What's it like having a flexible work schedule?

LeChien, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

Not all nurses work 12s. Some work 8s. Some work 16s only on weekends. Some work graveyards.

I have always worked 2 jobs since I don't have kids or anything else to do really. I hang out with my dog in my free time

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Mar 13, 2016

I work 8s so I can't say my schedule is that flexible. I hang out with my husband & son on my days off.

LucidDreamer · Mar 13, 2016

Not all nurses work 12s. Some work 8s. Some work 16s only on weekends. Some work graveyards.
I have always worked 2 jobs since I don't have kids or anything else to do really. I hang out with my dog in my free time

Woah that's so cool! I never knew nursing schedules were actually THAT flexible. I never knew you could just work solely on the weekends. That's crazy cool.

LucidDreamer · Mar 13, 2016

I work 8s so I can't say my schedule is that flexible. I hang out with my husband & son on my days off.

I may end up having kids in my thirties or late twenties so i know i'll be able to provide for them. I'm gonna most likely adopt as well (:

LucidDreamer · Mar 13, 2016

I work 8s so I can't say my schedule is that flexible. I hang out with my husband & son on my days off.

Nursing will allow me to live very comfortably, while at the same time not taking over my life. I'll need to find a way to separate my work life from my life outside of work. I could never imagine myself being a surgeon or something, like i originally planned. Their hours are crazy and I'm sure it's hard to have much free time to hang out with family or friends.

oncivrn · Mar 13, 2016

12 hour shifts are exhausting. You need like one of those days off at least to just take it easy.

I work 8 hour shifts M-F. I don't miss 12 hour shifts but to each his own :)

OscarTheOwl · Mar 13, 2016

I usually feel half dead for a day or two and generally do nothing important if I can get away with it.

ED Nurse, RN · Mar 13, 2016

Like I said in your previous similar post, nurses usually need to work rotating weekends, they also works holidays. Novice nurses also tend to get less desirable shift assignments, such as nights.

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

What's it like being able to work whenever you want? I cannot wait to be a nurse. Working three days a week sounds like heaven. Although, knowing me, I'd most likely do tons of over time anyway lol. What do you like to do on your off days?

We don't necessarily work "whenever we want". Yes, I get to submit my own schedule BUT that doesn't mean it won't get switched around depending on the unit's needs. I'm required to work 6 weekend shifts every 6 weeks. I'm required to work 24 hours of call every 6 weeks. I work 12 hour night shifts, which means I'm sleeping in the afternoon before my first shift, trying to sleep during the day in between shifts, and trying to make up for missed sleep the day after my last shift for the week. Not exactly heavenly but I love my job (I'm an LDRP RN) and my co-workers so I don't mind.

MMC.RN · Mar 13, 2016

Most nurses don't work, "whenever they want." Especially as a new nurse you will most likely be working the undesirable shifts such as nights, and depending on where you work, you won't have a lot of choice as to what days you work either. You will probably be subjected to call, mandatory OT, weekends, and holidays. That being said, I love my job and my co workers are great at switching shifts to make things easier for all of us. I lucked out and work on a unit that does self-scheduling so I do have quite a bit of freedom over my schedule, but I know plenty of nurses who don't. I just think you some misconceptions when it comes to work schedule and nursing. It's not a dream schedule by any means.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

I work from home and have an amazingly flexible schedule. However, I had to do 10 years of grueling shift work before securing this position. I would conjecture that the majority of nurses do not get to pick and choose when they work.