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simone54's avatar

What hours nurses work?

Asked by simone54 (7642points) April 5th, 2008

I’m thinking about going to school to be a murse. I’m trying to get out the restaurant business because I don’t wanna work ever weekend. I know nurse usually end up working like 4 12 hour days. Is that usally on weekends? What’s the deal?

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6 Answers

kevbo's avatar

Hospital nurses generally work 7 am to 7 pm or vice versa, 3 days per week plus maybe 4 hours of being on call. Not necessarily on weekends, but sometimes. Generally, nurses have to request days off or on in advance and the schedule is put out a month or two in advance. For a junior nurse, they usually end up getting night shifts and holidays.

Clinic nurses work regular clinic hours. 9–5 or whatever, 5 days a week.

Home healthcare nurses probably work mostly days but I’m sure end up doing early evening work, too.

Nursing is a really good field to get into right now, because there is a national shortage. The pay is good, but there is a potential for burnout due to having to work in understaffed situations. There are a lot of programs that will forgive or pay off your student loans for nursing school and you can pretty much live anywhere there’s a healthcare facility.

If you want to climb the nurse leadership ladder and move into a more admin role, get your BS in Nursing. If you just want to work as a nurse, an associates will do you just fine.

simone54's avatar

I’m defiantly going to think about. It wanna be a doctor but I know I really can’t do that. So this might be a good thing for me.

kevbo's avatar

Being a doc definitely isn’t what it used to be. You might want to look at career paths for physician’s assistant or certified nurse practitioner. Both offer more autonomy and “doctor-like” responsibilities with less schooling.

simone54's avatar

I don’t think I can be a NP ether, too much smarts and to much schooling required. My brother just got done school to be a NP. He is now 29. I am 26 now. So I’d be like 32 when I’m done. If I get my associates degree I’ll only be 28.

I’m assuming you are a nurse? What state? I’m in Cali I hear there is HUGE need.

kevbo's avatar

I worked in healthcare marketing for five years, and my sis is an OB nurse. I’m in NM, but I really think the shortage is nationwide.

arcoarena's avatar

I see that this is from a long time ago but I figured i would comment on this question too since i just was talking to you about CNA licensing.

The great thing about nursing is that there is a huge need for nurses everywhere in the united states. A friend of mine just moved to Maryland from Florida and is working as a Traveling Nurse and gets paid bannnk as an Registered Nurse.

At my hospital (mental), the hours are divided into 3 shifts and they need RN’s, LPN’s and DCA’s (thats me!) for all the different shifts.

so thats 7–3:30 (including an hour break)
3–11:30 (including an hour break)
11:15–7:15 (no hour break but the patients are sleeping and they do not wake up til 6 am so the first 7 hours of your shift is basically a break. lol

hope this helps!

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