What is the normal work week?

beckster_01, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

I'm sure it depends on your institution. When I was a tech the hospital I worked at had most nurses doing 2 12's and 2 8's. Where I work now you get to choose between 40 and 36 hours. Most people opt for 36 hrs a week and we do (pseudo) self scheduling, meaning you put in your ideal schedule but may get moved according to unit needs. Anyhow my shifts usually end up pretty random but it works out that I will have 5-6 days off in a row at least once a month which is nice

crb613, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

It varies...some work 8,10,12 hrs..some do M-F....some only do weekends, some do whats left in between.

I work W,T,F and every other Sat. 12 hr shfts...thats my normal.

loriangel14, RN · Jun 22, 2011

I don't think there is anything approaching normal when it comes to a nurses scedule. This week I work a 12 hour night(tonight), then a (8 hour)day shift Thursday and then an evening(8 hour) Saturday and then a 12 hour night Sunday.I may possibly be picking up a day shift Friday as well.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

I work 36 hr weeks in my job description. My hours are Tue-Thur, every week.

I'm usually at work though 5 days a week for meetings. Just this week, I spent 11 hrs on my 'day off' at meetings. I work the next three and have to stop in for an hour on Friday (My day off) and come home and do some paperwork for various projects. That is not uncommon for me.

Other nurses work their 36 and that's it. No committee work for them.

gohogs · Jun 22, 2011

What is the most hours you work in one week? When does overtime start for nurses?

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

I work Th Fri Sat Sun

off Mon Tue

work Wed Thur

off Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Weds

rinse and repeat.

I love it. Official week is Sun - Sat.

beckster_01, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

I won't work more than 50-55 because there is no way I would be at my best working more than that. When I was in school I spent my summers working consistently 70- 80 hours a week between two jobs, but in nursing? There I no way to do that safelyand most workplaces probably wouldn't allow it. Overtime is anything over 40 hrs, regardless of what you are hired in for

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

My "scheduled" hours are Mon-Fri 0830-1630. Sometimes I go in earlier when I'm seeing pts. If I have an appt or something, I go in later. If a pt is having an issue, I'll work past 1630 until the issue is resolved or the on call nurse can relieve me. I take call every other Tues, Wed, Thurs. I don't like getting OT because they tax the c**p out of me. If I work late one day, I try my hardest to go home early during the week to avoid OT.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 22, 2011

there is a huge variety, which means you pretty much can be an independent contractor and set your own limits. Our standard shifts are 3-12 hr shifts, but the days vary depending on unit needs and personal preferences. Everybody has to work 2 w/ends per month. The ER has 4 and 8 and 12 hr shifts as there are nurses who only work prn or part time.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2011

What is the most hours you work in one week? When does overtime start for nurses?

Overtime generally starts when you go over 40hrs for the week. However one of my jobs will offer overtime for any shift picked up, which is great since I'm part-time and seldom get over 40hrs.

The most I've worked in one week was a few weeks ago I clocked over 72hrs between two jobs. I generally have between 24 and 60hrs in a week.

Butterfliesnroses · Jun 22, 2011

I generally work thurs-sat. However I told my boss that I was sick of working EVERY weekend while certain other nurses got EVERY weekend off. On the day shift they HAVE to work every other weekend. So now my schedule is going to be getting changed up a bit so that I can get 1 weekend off a month and still get my hours. I work a second job on call and just work whenever they need me. In june I only worked 1 eve shift for them, so the hours really vary!