4 answers
michael
Student
Scotts Valley, California
5
Questions
Updated
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What career in the medical field would give me a very "flexible" schedule?
i would like to know hours or schedule in certain occupations.
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4 answers
Joseph Neilson
Radiation Detection Physicist
224
Answers
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
One of my family is a locum doctor, which she gets quite a lot of flexibility from. Basically it's going round many hospitals filling in for staff shortages. That means she has no fixed schedule but is able to accept shifts that are convenient and can reject offers that don't work out.
Obviously it doesn't start off like that; in the time taken to get all the necessary qualifications and training to be able to do it, you have to work to whatever schedules the training demands, but once you're qualified it can be quite a flexible career.
Obviously it doesn't start off like that; in the time taken to get all the necessary qualifications and training to be able to do it, you have to work to whatever schedules the training demands, but once you're qualified it can be quite a flexible career.
Thank you, Joseph!
michael
Lauren Swansinger
Physical Therapist Assistant
13
Answers
Wyandotte, Michigan
Updated
Lauren’s Answer
Depends on what you want as flexible. I can tell you from a physical therapist (assistant) stand point. PRN, is an as needed position. You work with staffing companies or directly with companies to make a schedule. With staffing companies, they are the middle man, and you may not know your schedule until the week before. Directly with companies, you set your schedule three months at a time (usually I give them some schedule in advance and add if I want to pick up more time). The actual times you work vary from each facility you are covering ranging from 7a-6p, to 9a-5p (sometimes half days, sometime you get sent home from not enough patients to see)
Flexible full time jobs. Home health and Acute care in the hospital are the most flexible. Home health you set your schedule to see your patients whenever you want and see a patient for about 1hr at a time and you can choose how many patients you see in a day (generally speaking). Acute care in a hospital you have a start time (which is more or less a suggestion and can be negotiated) and you can leave if you need to do something mid day, and when you come back you are done when you have seen all your patients. You get about 10 patients in a day (who may refuse) and then of course notes.
Travel is another thing to consider. Assignments generally run 3 months at a time, they are (usually) 40hr work weeks for that time. Sometimes they ask for you to stay longer but if you don't you are done and go home. If you plan well you can make good money any only work half a year by taking breaks between assignments (you make a lot of money this way so taking time off can be very easy).
Flexible full time jobs. Home health and Acute care in the hospital are the most flexible. Home health you set your schedule to see your patients whenever you want and see a patient for about 1hr at a time and you can choose how many patients you see in a day (generally speaking). Acute care in a hospital you have a start time (which is more or less a suggestion and can be negotiated) and you can leave if you need to do something mid day, and when you come back you are done when you have seen all your patients. You get about 10 patients in a day (who may refuse) and then of course notes.
Travel is another thing to consider. Assignments generally run 3 months at a time, they are (usually) 40hr work weeks for that time. Sometimes they ask for you to stay longer but if you don't you are done and go home. If you plan well you can make good money any only work half a year by taking breaks between assignments (you make a lot of money this way so taking time off can be very easy).
Thank you so much, Lauren!
michael
Nailya Muganlinskaya, ACNP-BC, DNP, MPH
Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care
12
Answers
Reisterstown, Maryland
Updated
Nailya’s Answer
Michael,
as a nurse you can achieve a lot of work flexibility . For instance, if you are an agency nurse, you may decide how many patients or assignments you want to "pickup" . If you are a travel nurse or a pull nurse, you may decide where you want to work and where to travel. If you are a consulting nurse or a nurse -educator, you may select your venues as well. However, whatever you decide to do, you need to remember that initially you might need to agree to inflexible work requirements, so you could polish yourself as a professional and acquire the inability to chose more flexible work style.
as a nurse you can achieve a lot of work flexibility . For instance, if you are an agency nurse, you may decide how many patients or assignments you want to "pickup" . If you are a travel nurse or a pull nurse, you may decide where you want to work and where to travel. If you are a consulting nurse or a nurse -educator, you may select your venues as well. However, whatever you decide to do, you need to remember that initially you might need to agree to inflexible work requirements, so you could polish yourself as a professional and acquire the inability to chose more flexible work style.
Chetyra Lewis
Respiratory Therapist
2
Answers
Cleveland, Ohio
Updated
Chetyra’s Answer
The bitter sweet think about the current climate of healthcare is staffing. Most people entering the field ( both new and experienced) have opportunities to make their own schedule demands because hospitals are in need. I would say maybe looking into some remote positions might be suitable and there’s always good ol PRN! Lol
Thank you so much, Chetyra!
michael
Greetings , A job that provides what you are asking for is like a school nurse, the (Factory) nurse. Any corporation company that provides injury first medical treatment. There is also immunization clinics these types of field specializations. Anywhere a standard of 9-5 operation would suit you. Nursing is a life style of a future you make it what you want out of it. Maybe it's time to think about another occupation. Nursing demands love and care not just for specifics, and definitely not for money.
Eric Snow
Eric Snow