What is the work schedule like for RNs?

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Is it generally 4 days on, 3 off? Is there much flexibility or is it pre-determined and rotating?

If someone wanted to work nothing but overnight shifts, would they be able to?

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It varies by facility and specialty.

I generally work 3 consecutive days, and pick up a weekend a month.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

There are 8, 10, and 12 hours shifts. We even offer some 6's, and at times even 4's.

You can work days, evenings or nights.

You can work week-days or week-ends.

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There are 8, 10, and 12 hours shifts. We even offer some 6's, and at times even 4's.

You can work days, evenings or nights.

You can work week-days or week-ends.

Is there competition for the night shifts, seeing as those would be less hectic?

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

Night shift is not less hectic than day shift in IMO. Its less patient care, sometimes, not usually, but night shift has to do more by themselves and you have no support staff.

I work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week. Sometimes four in a row because Sunday is the end of a week. bleh.

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Specializes in Tele, Med-Surg, MICU.

Night shifts are less desirable. Most new RN's in hospitals have to start out on midnights, 7p-7:30am. The good news is that most hospitals offer a nice pay premium for midnights. It can be very hard to get all days, depending on the hospital and unit.

You will typically be required to work every other weekend (but hey, there's usually a weekend bonus too!)

The amount of input into your schedule varies by location, and by unit. 3 shifts in a row is hard, but lots of people do it. I don't like to do more than 2 in a row, and that is almost always accomodated (for safety reasons).

On your work days you do nothing but work, eat and sleep, but the 4 days off a week makes it worth it!

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

It is funny to me that people believe nights are less desirable, or are somehow considering the "paying your dues" shift, however I came into the profession with similar misconceptions.

I work 3 12 night shifts a week. I prefer them grouped closely, and avoid schedules of one on one off etc.

I will refrain from turning this thread into a "days vs nights" with any further comments. A quick search will turn up many threads on the subject I am sure.

Tait

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I work LTC as the Charge RN usually 5 days a week 8 -4:30 and usually till 5:30 and 1 weekend a month. BUT it is not uncommon to be called in at 3AM because of a call in on the NOC shift. I love the hours and I love the Job.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"Is there competition for the night shifts...?"

:D:D

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It varies from place to place and can even vary over time in each institution. We never had 12 hour shifts now we have a combination of 8 hr and 12 hrs. Where I work there is no set pattern. Some people have preference, like no more than 2-12's in a row or some like all their days in a row. When able staffing tries to honor these request. Some facilities use self staffing, schedule is set out, staff fills in and if there are holes they have to adjust them. Yes I am sure there are problems with that but there are problems with staffing anyways.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

I loved night shift! worked it for 35 yrs for the most part the only time I worked days was when my kids were teenagers. I worked 12s the majority of the time. I couldn't hardly do 3 in a row I kept it at 2 day and a couple of days off then one. And every other weekend then with my senority I got every 3rd weekend. . I hated 8 hours shifts. but just loved the extra days off with the 12 hour shifts. There is hardly no competition for nights. And like other posters have mentioned the support staff is less and it is quieter though. Graveyard shifts have to do a lot of clerical work also. like stuffing charts, chart audits.

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.

It will vary from facility to facility.

The current hospital I work at has only 12 hour shifts for floor RNs. You make your own schedule with rotated holidays. Then, for weekend work, you have to pick up 5 shifts in a 6 week period of time: fri/sat/sun all count as weekends. So you could get those 5 shifts out of the way in the first 2 weeks of the new schedule.

I actually don't mind working weekends since there is less interaction with administration and our manager. And there is a weekend differential!!

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