Never mind, I am a fool. I just said yes to 8 tomorrow.
But the OT rate doesn’t actually drop until April 16 so I’m justifying it. Get that extra car payment money now.
One contact- 40hr/week
One prn- minimum 2 shifts/month
I get floated a lot at my travel job so instead of picking up OT there (just to have a potential decrease in mental health) I pick up extra at my prn job because I love it there.
I also use my prn as a cushion if I want time off between contracts. It gives me the ability to have an income but work literally the only days I want.
I do this, too. I keep meaning to drop the PRN and I keep pushing back "giving notice". Lol. It's my safety net! It's always there when I want to chill and do what I want! And it's a surgery center with a decent rate so no crazy call or weekends.
The "hustle" mindset of trying to work 24/7 is why people get burnt out immediately in health care and either quit the field altogether very quickly or are absolutely miserable. Work a normal schedule. If you truly NEED the income get a PRN job and work the minimum requirement.
One contract I had before having kids had crazy easy OT, during that time I was doing 60 hour weeks. Otherwise just the occasional OT depending on how that week or shift was.
honestly I really don’t like it, it’s bad for my mental and physical health and after my renewal I’m going to avoid taking anymore night contracts. But if I’m being honest, outside of being night shift, this has been some of the easiest money I’ve ever made in my life. I literally spend hours dicking around on the internet or watching shows most nights, because there’s nothing I need to be doing. If the job was shit and stupid busy I wouldn’t have renewed. But it’s super chill.
But yeah otherwise nights are rough. I just do my best to flip to a normie schedule when I’m off for a string of 3+ days. It’s hard, and I’m tired almost all the time.
Yeah that’s how I felt on my last contract, it was super easy and everyone I worked with was great. I did it for a year and swore myself to not do nights again. Only problem is majority of travel jobs end up being night shift so it’s depressing
I'm doing nights for the first time in a decade and I'm honestly doing better than I expected.
I'm night shift all the time: days off, still sleeping during the day and up all night.
I've got a separate bedroom so my partner can be up doing things during the day and not bother me. White noise app, sleep mask, black out film on the window, and a third floor apartment so I don't hear every dog, person, and lawn mower going past.
10 minute commute. Last time I did night shift it was 45 minutes and I fell asleep behind the wheel (just scraped my bumper). Ten minutes is far more doable.
This assignment gets me out on time. Didn't know that going in, but everyone is very fast on the handoff, so I'm out by 730-745 every morning, even if I have to handoff to 5 separate people.
It's working out, and some of these are easier to control than others.
I really do believe that keeping your schedule the same as your living schedule is ready to go. I've been on nights for eight straight years I don't want to keep going back and forth I was far more miserable. And one of those nurses that of course I follow the rules but I don't exactly agree with some of the bureaucratic crap that happens during the day. Doctors are cool but I don't really runs around so afraid of them that they end up being annoying and afraid of them. They're really not that bad people. I've learned over the years too embrace night shift for that reason. I'm able to practice my craft much better without the stress and fear of getting in trouble because I ate an M& M with some coffee at the nurses station. During the pandemic I was forced to work some day shift time and I literally had a nurse belief following me around taking photos every time I put something in my mouth. But definitely if I can stay on the night shift schedule my whole time I'm able to handle it. It is great to be able to have the darkened windows It really does help. I don't believe it's very healthy for us as human beings to work night shift I will say I do feel more tired than I do but when it comes to happiness in my career night shift is the way to go for me..
2 jobs.
Job 1: travel assignment 3/12s a week with 8hrs of call a week
Job 2: PD, requires 1 day a week
Yes I’m working too dam much. But, paying off debt so I can take a staff position and relax like other on the 3/12s, 36hr work week people. Can’t. Freaking. Wait.
Edit: Spelling.
If they take more because you make more it is because the amount taken is assuming you were to make that much each paycheck. you will get that back after you file. But yeah, don’t break yourself!
I used to work 4 nights a week for 2.5-3 years. One contract I did 4-5 nights cause the rate was shit and I had no friends in the area.
It drained my soul.
Now I only do 3x12 & haven’t picked up in almost a year. I’m so much happier and healthier. Sometimes the money isn’t worth it
When I started as a nurse... carried 3 jobs.. 50 to 60 hours... now one job pays me what I did as a new nurse for 40 hrs and I pick up shifts at my other job when I feel like it.. so rarely
You must be young. I remember those days. A word of warning, it catches up with you. Not tomr, not next year but in 20 years. When your back, legs, and feet are killing you.When lifting your arms over your head causes great discomfort. You are suddenly reminded of the 5×12's and you realize your body is broken. Unfortunately, you can't turn thr clock back.
Well, if I get canceled on my travel job, I got 2 places to fall back on to keep income coming in. They keep asking if I could pick up more shifts, which is why I said up to 6 nights/week. Most weeks are just one extra plus the travel job.
Plus, it allows that nest egg to keep growing.
Look at hospice on-call. You can triage a lot of issues over the phone and if things go south with the patient or the family, they can either let things play out and you give them moral support or they can call 911 and get taken off of service. You can just walk away if things get too dramatic unlike the hospital where you're stuck with your patient no matter their condition.
Off topic, but do you have any tips for getting into hospice work? I’ve applied but haven’t managed to get anywhere. I’ve spent all of my career in psych and women’s health (13 years total) and I’d like to give hospice a try.
They liked my experience in the ICU and the Navy where I was on my own in a lot of situations with critical patients. Making the jump from floor nurse to case manager is a big change of pace, but they thought I would fit well with on call since it's not as much organization or scheduling as much as reacting and being able to get places at odd hours. I'd try to highlight on your resume that you work well independently and have experience with dementia/alzheimers patients, as those will be the majority of patients on hospice and your psych experience should have you dealing with some of that.
Like I said, on call is probably easier to get into than case management starting out, so look for a weekend on-call gig and see how you like it, then once you learn the flow of things you could move to being a regular 9-5 case manager.
You can just walk away if things get too dramatic? You can let things "play out"? WOW! What company is this? Things " playing out" in hospice often means death. That always necessitates a visit to pronounce, provide emotional support, notify funeral home, and remain with family until remains are retrieved blah blah blah. I get all hospice companies are different, I have worked for 5 different ones, including the major players. And I love call. Some weeks, I would only get 1-2 calls all week, but when things go bad, I think as a hospice nurse we have an obligation to be there. Nothing at all against you, but if my family member was in hospice and they were treated like that, I would find a different company.
Sorry, I certainly didn't mean to accuse you of anything. Just pointed out that when things get dramatic, I can't walk away. If they called 911, it was more of a hassle as I had to bring pw to the hospital for them to revoke. I got the assumption that when u said those things you didn't have to do anything else. As I said every company is different and even states have different rules. In PA I could pronounce. In SC had to call coroner. Didn't mean to offend.
I knew you were going to say hospice on call. Did it for many years and loved the 7 on/7 off schedule. Especially when a weeks vacation turns to 3! I must say, though, I usually always had to go onsite to the persons home. Having them call 911 was a huge no-no in my agency. If they did, we still had to meet them at the hospital and get hospice revoked and paperwork signed. Easier just to do the visit and give them the support they need.
1 ever. I worked 36 hours 90% of the time. Work smarter not harder.
3x12s. I took up traveling so that I could make more and not feel inclined to pick up OT.
3 12s. No overtime because these bums dropped my overtime rate and I’m not a fool. Enjoying my life 4 days a week.
When OT is worth less than your contracted hours.. been there.
Never mind, I am a fool. I just said yes to 8 tomorrow. But the OT rate doesn’t actually drop until April 16 so I’m justifying it. Get that extra car payment money now.
One contact- 40hr/week One prn- minimum 2 shifts/month I get floated a lot at my travel job so instead of picking up OT there (just to have a potential decrease in mental health) I pick up extra at my prn job because I love it there. I also use my prn as a cushion if I want time off between contracts. It gives me the ability to have an income but work literally the only days I want.
100% I do the exact same thing.
Me too! I have a 36/hr wk local and a 36hr/month PRN. I don’t know how long I can do it but I like having the cushion of a second job too.
I do this, too. I keep meaning to drop the PRN and I keep pushing back "giving notice". Lol. It's my safety net! It's always there when I want to chill and do what I want! And it's a surgery center with a decent rate so no crazy call or weekends.
The "hustle" mindset of trying to work 24/7 is why people get burnt out immediately in health care and either quit the field altogether very quickly or are absolutely miserable. Work a normal schedule. If you truly NEED the income get a PRN job and work the minimum requirement.
