24 hours a week, I got full time benefits. Some hospitals will let you work 24 hours, but pay you for 36 or 40. What it boils down to is that a lot of people don't want to work weekends so they have to give incentive to those who are willing.

It worked well for us for a while, its great if you have young kids, but it does get stressful on a marriage (for us it did anyway) because we had opposite work schedules and did not have any family time together. It got to the point where it was not beneficial anymore.

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Wow, thanks for the speedy and informative answers.

I've got another question. She mentioned she only had an associates or maybe she said she only went to college for two years, something like that.... so does that mean she's an LPN right? But I think she called herself an RN... I thought RN needed a Bachelors which takes four years?

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

nope, you can get your RN by getting an Associates. There are many ways to become an RN these days...Associates, Bachelors, diploma, direct entry/accelerated BSN or MSN.

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There is a 2 year Associate's degree in nursing (RN) and there is a bachelors degree in nursing (also an RN). I have my associate's and I am an RN... took the same board exam, etc. BUT... I went into nursing right out of high school and wish I would have gone for the BSN, because now I am ready to go back to school for my MSN and I would have a lot more options if I already had my BSN. So, although the ADN (associate) is quicker, you need to think about what you might want to do later on. If you think you might want to go back for your masters, want to be a manager, director, or Nurse Practitioner, Midwife, go for your BSN... life gets away from you and next thing you know you're married and have kids... you're better off doing the BSN now with your future in mind. If you want to do bedside nursing forever, then the ADN is fine. Some employers are choosing BSNs over ADNs if the applicant is equal in all other areas, However, I have never had a problem finding a job

Oh and the ADN takes more like 3 years, a year of pre reqs and 2 years of nursing school

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