What is your schedule like as a nurse?

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2015

I don't know how much truth is in those statements as I can only speak for myself.

I work three 12 hour shifts a week, overtime is available to me if I would like it. I work nights because I am a new grad and there are currently no open day positions. I don't work through my break and neither do my co-workers. The only times I have been required to work overtime was during super storm Sandy when my home state had declared a state of emergency and even then it was only an extra 4 hours.

Yerani27 · Oct 17, 2015

I don't know how much truth is in those statements as I can only speak for myself.
I work three 12 hour shifts a week, overtime is available to me if I would like it. I work nights because I am a new grad and there are currently no open day positions. I don't work through my break and neither do my co-workers. The only times I have been required to work overtime was during super storm Sandy when my home state had declared a state of emergency and even then it was only an extra 4 hours.

That's good to know that management cares about your well-being. I heard from a nurse that she had to work overtime. There was not option to say no, which is pretty sad. She works at a clinic now.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 18, 2015

My unit did have mandatory OT last winter (our busy season- peds ICU) but it is not the norm. We work 12 hour shifts, and nurses are either assigned to permanent days of permanent nights. OT is available, but usually not mandated. You can pick up extra on other units your are trained for if you like. Meals are sometimes a problem, but our manager tries very hard to get every one to lunch.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

I work PT -- 8 hour shifts, 2-3 shifts per week.

My state has a law that protects us if we refuse OT if it would compromise pt safety. I've never worked anywhere that mandated OT except in true emergencies (the one time in nearly 13 yrs I've had to stay was during a blizzard -- everyone who tried to get in for the next shift got stuck.) But we just have to say "I am too tired to safely care for this pt so am declining the OT, per statestatute99.999.999. Maybe the real reason is we don't have childcare for another shift, or we just don't want to -- but as long as the stated reason is for pt safety, the law is on our side.

Some employers may try to pull that business of refusing to pay for OT like if a nurse stays late to chart or doesn't get a lunch break. However, this is illegal, per the US dept of labor. A nurse who is paid hourly MUST be paid for all time worked. A lunch break that is interrupted does not qualify as a meal break and therefore must also be paid. If a nurse is denied pay, he/she needs to report that. The facility, if determined to be guilty, would have to pay the nurse back pay, PLUS whatever fines to the govt for breaking the law. So it really is a bad move on their part

Tex. · Oct 18, 2015

I'm in Texas, and work 3 12hr shifts. I am NOT required to work OT. The only times I have been required to stay over have been when the night shift nurse was running late.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 18, 2015

I work 12 shifts mostly nights by choice. OT isn't mandatory but I pick up what I can. I am unionized so we get paid for OT and we get all our breaks.

Julesmama28 · Oct 18, 2015

I work 3 12s. Nights, but that was the position offered, we don't do both. I work ICU and often eat at my desk right by the patients room. We have to get co workers to watch out for our patients if we want to leave the floor. It's a pain so I don't do it much. We also have one call shift a month that could be overtime if we get called in. But we get paid for it.

RN BSN

momof3lv · Oct 18, 2015

I work 3 12's. Nights because that is what works best for my family but I could go to days if desired. I've never been forced to work overtime but it is almost always available. I don't work through my lunch and really try to make sure I take one. If I don't I usually will get a phone call the next day on why I didn't take a lunch. I do tend to never take my 15 min breaks but that's about it.

marienm, RN, CCRN · Oct 18, 2015

It depends! Among other things, it depends on the hospital, the state, the union agreement (if there is one), and most importantly your contract. When applying for jobs, these are important things to ask *that employer* what their policies are. When you shadow on a unit after an interview, ask the actual RNs how their schedules work (within reason--don't make it the focus of your shadowing experience!) Make sure your contract reflects what the interviewer told you. Make sure you understand what circumstances allow your employer to 'bend' your contract.

The more people that reply, the more different answers you'll probably see. Myself, I was hired for a night-shift position at a state hospital where the RNs are part of a union. So, some of our contract is determined by the union rules (like what days count as holidays, and such). Our pay periods are 2 weeks long, and full-time employees work 80 hours over 14 days. On many units, this means 4 8-hour shifts and 4 12-hour shifts, or maybe 1@8 and 6@12. I almost exclusively work night shifts, but my mangers can schedule me to work evenings (1500-2300) or even days if "unit needs" demand it. I still get my night shift differential because I'm working outside of my contracted shift. The manager usually pulls me aside and tells me about it before the schedule comes out, but this is more of a courtesy--the contract allows for "unit needs" to dictate shift assignments like this.

RNs at my hospital work either the first or second weekend of the pay period depending on which they picked at the beginning of the year. However, my schedule isn't pre-determined beyond that. My managers can schedule me on any days they feel like, as long as they don't schedule me for 5+ days in a row (but I'm allowed to swap shifts with someone and give myself 5 days in row if I want to), or assign me to all 3 shifts within one pay period (but I could swap/pick up OT if I wanted to). OT is not mandatory except under very rare circumstances. I think the hospital has to pay a fine to the union if they are forced to mandate a nurse to stay at work. The hospital cannot force us to come to work for OT (mandation = telling a nurse s/he is not allowed to leave).

If my night is very busy and I don't have time for a meal break, I am responsible for putting the override into the timekeeping software. My unit is small, and as much as we try to support each other, we don't always have time for a break. I've never been spoken to about putting in a meal override. (If I did it all the time, though, I bet someone would start asking questions about my workflow!). I've also never been questioned when I've put in for OT because of staying late for pt care/charting (though I don't do it often!).

trenadamm · Oct 18, 2015

I am in Texas. I work nights by choice. 3x 12 hr per week. I am allowed to pick up 1 extra 12 hour shift per week, if I choose. No mandatory OT. Once in a while due to high census, we miss lunch, but we can write it in the exceptions book and get paid.

sjalv · Oct 18, 2015

I work 36 hours a week, night shift because I chose it, and occasional weekends. No overtime unless I volunteer.