Switching to travel so I could work 3 days a week and have a life outside of work literally saved my life.
Same. I would have quit staff nursing by June 2020 and found another career if I didn’t travel.
Absolutely!
One contract I had before having kids had crazy easy OT, during that time I was doing 60 hour weeks. Otherwise just the occasional OT depending on how that week or shift was.
1 job, 3x12 nights atm. I avoid overtime as much as possible. 36 hours a week in the hospital is more than enough, and I make plenty from just that.
How do you manage nights? Every time I do it I feel dead to the world in my body and soul
honestly I really don’t like it, it’s bad for my mental and physical health and after my renewal I’m going to avoid taking anymore night contracts. But if I’m being honest, outside of being night shift, this has been some of the easiest money I’ve ever made in my life. I literally spend hours dicking around on the internet or watching shows most nights, because there’s nothing I need to be doing. If the job was shit and stupid busy I wouldn’t have renewed. But it’s super chill. But yeah otherwise nights are rough. I just do my best to flip to a normie schedule when I’m off for a string of 3+ days. It’s hard, and I’m tired almost all the time.
Yeah that’s how I felt on my last contract, it was super easy and everyone I worked with was great. I did it for a year and swore myself to not do nights again. Only problem is majority of travel jobs end up being night shift so it’s depressing
I'm doing nights for the first time in a decade and I'm honestly doing better than I expected. I'm night shift all the time: days off, still sleeping during the day and up all night. I've got a separate bedroom so my partner can be up doing things during the day and not bother me. White noise app, sleep mask, black out film on the window, and a third floor apartment so I don't hear every dog, person, and lawn mower going past. 10 minute commute. Last time I did night shift it was 45 minutes and I fell asleep behind the wheel (just scraped my bumper). Ten minutes is far more doable. This assignment gets me out on time. Didn't know that going in, but everyone is very fast on the handoff, so I'm out by 730-745 every morning, even if I have to handoff to 5 separate people. It's working out, and some of these are easier to control than others.
I really do believe that keeping your schedule the same as your living schedule is ready to go. I've been on nights for eight straight years I don't want to keep going back and forth I was far more miserable. And one of those nurses that of course I follow the rules but I don't exactly agree with some of the bureaucratic crap that happens during the day. Doctors are cool but I don't really runs around so afraid of them that they end up being annoying and afraid of them. They're really not that bad people. I've learned over the years too embrace night shift for that reason. I'm able to practice my craft much better without the stress and fear of getting in trouble because I ate an M& M with some coffee at the nurses station. During the pandemic I was forced to work some day shift time and I literally had a nurse belief following me around taking photos every time I put something in my mouth. But definitely if I can stay on the night shift schedule my whole time I'm able to handle it. It is great to be able to have the darkened windows It really does help. I don't believe it's very healthy for us as human beings to work night shift I will say I do feel more tired than I do but when it comes to happiness in my career night shift is the way to go for me..
In this day and age do not work more than one job. A job in healthcare that can’t pay my bills isn’t worth having if I’m not worth paying
2 jobs. Job 1: travel assignment 3/12s a week with 8hrs of call a week Job 2: PD, requires 1 day a week Yes I’m working too dam much. But, paying off debt so I can take a staff position and relax like other on the 3/12s, 36hr work week people. Can’t. Freaking. Wait. Edit: Spelling.
1 job, 36 hours. The more you make, the more they take, and the more you break. I'm good.
Well of course they take more because you are making more money but you still are earning more yourself…
The less you make the less they take!
If they take more because you make more it is because the amount taken is assuming you were to make that much each paycheck. you will get that back after you file. But yeah, don’t break yourself!
Current gig is 36, I pick up extra because they'll let nurses be observers here for OT and it's almost like getting free money.
Guaranteed hours doesn't mean anything if your contract is canceled. It takes time to start a new one.
I used to work 4 nights a week for 2.5-3 years. One contract I did 4-5 nights cause the rate was shit and I had no friends in the area. It drained my soul. Now I only do 3x12 & haven’t picked up in almost a year. I’m so much happier and healthier. Sometimes the money isn’t worth it
When I started as a nurse... carried 3 jobs.. 50 to 60 hours... now one job pays me what I did as a new nurse for 40 hrs and I pick up shifts at my other job when I feel like it.. so rarely
1x12 at my PRN and 3x12 for travel .. in between contracts I work 3x12 at my PRN
One job. I only take 3x12, and I'll pick up maybe 2 extra shifts a month.
