What are the usual work hours? Also, some questions.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2012

Regarding hours: Hospitals are open 24/7. You will work weekends/holidays/etc. This means working Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. When your friends want to party on Friday night you might not be able to because you are working on Saturday. And yes, you will be expected to work Night Shifts.

Additionally, hospitals don't have "snow days" - you will be expected to go to work in bad weather.

Also, 12 hour shifts look great on paper, but can be very exhausting too. It is nice to have more days off, but you may find you spend a lot of those days off just catching up on rest.

As a Canadian I can comment on the rest of your post.

MissNancy · Mar 20, 2012

I might be a nurse, but I have heard so many stories about nurses having good hours and nurses forced to work night shifts, 6 days a week. So, what exactly would be the truth?
Also, if I may ask some questions:
Currently, I am a sophomore in community college and I plan on going transferring to an UC for getting my bachelors in Developmental Studies. The reason for this is because I would like to keep my options open and maybe eventually get a masters. And from my counselor he says its nearly impossible to get into a BSN program, so I would be stuck with an AA degree. I was originally thinking of becoming a PA (Physicians Assistant), but my goal was going straight for a masters in PA fresh out of college. Looking at this, it does not seem probably, as they would like someone to have experience and even if I miraculously gotten in I would be behind everyone in experience. Also, PA' schools are VERY competitive. So, I was thinking of going to Davis and then check out internships and maybe a job where I haven't thought of doing yet. Then after graduating, I would try to go into nursing school and maybe go for an AA in nursing. Then after getting a few years of experience become a PA, as I would already have a bachelors. Or I can apply for another Masters degree. Does this sound like a good idea? I mean, wouldn't it be a waste of money?
Reason I'm asking is because: My parents do not want me to go straight into nursing for an AA because my options would be completely closed in the future. As I would not have achieved a Bacehlors degree at all. They want me to experiment at an Uni level.

Thanks, I thought there would be "set" schedule. I do expect to work holidays and nights, but would there be set shifts so you would get days off for rest at least?

dudette10, MSN, RN · Mar 20, 2012

Expected to work holidays and weekends? Absolutely.

Expected to work nights? I don't know about that.... New grads do get day shifts full time, or they move into day shifts full time when something opens up. A lot of my former classmates work days, and they never work nights. I work nights, but the daylighters where I work never pick up night shifts, unless they were hired for rotating shifts.

I've only worked one place, so additional information would be helpful. Isn't the shift you work determined when you are hired?

Ex: Hired for rotating shifts? You will rotate shifts. Hired for days, you will be scheduled for days. Etc., etc.

EJBNeuroRN · Mar 20, 2012

First of all, you wouldn't be "stuck" with an AA degree. Also, an AA degree does not completely close options for the future. If you get you choose to go the Associate degree in nursing route, you would have many options open to you while working as a nurse and gaining experience in the health care field. The AD would give you a jumping off point for many other health care careers if that is the path you choose. You could continue to get your bachelor's in developmental studies, however how is that going to help you with a career in the health care field?

Second of all, scheduling can be very difficult and not always desirable hours. I have found that facilities like to "set" a schedule, and you have to go along with the set schedule, they don't ask you what shifts/days you would like to work. At my last job I worked 7 on and 7 off overnights, some people like it, so don't. I didn't mind it, I had every other week off and never had to use PTO. Now I work a few nights have a day off, work the weekends, have a few days off and so on. I don't mind it either, as a nurse you have to just know that you won't have a "normal" schedule.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2012

Depends on the facility but of the many i know there are NO SET SHIFTS asside from weekends and in most places you are set days or nights. By this I mean you are not specifically a m,w,thursday person. etc. Some places rotate for EVERYONE regardless of seniority and that sucks the most, big time. That means you can do days, evenings, nights all in the same week. I had this terrbile schedule. It was a nightmare. Nothing was set and I was flip flopping on all my days off. Most places that rotate do it in blocks of weeks. Most hospitals tend to do every other weekend or I have seen a few are every 3rd weekend. Also most have staff do three 12s either 7a-730p or 7p to 730a. Some places do two 8s and two 12s. A few have 5 eight hour shifts. Your chances of getting straight days (7-330pm) as a new grad are slim to none in a hospital. People wait YEARS for this and some places do not do it. My facility does not hire anyone for this, even people who have been there 30 years. Holidays are ever yother for most places. I know some do 1 winter, 1 summer holiday. Some places you will have to work christmas eve if you are off christmas, same with new years. others you will have to work both the eve and the holiday. A lot of this depends on the facility. If you are nights holidays are even more confusing. Some of my night shift only co workers seem to never get a holiday off.

churchsgirl · Mar 20, 2012

I guess I am having a hard time understanding why you can't get into a BSN program???? Either way, with a BSN or ADN it is very very difficult to find a job as a new grad-depending on where you are located....

MissNancy · Mar 21, 2012

Thanks everyone, as for the being ":stuck" with an AA degree is because my counselor had said BSN is extremely competitive, so I probably could only gain an AA degree. And my parents all want me to get a Bachelors first in another field, just in case I find something else I would do. For example, I might want to be a PA or w/e after ":shopping": around. Is it possible to do a AA degree, then a BSN degree online? I heard about this before.

