Do Nurses Have To Work During Most Shifts?

Question

I'm considering a degree in nursing. I have 4 questions: 1) Do nurses have to work variable shifts (such as night shifts from 12am to 7am, for example) or could they choose what shifts they want? If yes, would obtaining an A.S. in Nursing (and RN license) as opposed to a LPN license increase the choices I have when choosing the work shifts?

2) Do nurses ever have to bring work home? I don't think they do, but I just want to be sure.

3) Do nurses have to work overtime (more than 8 hours a day) , especially as a new nurse, or is it optional?

4) Are health care benefits provided for full-time as well as part-time nurses?

Thanks.

Answer 1

1. The shortage of nurses in the US is such that you can pretty much choose your shift. I am sure that some do rotate shifts, but that is more of an antiquated system. You choose your shift when you are hired and that is the shift that you work until you decide to change.

2. Due to privacy laws, I would be remiss to think (or to learn, for that matter) that a nurse would bring/be required to bring sensitive patient information home from the institution. Even if the nurse were a case manager, I dont think that happens.

3. Overtime is an interesting issue. Under some circumstances, you can be mandated to do OT. Those are extreme situations (natural disasters, snow storms, huge accidents, etc.). Normally, it is available IF you want it. BUT, when your base rate is $30-35 an hour times 1.5 for OT, that is a nice chunk of change (45-52). Who wouldnt want an extra few hours a week at that rate???

4. I havent found a hospital yet that doesnt offer their nurses insurance for healthcare. I challenge you to find an accredited hospital that does not do this.

Answer 2

1) the higher your training and certification, the more options you will have available. An MSN with an RN and NP cert. will call his/her own shots. An LPN with no experience gets what nobody else wants.

The standard shifts are "office hours" (9-5) for office nurses but in most other settings there are either 8 hour shifts or 12 hour shifts.

Common shift times are 7-3, 3-11, and 11-7; or 8a-8p, 8p-8a for 12 hours. Those working 12s generally only work three days a week - such as Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Some nurses who work in emergency services (especially mobile intensive care and flight) work 24/48 (24 hours on duty, 48 hours off) just like the paramedics.

Some enjoy working rotating shifts due to shift differentials. You'd work 1 week 1st, 1 week 2nd, 1 week 3rd, 1 week off. (7 days a week) -- these are not as common as the used to be.

2) direct care nurses don't bring work home though administrators often do. You will bring some emotion home from time-to-time; it's hard to let the hard days stay at the hospital.

3) Overtime is almost always optional (except in emergencies) and is most common in some specialties. ER, OR, and OB nurses can't just walk out because it's 3PM when there's something going on.

4) In places where there is a shortage of RNs, part-timers are often offered benefits such as health insurance. Full-timers are almost always offered benefit packages.

In all professions, including nursing, the most options are available to the people with the highest education and experience.

Answer 3

Nurses work all shifts, typically, if you're hiring on, you'll get the shifts that are less popular with the current staff. Some people prefer over-night shifts, some prefer days, etc. It all depends on what's advertised. Benefits, like anywhere else, is up to the company you're hired by..

Answer 4

questions 1,3 and 4 really have to do with what your prospective employer requires for the job, and what is available. And no, nurses don't have to bring work home with them.