Nurses: What is your schedule like?

Do you have a nice schedule? Is it conducive to family life or raising a family? Do you like it when you work? What is the average number of hours a week? Vacation time at all? It is true that many nurses start out with night shift?

You don't have to answer all these questions. I would just like a general idea of the working schedule of a registered nurse

Where I work (nursing home) some nurses work 7-3, 3-11, or 11-7 Mon-Fri. Then on the weekends some work 7am-7pm or 7pm-7am. Some work full-time then have a part-time job or 2 part-time jobs. Some work 2 double shifts during the week, then 1 single shift. And there are other combinations.

In hospitals, home agencies, doctor's offices and schools the schedules are all different. Many are facilities are flexible. Some may require weekends. Most hospitals or nursing homes require holidays. It really just all depends.

I work rotating 12 hour shifts, either 7am-7pm or 7pm to 7am. I work 3/4 full time, which means I work 5 shifts in a two week pay period, so I am home alot, which is great since I do have a family with 3 kids. I'm also still in school taking more classes.

Not all nurses have to start on nights. Apply for whatever job you want to work - all job postings will tell you what shifts you're expected to work. Nights really aren't as bad as everyone makes it out to be, and you get paid quite a bit extra for those shifts. There are more opportunities for rotating schedules of day/eves or day/nights. It is highly unusual to get a straight days position at a hospital without working your way up the seniority ladder.

I earned 2 weeks vacation in my first year as a new graduate. If you work straight nights you get time off bonuses, like an extra two days every 3 months or something. Depends on the employer of course.

I have an excellent schedule 7a-3:30p. I work 72 hrs a pay period. Due to my years experience I do not have to take call. I am a surgery nurse. My husband is a recovery room nurse. He works two 8 hr days and two 12 hr days. We work around each other schedules to help with our children. He will go in at 8:30 on his day schedule. Since our children are in school this works out quite well. He has to take call which is not but 2 every time sheet, which equals 4 weeks. He is off the day after each call. Neither one of us had to start out on the night shift, but when the children were babies I worked 3-11 and he would work days or vice versa. The hospital where we work you start out with 6.692 hrs. vacation a pay period. There are twenty six pay periods. I get more vacation time since I have been there longer. Would I change careers No Way. Thankful to have a job in this day and time.

I work 3 twelve hour shifts, 7am to 7:30pm...I rotate weekends. I usually work 2 off 2... and as many holidays as I can get.... DOUBLE TIME

I started working 3rds and liked it because it was an easy transition into the chaos of the nursing profession. I love my job except for the times when I really want to be off by 7:30 and something always comes up. As far as family life... you make it work as best as you can