And I would not mind working night shiftss, as I am a night person. But I was wondering if I would get how many days off, or w/e. Or its rotation off. I was hoping for maybe 2 day shift, then one day off, 2 day shift one day off, or w/e. I do my best if I have a rest in-between, rather then just doing it for a whole week, then next week off. Reason I want to be a nurse, is because I cannot stand doing the same thing over and over. I like the different amount of things you can choose with this. And at work, it wouldnt get too boring. Paperwork is OK too, as long as I dont get stuck for 12 hours.

maddiem · Mar 21, 2012

I might be a nurse, but I have heard so many stories about nurses having good hours and nurses forced to work night shifts, 6 days a week. So, what exactly would be the truth?
Also, if I may ask some questions:
Currently, I am a sophomore in community college and I plan on going transferring to an UC for getting my bachelors in Developmental Studies. The reason for this is because I would like to keep my options open and maybe eventually get a masters. And from my counselor he says its nearly impossible to get into a BSN program, so I would be stuck with an AA degree. I was originally thinking of becoming a PA (Physicians Assistant), but my goal was going straight for a masters in PA fresh out of college. Looking at this, it does not seem probably, as they would like someone to have experience and even if I miraculously gotten in I would be behind everyone in experience. Also, PA' schools are VERY competitive. So, I was thinking of going to Davis and then check out internships and maybe a job where I haven't thought of doing yet. Then after graduating, I would try to go into nursing school and maybe go for an AA in nursing. Then after getting a few years of experience become a PA, as I would already have a bachelors. Or I can apply for another Masters degree. Does this sound like a good idea? I mean, wouldn't it be a waste of money?
Reason I'm asking is because: My parents do not want me to go straight into nursing for an AA because my options would be completely closed in the future. As I would not have achieved a Bachelors degree at all. They want me to experiment at an Uni level.

If you get your Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) you aren't "stuck". People who get their ADN most likely will move onto a RN-BSN program. ADN grads and BSN grads have the same license (registered nurse). So it takes about a year to complete the RN-BSN program. And there are TONS of them. Many universities offer this program. And I wouldn't say that getting into a BSN program is impossible. They just have more applicants so the pool of people they choose from is larger so the academic standards are higher (also, don't forget that there are pre-admission exams you must take. Your eligibility is based on this too). ADN programs are not "easier" to get into. And they're not "worse" than BSN programs. Its still nursing school. Its hard no matter what! Now, since you already have a bachelors degree, there are second bachelor degree programs out there. These programs are for people who already have a bachelors degree, but not one in nursing. These people complete science prerequisites but get credit for other previous courses taken. That might be a good option for you if you want to go into nursing and have your BSN. I'm no sure where you are from, but here in the Chicago area there are a few of them. Don't reject the option of a community college though! There are tons of great ADN programs out there and it will save you so much money! Your options are not closed what so ever if you get your ADN. There are plenty of opportunities to advance in nursing after you get your ADN. YOU'RE NOT STUCK! You will just have to do the RN-BSN after you get your ADN. As far as PA school goes, if you bachelors degree isn't in science,you will be doing prerequisites forever. I'd say nursing is your best option.

Good Luck!

- Maddie

MissNancy · Mar 21, 2012

If you get your Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) you aren't "stuck". People who get their ADN most likely will move onto a RN-BSN program. ADN grads and BSN grads have the same license (registered nurse). So it takes about a year to complete the RN-BSN program. And there are TONS of them. Many universities offer this program. And I wouldn't say that getting into a BSN program is impossible. They just have more applicants so the pool of people they choose from is larger so the academic standards are higher (also, don't forget that there are pre-admission exams you must take. Your eligibility is based on this too). ADN programs are not "easier" to get into. And they're not "worse" than BSN programs. Its still nursing school. Its hard no matter what! Now, since you already have a bachelors degree, there are second bachelor degree programs out there. These programs are for people who already have a bachelors degree, but not one in nursing. These people complete science prerequisites but get credit for other previous courses taken. That might be a good option for you if you want to go into nursing and have your BSN. I'm no sure where you are from, but here in the Chicago area there are a few of them. Don't reject the option of a community college though! There are tons of great ADN programs out there and it will save you so much money! Your options are not closed what so ever if you get your ADN. There are plenty of opportunities to advance in nursing after you get your ADN. YOU'RE NOT STUCK! You will just have to do the RN-BSN after you get your ADN. As far as PA school goes, if you bachelors degree isn't in science,you will be doing prerequisites forever. I'd say nursing is your best option.
Good Luck!
- Maddie

Thanks a bunch Maddie! I will look into the BSN degree after getting a Bachelors. Also, my bachelors degree has lots of biology in it and I will take prereqs for nursing while doing my major. Im at a CC, but one reason I dont want to stay is I would have to be there for 4 years! I'm already there for 3...and then 1 more year for more prereqs, then maybe get into a school. Then 1-2 years of nursing school. Thats 5 years just for an ADN degree! Usually, Associates degree take 3 years max.

And what is the RN-BSN? How would I achieve that, I saw that but it was mostly private schools here. And I live in NorCal.

Thanks maddie, if I could I would give you 048350348 thanks!