Weekend Only Nurse?

Published

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?

Why do you think there is short staffing to begin with? You think it might have something to do with pay and working conditions?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I've noticed in my area they've been doing away with weekend positions. No hospital even offers it, and they are trying to get rid of the staff who does have it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

I did a weekend gig 7a-7p, Sat and Sun. I got a special differential and ended up with a full time wage. I was great for a about a year. I was there for my kids before and after school but was always working on the weekend. Thank goodness I have a supportive husband.

I ended up working every weekend and some weekdays after that at a different job because of school. Thank goodness school is over and I am off every weekend. Although with my new perdiem job they are trying to get me to do every other weekend, combine that with my everyother weekend for my part-time job, I told them no. And would work the perdiem requirment of one weekend a month. I do need some time with my family after all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics, ED.

It used to be called Baylor nursing and you would get paid 36 hours for working 24. Now it's weekend program or modified Baylor. It's what I do. I work Fri-Sun nights 7p-7a. I dont get a diff here but I know several nurses at other facilities who do. It's great, I'm a Stay at home mom Mon-Thurs. And Friday my husband takes over. I do miss some things on weekends and we have stipulations. I am permitted 1 weekend every 3 months Period. If a holiday falls on a weekend. guess what? I work it. I can find coverage if I want more time off so that's an option but I also have a strict attendance policy 3 call outs in 1 year, I'm off my program.

I've been doing it for 2 years now and I love it because I get the best of both worlds. there are Times i HATE it, but those are weekends I couldn't get coverage for events/concerts etc. If you like to go out on weekends, no, but if you don't sure!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Why do you think there is short staffing to begin with? You think it might have something to do with pay and working conditions?

NNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! Everybody know that nurses'll work like oxen all the time, for a pittance; and to have a personal life? Whaddya need that for?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello, I am a nursing home administrator & am going to implement this at our facility. was wondering if you could share policy for it or let me know where I could get copy of one so don't have to reinvent the wheel. thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Hello, I am a nursing home administrator & am going to implement this at our facility. was wondering if you could share policy for it or let me know where I could get copy of one so don't have to reinvent the wheel. thanks.
Are you going to implement 12-hour weekend shifts? Or are you going to go with the 16-hour weekend double shifts?

For 16-hour weekend doubles, my former workplace had the weekend staff working from 6:00am to 10:00pm every Saturday and Sunday. They were paid for 40 hours even though they worked 32 hours. The additional 8 hours per week was paid as an 'en bloc' bonus as long as the staff member was not more than 30 minutes late on any one day. If a weekend worker was more than 30 minutes late, they lost that 8-hour 'en bloc' bonus.

For 12-hour weekend shifts, my former workplace offered days (6:00am to 6:30pm) and nights (6:00pm to 6:30am) every Saturday and Sunday. Weekend employees worked 24 hours over the weekend and got paid for 32 hours. Those additional 8 hours per weekend were paid as an 'en bloc' bonus, and again, workers lost the 8 hours if they arrived more than 30 minutes late to one of their shifts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know where I work,they are not offering this position anymore. The people who already work this program keep their job, but there will be no more positions like this filled. I am fine working 3 days/wk.,but have thought about being a weekender on down the line. I guess not,at least not where I am now.

Is this happening in other parts of the country? I am in the South.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ShoeGalRn:

what do you mean by you get paid for 36 hours? Could you please explain that a little bit. Also, could I do fri and sat night instead of sunday.. or fri and sat day shift??

Sorry I can't figure out how to just reply to your response

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
ShoeGalRn:

what do you mean by you get paid for 36 hours? Could you please explain that a little bit.

She works 24 hours per week over the weekend due to working two 12 hour shifts, but is paid for approximately 36 hours.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I agree that going into it for the money is not all that wise. In most nursing jobs, you will work far harder than you are paid. I have done ICU, dialysis, psych and now corrections. I went from $31 to $35 to $30 to $43 an hour, respectively. Making $90k a year with a two year degree has certainly paid off but there are downsides. In prison, you aren't making much of a difference and I struggle with that on a regular basis. Money isn't everything and while my job is fairly easy, I still miss that compassionate component. And working weekends getting paid for full time might sound great but I would weigh it out carefully. Even though I'm not a party animal or am out on the town on the weekend, as someone else said----the world revolves around folks who have weekends off. I hate that I only have Sundays off (I work until 6am Sunday morning). But it is what it is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion