What's it like having a flexible work schedule?

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 13, 2016

Nursing as a whole is flexible, but I have found working full-time isn't always. My new job has some rigid scheduling requirements. But if I dropped down to part-time, I would have more flexibility. And there is the option of going PRN, which is great.

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Mar 13, 2016

Probably the only true flexible type schedule is to work temporary staffing, yet you usually need to have a couple of years experience before staffing agencies will hire you.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, 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?

Working 12 hours, to me, is heaven; although I work hard (work in a Level I Trauma PediER), based on the hours I work, I don't have the recovery time that some shifts have to account for; for example, If you work overnight, whether it be 7p-7a or 11p-7a, you have to account for at least one day recovery; I work 11a-11p, so most of my shift I hit the ground running on our busy days.

Some times I'm off for a 3-5 day stretch, where I spend time with family, have time for Dr appointments, exercise, or a mini vacation.

If you find a job with self-scheduling and a commitment of one weekend a month, it is more flexible; however, that may not always be the case. I work every other weekend, so that can interfere with stretches of time.

Also, take into account that you will have to work holidays as well.

KelRN215, BSN, 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?

You don't get to work "whenever you want", unless you are per diem. If you are permanent staff, you work when your employer tells you you will work, be it days, nights, evenings, weekends, holidays, whenever. If you have to work a 36 hr weekend on nights, it will take you until Wednesday to recover and, by then, it's your next day to work.

I gave up 3 12s four years ago for a Mon-Fri gig and I will never go back. Don't count on "tons of overtime" being available either. Though I work 2 more days and 8 more hours/week now than I did when I worked bedside, I have infinitely more time to myself and a much better work/life balance.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

I still don't understand where all this OT is at. Where is the OT at??? And, more importantly, do I want to work there?

Three days a week ultimately is more tiring than a regular, old 5-day, 40 hour work week. You work way harder than what most "9-5" (do these exist anymore?!?!) type jobs require. So, no, it's not as heavenly as it sounds. I actually work out just so my stamina is high enough not to be wiped out from a brutal day. Just like cops need to (well, should) train for their jobs, nurses benefit from this, too. It helps so much. Sorry, random tangent.

But seriously, where is this get-it-if-I-want-it OT???

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

You don't get to work "whenever you want", unless you are per diem. If you are permanent staff, you work when your employer tells you you will work, be it days, nights, evenings, weekends, holidays, whenever. If you have to work a 36 hr weekend on nights, it will take you until Wednesday to recover and, by then, it's your next day to work.
I gave up 3 12s four years ago for a Mon-Fri gig and I will never go back. Don't count on "tons of overtime" being available either. Though I work 2 more days and 8 more hours/week now than I did when I worked bedside, I have infinitely more time to myself and a much better work/life balance.

I'm working full time (3 12s) and I'm in nursing school. I relish the day I find, apply and get offered a job that I can go back to 5 8s. Three 12 hour shifts is just not as ideal as it sounds. It still is basically like working 5 days. And if you get held over (I just worked 18 hours yesterday - understand this means that I got up at 0430 to get to work and did not return home until 0200 -- technically 0300 because we lost an hour -- does that sound awesome to you at all??? Do the math. What did my 18 hour shift actually turn into?), you will be plastered to your couch on allnurses warning the overly-optimistic crowd that such shift work is not as grand as it may seem.

LucidDreamer · Mar 13, 2016

There has been a few people telling me that "the option to work over time if you need it, is always there" So that's where i got the idea from. Sorry haha

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

There has been a few people telling me that "the option to work over time if you need it, is always there" So that's where i got the idea from. Sorry haha

What people?

SnowShoeRN · Mar 13, 2016

What people?

I think it really just depends on the facility/management. I've worked 2 places where the OT flowed freely and another place where it was impossible to get. Depends on the part of the country too.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

There has been a few people telling me that "the option to work over time if you need it, is always there" So that's where i got the idea from. Sorry haha

Those people gave you false information.

LucidDreamer · Mar 13, 2016

What people?

People on "Yahoo Answers" Go figure huh. I rarely trust people's information on that site anymore. But i figured, since they claimed to be Nurses it must've been true lol. I'll stick to getting all my information from this site from now. Also, from Google.

ED Nurse, RN · Mar 13, 2016

People on "Yahoo Answers" Go figure huh. I rarely trust people's information on that site anymore. But i figured, since they claimed to be Nurses it must've been true lol. I'll stick to getting all my information from this site from now. Also, from Google.

Getting advice from strangers on the Internet to shape what your future may look like, is quite naive. Why not go speak with actual, real people, in person? Why not find out what's it like by shadowing and asking questions of them? You are going to be hugely disappointed in life if you use the Internet to do "research." Your intent may be in good spirit, but for me, there is something very off here- call it my nurse intuition.