Working weekend option (2-16's)

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 26, 2013

yep, with less than 8 hours sleep by the time you count tranportation and eating times. Be sure to ask what happens if you should get called off on one of those shifts. If census is down they might call you off, which could mean you earn only what was worked that week, if any hours were earned. Would you be able to float to another floor to pick up hours?

pinkiepieRN · Apr 26, 2013

Ooh that's a very good point to mention! I'm pretty sure that I could float to other floors but I definitely need to make certain that I can and get appropriately cross-trained. Thanks!

SandraCVRN · Apr 26, 2013

Also make sure exactly how many weekends you are allowed to be off, and if you take off and work other days during the week to make up, is the pay still the same. I'm assuming there is a diff for the weekend option. Good luck those are rough hours to work. I did weekend option for about a year but did F/S/S 3/12's pay was $6 more per hour. Had to work 5 w/e per 6 week schedule and pay was same on the days that were not my w/e shifts. How long is your drive? Mine was an hour each way so stayed (free) at rooms we had available at our hospital. (I still miss that place)

Good luck and get all your questions lined out.....

pinkiepieRN · Apr 27, 2013

It's less than 10 minutes each way. The recruiter said that the position was "flexible", so 3-12's might actually be an option too. I'll have to ask when I interview on Monday. :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2013

I worked 16-hour weekend doubles for several years. I worked from 6:00am to 10:00pm every Saturday and Sunday, and therefore, had Monday through Friday off. The company paid me for 40 hours, considered me a full-time employee, and offered benefits for the position.

Due to the economic situation, many companies are getting rid of the perks associated with working weekend options.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Apr 27, 2013

This would be the perfect schedule for going to school. I wish my facility offered something like this.

But if something happened between those two shifts that prevented me from sleeping, I think that second shift would kill me. Make sure you sleep in-between!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2013

Working every weekend is TOUGH! The world functions on weekends. No weddings, No games for your children(if you have them). I did them fo a while.....you eat and sleep ONLY. I liked having the week of so I was with my kids we didn't pay for childcare. However it gets old. I was getting premium pay. These are lost weekends. Even with my monetary incentive it got old in about a year. I did 3-11, 11-7 Friday, Saturday or Saturday Sunday

It's tough...find out EXACTLY what they mean by flexible.... inquire if you are able to negotiate any weekend time off if asked for in advance.

Marshall1 · Apr 28, 2013

16 hours is LONG time to work continuously - even if it is only 2 days so like the others have posted..make sure about days off, floating, etc. because at some point you are going to need a break. I don't have kids but if I did I don't think I would choose this schedule unless it was the only option. I knew someone years ago who worked the same thing only it was not strictly weekends - she worked this type shift for years and seemed to like it. I would love a weekend only position but so many now are either every F/S/S or S/S w/one shift during the week or as others have posted facilities aren't offering them at all anymore..good luck!

Stephalump · May 4, 2013

I'm about to dive into that schedule while I'm finishing up my RN program. 7am-11pm Sa and Sun, only allowed to request off one weekend per quarter. I have a feeling I'll be fine on the weekend and completely wiped out on Monday and Tuesday.

It's not ideal with kids, but I'm just paying my dues and hopefully I'll get a different shift after graduation.

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · May 7, 2013

I'm a "weekender" - I work two weekend every Saturday and Sunday. But no way could I ever work 16 hour shifts! At my hospital, weekenders are a "premium pay" position, meaning I make a higher hourly rate. Basically meaning I earn about the same (maybe a little more depending) as a full time employee. My only advice to you is to double check the benefits. While my pay is great, my PTO that I earn SUCKS, and we have a no call out policy. So it's tricky.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 7, 2013

remember, there is evidence that too many hours increases risks of medication errors, etc. Would be hard to defend yourself if you were not getting sufficient rest and was impaired. BE CAREFUL