What is a typical RNs schedule?

egglady, LPN · Mar 10, 2011

There really is no "typical" schedule. Some facilities have mandatory overtime, some refuse it. In the small town LTC where I work ( with very little turn over) it took me many years to get full time. I get denied overtime. We have pool- or agency- work the hours that arent filled by the scheduled full time and part time nurses. Every facility is different. In my area as a new grad, the only thing offered in the 2 nursing homes and one hospital is 2nd shift. (no place does 12 hour shifts here). Took me a few years to even get part time on day shift. Like I said, it all depends on where you work!!!

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2011

There is no "typical" schedule. Most RN's in the hospital setting work 12 hr shifts, but some still do 8hr shifts. Some rotate between day/nights, while some work only one shift. Typically you have to work every 3rd or 4th weekend, depending on your facility, as well as some sort of holiday rotation.

Everywhere I've ever worked has had more opportunities for overtime than you could imagine. The place I'm working now I could work 7 days a week if I wanted too.

NAURN · Mar 10, 2011

I work Mon, Tue, Fri every week 12 hour shifts. Period. Sometimes, if they are in a jam, I will OFFER to pick up a day, but it is never required. I do also work every other holiday.

mappers · Mar 10, 2011

There are nurses working 24 hours a day 7 days a week in any number of facilities and jobs. What hours you work depends on where you get hired.

MilSpecRN, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2011

I work 12 hr shifts 7p-7am, usually 3 days on, 2 off. I can pick up unlimited overtime, I usually try to do 1-2 shifts of OT per month. Sometimes nurses get mandated (forced to) to stay overtime, so you could end up working 16 hours. Thats because we have staff shortage

BrookeeLou_RN · Mar 10, 2011

Nothing in nursing is ever typical!!

loriangel14, RN · Mar 10, 2011

Let's see, in the past week I have worked a 12 hour day, an 8 hour day, had a day off, worked an 8 hour evening, worked an 8 hour day, then an 8 hour night followed by a 12 hour night. There is no such thing as typical.

CCL RN, RN · Mar 10, 2011

I work 4 10hr shifts, and yes, I have plenty of OT! Working in the cath lab yields much extra pay...

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Mar 10, 2011

I work in a SNF and they are "supposed" to be 8 hour shifts, but we are understaffed and can not leave untill the job is done so those 8 hour shifts are easily 10 hours. My last 2 checks have each had 75 hours, plus 10 hours of overtime. With no set schedule in one week I worked 2 evening shifts, 2 NOC shifs and a day shift.

dreamgirl333 · Mar 10, 2011

I work 12 hr graveyard shift (7.30pm-8am) @ inpatient drug rehab. I rarely work OT since my place has a lot of per diem nurses. If I get OT, it has to be approved by the DON.

My typical routine: passing medication (including methadone), some charting, preparing discharges, counting the inventory.

If you work day shift: assesing pt, admitting new pt, administering Tb test, administering vivitrol shot, documentation.

missdeevah, NP · Mar 10, 2011

at the hospital unit where i work, we can pick any 3 days a week that we want to. we work 12 hr shifts; either 7a-7p or vice versa. we don't have to sign up for any weekends if we don't want to, and the only holiday i worked in the past year was new year's, and that was by choice. there are always people who prefer to work on weekends and holidays. we aactually have a weekend only crew as well. we can work overtime if we want to, but it is never a requirement. sometimes we can pick up extra shifts as a monitor tech or pca, @ our regular pay, of course. hope that helps.