Balancing Work and Leisure: The Gift of Free Time in Nursing
There are certain things we all yearn to have more of: money and free time. Unfortunately, in today’s world, it often feels like we live to work rather than work to live. We can easily get caught up in the whirlwind of work routines and the burnout culture of our current century, where the pursuit of higher income and more leisure time is a constant struggle.
With enough money and free time, we can afford to indulge in life’s pleasures that might otherwise be out of reach. For instance, exploring the world through travel, embarking on personal or professional projects that were once unattainable due to time or financial constraints, dedicating more hours to beloved hobbies that time hasn’t allowed, or simply focusing on nurturing those dreams that tend to be postponed due to a lack of time—sometimes even the time to sleep.
The free time offered by nursing in the United States is undeniably one of its greatest benefits. Most hospitals provide 12-hour shifts, allowing nurses to work just three days a week while fulfilling the requirements of a full-time employee. This means qualifying for all the benefits the hospital offers: health insurance, life insurance, retirement accounts, savings accounts, and more. Plus, you’ll have the other four days of the week off if you choose—quite a deal, isn’t it?
When you objectively crunch the numbers, it translates to working three days a week and enjoying four days off, totaling between 16 to 20 free days per month, depending on the month. This adds up to a grand total of 209 free days per year, not continuous but indeed free days. On a broader scale, 209 free days per year equate to nearly 7 months—excluding vacation time. In essence, you have the majority of the year at your leisure.
In conclusion, nursing in the United States offers you ample free time to truly embrace life and ultimately work to live, rather than live to work. You’ll have the chance to dedicate time to those things you’ve always longed for: family, personal and professional projects, relationships, life itself, travel, and even some extra hours of work.
