Working Conditions

[Krankenschwester_2]

I just have a few questions to ask each of you concerning your working conditions. I just want to get a general idea so I know what to expect.

#1 Work Hours

How many hours constutes a shift (e.g. 8, 10, 12)? How many days do you typically work in one week?

#2 Health Benefits

Right now I'm still under my father's Tricare insurance--which is excellent! Do regular hospitals offer a comparable insurance?

#3 Vacation

How does vacation time generally get distributed? (e.g. does it increase by seniority, how many days do typical first year RNs get for vacation?

#4 When you first started ,did you get assigned to your unit, or do you have any choice in where you want to work?

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

#1 work hours, you need to shop around to find what works for you. Facilities offer all that you suggested.

#2 Insurance is really poor for health care in general. Stay with dads if you can.

#3 Vacation depends on the facility and the unit you work on, pecking order on some, first come first serve on others. Dont expect your first pick your first year if it is prime season. As you a first year nurse will get at least one year paid vacation after one year of working, some facilities will offer that year prior to the one year time worked but if you quit prior to the year you will have to pay back the paid vaction time.

#4 You will be hired to a specific unit and oriented to that unit. Your choices will depend on the need of the facility. Each unit has a staffing number in their budget for hours needed to keep that unit fully staffed based on the past years unit census.