Willing To Work 60 Hours

Nursing Students General Students

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After I graduate I am very willing to work 60 hours a week for a year or two.:lol2: Is this a good idea, and how difficult will it be to get these hours.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

This is a horrible idea, regardless of how much stamina you have. The vast majority of new nurses who work 60 hours weekly end up burning out rapidly and, therefore, leaving the profession of nursing altogether. I used to work plenty of overtime last year, and one time I worked 86 hours in 1 week alone! However, being at the same workplace all the time is enough to drive even the most sane person insane...

Since many facilities are short-staffed, it would be seemingly easy to pick up extra hours during the week.

Many managers are unwilling to let their nurses work that much. It is unlikely you could do it when you first begin since you will be on orientation. You could work 60 hours a week in some facilities, but I don't think it's a good idea long term.

My first question for you is, have you worked a 12 hour shift yet? that in itself can be pretty daunting in the beginning...while every once in a while it would be fine, I would definitely not jump into anything (besides as a new orientee, it is doubtful that you will work more than the required 36/37.5 hours).

You don't want to burn yourself out, and if you find yourself very tired, you may find making mistakes and you don't want to risk losing your license when it took hard work to gain it.

Kris

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

hi,

I am a new grad and am working 64 hours for financial reasons (not so much by choice), but I had the advantage of having two seperate jobs (RN and paramedic) so it isn't so bad.

Have you thought about getting a different job in a different specialty maybe.

Also as a new grad you will probably not be elegable to do over time for several weeks as you are going to be orienting and with a preceptor.

Sweetooth

You dont set a high goals for yourself.i think its better taking it one step at a time.You dont want to loose your licence before you get it.Dont jump into it to avoid breaking your legs.Take it cool.Time shall come when you'll be running for overtime.Make a reasonable and attainable goal for yourself and avoid making mistakes.

My last job I worked 70-80 hours a week so 60 hours would be sort of a break.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
You dont set a high goals for yourself.i think its better taking it one step at a time.You dont want to loose your licence before you get it.Dont jump into it to avoid breaking your legs.Take it cool.Time shall come when you'll be running for overtime.Make a reasonable and attainable goal for yourself and avoid making mistakes.

Agree with the above. To set a goal of working 60 hours a week for two years is unrealistic. Just finish school. Get through your new grad orientation. and then take it from there. Sixty hours a week is not that hard to come by here in the winter, but during the summer it's slim pickings.

Also don't set yourself up financially where you have to work 60 hours a week to make it.

Good luck!

My last job I worked 70-80 hours a week so 60 hours would be sort of a break.

Perhaps if it was similar to nursing. If you rotated between days and nights, worked 12 hours at a time, were learning new things all the time, had to deal with crazy families, managers and coworkers, felt the pressure of knowing your mistake could kill somebody, then maybe it would be. However, I worked more hours before I became a nurse, but found nursing to be more draining.

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