What's it like having a flexible work schedule?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

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.

Thank you for your reply! Yes. I am sure getting advice and shadowing in person is better than internet research. I plan to do that during summer time in a few months because I do not have enough time to do it during the school week and I'm pretty busy on my weekends. So internet research is as good as it will get for the next few months. Although when ever I start shadowing during the summer, I plan to stick with it even after summer is over. That is, making time to shadow throughout the week. So I'll only have to worry about getting my advice solely from the internet for a few more months now. Until then, I'll stick to getting my information from this site like I stated above. It's probably the most reliable site out there for my type of research on this career. I tried student doctor network, it seems like a really great site and I like it, but it focuses on several different careers all together instead of just nursing. Which allows me to prefer this site over all the others. (:

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Thank you for your reply! Yes. I am sure getting advice and shadowing in person is better than internet research. I plan to do that during summer time in a few months because I do not have enough time to do it during the school week and I'm pretty busy on my weekends. So internet research is as good as it will get for the next few months. Although when ever I start shadowing during the summer, I plan to stick with it even after summer is over. That is, making time to shadow throughout the week. So I'll only have to worry about getting my advice solely from the internet for a few more months now. Until then, I'll stick to getting my information from this site like I stated above. It's probably the most reliable site out there for my type of research on this career. I tried student doctor network, it seems like a really great site and I like it, but it focuses on several different careers all together instead of just nursing. Which allows me to prefer this site over all the others. (:

Shadowing is usually a few hours or a single shift not an extended period of time. Many facilities will not permit high school students to job shadow

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Thank you for your reply! Yes. I am sure getting advice and shadowing in person is better than internet research. I plan to do that during summer time in a few months because I do not have enough time to do it during the school week and I'm pretty busy on my weekends. So internet research is as good as it will get for the next few months. Although when ever I start shadowing during the summer, I plan to stick with it even after summer is over. That is, making time to shadow throughout the week. So I'll only have to worry about getting my advice solely from the internet for a few more months now. Until then, I'll stick to getting my information from this site like I stated above. It's probably the most reliable site out there for my type of research on this career. I tried student doctor network, it seems like a really great site and I like it, but it focuses on several different careers all together instead of just nursing. Which allows me to prefer this site over all the others. (:

Why don't you go volunteer at a hospital for now. That will be as close as you will get to shadowing a nurse for now.

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Why don't you go volunteer at a hospital for now. That will be as close as you will get to shadowing a nurse for now.

I don't have my drivers license at the moment and my parents bring me everywhere. Their busy throughout the week so they can't bring me then, and on our weekends we have family time. I'm choosing to start volunteering during summer because I'll hopefully get my license and perhaps a cheap used car during that time so I'll be able to drive myself to the hospital every time

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I work 3 twelves per week. Whats it like? Honestly, for me it is exhausting. I desperately need a nap as I am typing this. I do my best to avoid working all three shifts in a row because my body cant handle it. I used to work nights but it was making me ill so I had to switch to days, but getting up to arrive at the hospital (and look awake and presentable) at 6:45am is rough for me too. Many people likely dont find it as hard as I do, but for me it is difficult. (My ideal schedule is 11am-3pm, but still only 3 shifts a week. And full time pay. Is that a thing?)

When I was younger, I really resented working weekends so much, but I care less now. If you are someone who goes to church, you are probably going to miss Sunday service about 1/3 to 1/2 of the time.

It still stinks to have to work holidays. In the last 8 years, I have only spent Christmas with my family once.

Basically, "flexible" has some perks...like if I plan it right, I can go on a week long vacation without using any PTO. But it also means working weekends, holidays, and/or night/evening shifts. It means that your time off doesn't match when all your friends have time off. Nobody is free to hang out on a Tuesday afternoon. But it is a great time to go grocery shopping. :)

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Shadowing is usually a few hours or a single shift not an extended period of time. Many facilities will not permit high school students to job shadow

To shadow at a hospital you will usually have to sign a confidentiality agreement, show proof of TB test etc.

Agree shadowing is like a one time thing, not ongoing.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
To shadow at a hospital you will usually have to sign a confidentiality agreement, show proof of TB test etc.

Agree shadowing is like a one time thing, not ongoing.

And can a minor legally sign a confidentiality agreement?

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
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.

Is this satire? Sarcasm? What is this???

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I work 6 days on which usually happens to be over my weekend which is about every 3rd weekend. Them six days can make you age fast let me tell you. After which i am usually tired and need 1-2 days off to recover depending how the stretch goes. They are all 12hr night shifts. I usually have between 6-7 days off after. I work 3 in a row during weeks that i am not on my weekend and i space it out until my stretch so i end up with like 2 weeks where I hardly work. All of this is self schedule. I had to switch jobs to make this happen.

I do not have to burn PTO to get a "break." I cannot do a 8-5 M-F job. I am so thankful for my schedule :)

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I have never seen a job that literally allowed you to work " whenever you want"

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Nursing seems like its flexible because of the various settings/shifts/hours you can work but there is always a catch. If you are full time -working holidays, mandatory overtime, weekends, night shifts, scheduling vacations based on needs of unit or seniority etc are often the reality. You may get more flexibility with per diem/part time than other industries. Honestly my most flexible and stress free schedule was pre- rn when I worked 5 days a week 9 to 5. I can get time off for appts, schedule appts during lunch hour without someone timing my return, holidays and eves off, persona days off vacations as needed without making a big deal.

Used to work 12 hour shifts, now I work at an Outpatient Surgery Center 4 ten hour shifts no weekends or holidays. Hours of mandatory overtime, difficulty with balancing schedule of staff with personal needs are common gripes here. Looking for something per diem, part time with less commute time.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

OP, folks here have been remarkably generous to a 16-year-old's career questions. I hope you take to heart these responses and move on in your career search. You are way too young to know with certainty what you want to do with the rest of your life. It is wonderful that you are doing so much in advance to prepare.

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