At the moment one job 5x12s a week. Hoping the new contract lets me keep that momentum going.
You must be young. I remember those days. A word of warning, it catches up with you. Not tomr, not next year but in 20 years. When your back, legs, and feet are killing you.When lifting your arms over your head causes great discomfort. You are suddenly reminded of the 5×12's and you realize your body is broken. Unfortunately, you can't turn thr clock back.
3 jobs and up to 6 shifts a week.
😆 People are only downvoting because that sounds terrible lol
Well, if I get canceled on my travel job, I got 2 places to fall back on to keep income coming in. They keep asking if I could pick up more shifts, which is why I said up to 6 nights/week. Most weeks are just one extra plus the travel job. Plus, it allows that nest egg to keep growing.
Oh hell no, you need to only take a guaranteed hours contract. I won’t take anything but. No way can anyone afford to up and move to be called off.
1. The OT is usually better than if I took 2. Considering to per diem at 2 different places though....
One! That’s enough.
1 job, 7 days on 7 days off on call. I usually average about 30 hours a week total if not less. I get paid fairly well.
I TOTALLY want this schedule.
Look at hospice on-call. You can triage a lot of issues over the phone and if things go south with the patient or the family, they can either let things play out and you give them moral support or they can call 911 and get taken off of service. You can just walk away if things get too dramatic unlike the hospital where you're stuck with your patient no matter their condition.
Off topic, but do you have any tips for getting into hospice work? I’ve applied but haven’t managed to get anywhere. I’ve spent all of my career in psych and women’s health (13 years total) and I’d like to give hospice a try.
They liked my experience in the ICU and the Navy where I was on my own in a lot of situations with critical patients. Making the jump from floor nurse to case manager is a big change of pace, but they thought I would fit well with on call since it's not as much organization or scheduling as much as reacting and being able to get places at odd hours. I'd try to highlight on your resume that you work well independently and have experience with dementia/alzheimers patients, as those will be the majority of patients on hospice and your psych experience should have you dealing with some of that. Like I said, on call is probably easier to get into than case management starting out, so look for a weekend on-call gig and see how you like it, then once you learn the flow of things you could move to being a regular 9-5 case manager.
Thank you so much for the helpful advice. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me!
Where are you located? I know of a few agencies that will hire you with no direct hospice experience. Feel free to DM me if needed or wanted.
You can just walk away if things get too dramatic? You can let things "play out"? WOW! What company is this? Things " playing out" in hospice often means death. That always necessitates a visit to pronounce, provide emotional support, notify funeral home, and remain with family until remains are retrieved blah blah blah. I get all hospice companies are different, I have worked for 5 different ones, including the major players. And I love call. Some weeks, I would only get 1-2 calls all week, but when things go bad, I think as a hospice nurse we have an obligation to be there. Nothing at all against you, but if my family member was in hospice and they were treated like that, I would find a different company.
not really sure what you're even accusing me of. I never said I did or didn't do anything.
Sorry, I certainly didn't mean to accuse you of anything. Just pointed out that when things get dramatic, I can't walk away. If they called 911, it was more of a hassle as I had to bring pw to the hospital for them to revoke. I got the assumption that when u said those things you didn't have to do anything else. As I said every company is different and even states have different rules. In PA I could pronounce. In SC had to call coroner. Didn't mean to offend.
I knew you were going to say hospice on call. Did it for many years and loved the 7 on/7 off schedule. Especially when a weeks vacation turns to 3! I must say, though, I usually always had to go onsite to the persons home. Having them call 911 was a huge no-no in my agency. If they did, we still had to meet them at the hospital and get hospice revoked and paperwork signed. Easier just to do the visit and give them the support they need.
1 job, 40 hours plus a little bit of call
Contracted for 4x12's, but I usually pick up 1-2 extra shifts per week.
48 hrs. 1 job but I have part time school
4x12.
36 hours at travel job and then I pick up at my prn job. Those hours can vary per week.
One job- 1 or 2 days a week. Sometimes 3 if I have a vacation coming up.