The working hours of Australian nurses can vary significantly, and in truth, there is almost always overtime available to nurses due to the demands of the Australian healthcare system. However, as an average baseline, Registered Nurses will work something similar to that of the average Australian—38 hours per week.
Do Nurses Work 3 Days a Week? Many nurses work just 3 days a week. Although it seems like a pretty relaxed and manageable schedule, they work 12-hour shifts on each of those days. Those long shifts can be draining and taxing on the nurse's mental and physical health—it's far from an easy schedule.
Registered nurses usually work five shifts per week—usually 8 hours each—or another combination that totals the same number of hours. For example, some nurses work four 10-hour shifts, and others work three 12-hour shifts. All these varieties add up to a workweek that's roughly 40 hours.
Enterprise agreements can allow for 12 hour shifts, or pursuant to a new 12 Hour Shift Agreement between the employer and ANMF where certain criteria are met, they must include as a minimum two meal breaks inclusive of one paid meal break and three 10 minute paid rest intervals / tea breaks in each 12 hour shift.
Nurses can work 8-, 10-, or 12-hour shifts depending on their employers. Most private practices require nursing staff to work 8 hours, while rehabilitation facilities may range between 8- and 10-hour shifts. Nursing agency shifts and nursing shifts in hospitals are the most likely to run in 12-hour intervals.
One of the perks of being a nurse, at any degree level, is that schedules can be flexible. Many nursing roles are 24-hour jobs, which means nurses can work various shifts and hours… patient care does not always end at five o'clock! Choosing to work alternate shifts is a choice that is available to many RNs.
Nurses can have an especially difficult time balancing work and personal life because of the increased amount of physical and emotional stress that nurses experience. Taking time to decompress after a shift and remembering to prioritize their own needs are necessary to developing a healthy work-life balance.
Many hospitals offer more money to night shift nurses than day shift nurses. This is because the irregular hours of night shifts may be less desirable, in general, to job candidates. If you want a higher paycheck, you might consider working on the night shift more often.
Aged care. For most employees covered by an ANMF (Vic Branch) negotiated enterprise agreement the entitlement to annual leave is 190 hours (five weeks) for registered nurses and 152 hours (four weeks) for all other staff. Shift workers are entitled to an extra 38 hours of leave.
Most nurses are unable to spend time with their family after long shifts in the hospital. Other nurses work opposite shifts in order to gain more quality time with family.
Flexible workdays: One of the biggest benefits of working a nurse's schedule is the amount of days off in a row a nurse can take. Though some nurses choose to work two days on and one off, others opt for three days in a row, so they have four non-working days in a row.
Shift hours will vary by hospital. Keep in mind that a day shift for a nurse could start anywhere from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the day shift. Midday and night shifts could start during anytime as well.
For the most part, they do not require nights and weekends. However, some organizations may require weekend rotations and others may require only Saturday shifts. These settings include, but are not limited to, the following specialties: Outpatient oncology and infusion centers.
Healthcare Jobs
One of the biggest perks of being a nurse is the time off you can get. Most healthcare facilities have strong vacation and paid time off (PTO) policies, with nurses getting seventeen paid vacation days on average after their first year and up to twenty-six on average after twenty years.
Is there an age limit to work in Australia as a nurse? While there is no age limit to work as a nurse in Australia or to apply for AHPRA registration. Different Australian visa's do have different age limit requirements. Some countries are eligible to apply for a working holiday visa up to the age of 35!
Nurses work 3 days a week because hospitals don't want to pay mandatory overtime. We work out ass off and sacrifice so much but ultimately administration cares about the bottom line. Nurses who work 12 hours are scheduled for 3 days a week, 8 hour shifts work 5 days.
Casuals get overtime if they work more than: 38 hours in a week, 76 hours in a fortnight or 152 hours over 28 days. 10 hours in a shift or day.
A Mental Health Nurse is a professional healthcare provider specialising in treating clients with mental health issues; this has become one of the highest-paid nursing jobs in Australia.
Many hospitals allow night shift nurses to nap during scheduled breaks for brief periods of time. Take advantage of these opportunities to help keep your energy levels up. Night shift nurse Kristin W.
While a 30-minute nap can help you to feel more alert during an 8-hour night shift, a longer nap may be more useful if you work an extended night shift of 12 hours or more. Rotating 12-hour, day-night shift systems have been increasingly used for nurses in hospitals and caregivers in nursing homes.
One of the happiest nursing jobs is a position as an office nurse. Nurses who work in a physician or other outpatient office provide direct care to patients for chronic or non-urgent conditions.
Nursing students that become RNs can begin earning salaries that typically exceed the overall average U.S. salary. Overall, RNs earn an average annual salary of $82,750, while the average annual salary breakdown for RNs in different careers stages are: 0-5 years experience: $65,000. 6-10 years experience: $77,000.
The most stressful nursing jobs include ICU nurse, ER nurse, and NICU nurse. In these roles, nurses work in an intense environment with high stakes. They manage emergency situations and care for critically ill patients. Other stressful nursing jobs include OR nursing, oncology nursing, and psychiatric nursing.