How nursing schedules actually work — three 12s, 8- and 10-hour shifts, rotating nights and weekends — plus overtime rules and a free calendar for your own schedule.
Common nurse schedules
| Schedule | Shifts | Hours/week | Where it's common |
|---|
| Three 12s | 3 × 12 h (7a–7:30p or 7p–7:30a) | 36 | Hospitals: med-surg, ICU, ER, labor & delivery |
| Four 10s | 4 × 10 h | 40 | Outpatient, surgery centers, some ERs |
| Five 8s | 5 × 8 h (7a–3:30p, 3p–11:30p, 11p–7:30a) | 40 | Clinics, long-term care, some hospitals |
| Rotating days and nights | 12 h, blocks of days then nights | 36 | Units that share night coverage |
| Weekend program | 2 × 12 h every Saturday and Sunday | 24 | Hospitals filling weekends, often at a premium |
| PRN / per diem | Pick-up shifts as needed | Varies | Nurses who want flexibility |
Most 12-hour shifts are scheduled as 12.5 hours to allow a 30-minute unpaid meal break and handoff report. Many hospitals use self-scheduling (nurses pick shifts within rules on weekends and nights) or block scheduling (a repeating pattern, such as working the same three days each week).
Weekends, holidays and nights
Because hospitals run 24/7, most staff nurses work part of the weekends and holidays. Common rules are every other or every third weekend, and alternating major holidays (for example Thanksgiving one year, Christmas the next). Night nurses usually earn a differential — see what it adds up to with the shift differential calculator — and the night shift sleep schedule has practical plans for 7p–7a.
Overtime rules for nurses
- 40-hour rule: by default, overtime is 1.5× pay for hours over 40 in a workweek. Three 12s (36 hours) create no overtime unless you pick up a shift.
- 8 and 80 system: hospitals may instead use a fixed 14-day period and pay overtime after 8 hours in a day and after 80 hours in the 14 days, if agreed in advance (29 CFR 778.601). Under this system every 12-hour shift would include 4 overtime hours, which is why most hospitals with 12-hour shifts use the 40-hour rule instead.
- State rules: California has daily overtime and special meal-break rules for healthcare; many states limit mandatory overtime for nurses.
See your weekly pay with the time card calculator or yearly totals with the shift pay calculator. Charting in 24-hour time? The military time converter has a printable chart for the nurses' station.
For nurse managers and charge nurses
Build the unit schedule with names, coverage per shift and hours per nurse in the free schedule maker (start from the Healthcare 12-hour template), or download the 12-hour shift schedule template. Track time-off balances with the PTO calculator — on 12-hour shifts, 120 hours of PTO covers 10 shifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical schedule for a nurse?
Most hospital nurses work three 12-hour shifts a week — usually 7 AM to 7:30 PM or 7 PM to 7:30 AM — for 36 hours. Others work five 8-hour or four 10-hour shifts. Most units also require some weekends (often every other or every third weekend) and holidays on a rotating basis.
Why do nurses only work 3 days a week?
Three 12-hour shifts add up to 36 hours, which most hospitals count as full time. 12-hour shifts mean fewer handoffs between nurses, which is good for patient care, and give nurses four days off each week.
How many hours is full time for a nurse?
Usually 36 hours a week (three 12-hour shifts), though some hospitals require 40 hours with 8- or 10-hour shifts.
Do nurses get overtime after 8 hours?
Under federal law, hospitals can pay overtime either after 40 hours in a workweek, or under the "8 and 80" system — after 8 hours in a day and 80 hours in a 14-day period — if agreed in advance. Some states, such as California, add daily overtime rules.
Can a hospital make nurses work mandatory overtime?
Many states restrict mandatory overtime for nurses except in emergencies. Rules vary by state and by union contract, so check your state nursing board or labor department.
How much is a night shift differential for nurses?
Commonly 10% to 15% of base pay, or a few dollars per hour, for night shifts; many hospitals also pay weekend differentials.
General information. Your hospital's policies, union contract and state law decide your schedule and pay.
