4th Year Rotation Schedules?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

mds50

New Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
So I am currently a third year, and I am thinking ahead to my rotation schedule next year. I was wondering - how many people had rotations that were around normal work hours Monday - Friday (7am-3pm, 8-4, 9-5, or around there)? How likely is it that you would have to work weekends or late nights? I know it all depends on when your preceptor works, but I was just curious to see how common it is to have to work odd shifts during 4th year rotations.

Also, are preceptors ever flexible with hours? For example, if I wanted to be able to work one weekday evening, or if I had something planned for that evening, would a preceptor be okay with coming in early/leaving early for a day here or there? I do assume that it varies between preceptors, but I am just trying to get a general idea.

Thanks in advance!

Members don't see this ad.
 
Rotations are so varied as are preceptors (in my experience) that there hasn't been a hard and fast rule. I've been able to previously secure 4x10h on one rotation and gotten shot down on two others. One of mine let me out early day and never added lunch to my day's time (6.5h days usually). One I was never out before 6 but never had hw. Now I'm usually there 10-12h/d at least and have had steady projects. If you're thinking about working, I'd think again unless you can get in touch with graduates and find out the easy rotations.
 
normal hours are the typical. I haven't heard of late nights/weekends being common. community pharmacists may be more flexible since they may have to be there late/weekends themselves.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I don't think our preceptors were allowed to force students to stay weekends (aside from making up missed days). Never stayed at rotation site past 7PM either.

Aside from retail, no, it typically isn't flexible, as there are typically things you are typically supposed to be doing at certain times of the day (rounds, seeing patients, meetings, etc...)
 
First ICU rotation: 7am-5pm usually, working lunches.
2nd ICU rotation: got in by 815-830am to round by 9am, left by 4pm. Fewer hours because I knew what I was doing.
Community: 9am-2pm, my preceptor was awesome and let me out early so i could work after rotation.

All other rotations usually 8-4:30 ish
 
Most of my rotations were like 9-5. A few of my Public Health rotations like at the Department of Health let me stay at home and work on data on Excel or I'd be in the field like at a school letting them know of a new DOH thing coming out.

Only my Internal Med rotation was where I was at the site from like 7AM-6PM usually, sometimes even like 7AM-11PM.
 
Most of my rotations were like 9-5. A few of my Public Health rotations like at the Department of Health let me stay at home and work on data on Excel or I'd be in the field like at a school letting them know of a new DOH thing coming out.

Only my Internal Med rotation was where I was at the site from like 7AM-6PM usually, sometimes even like 7AM-11PM.

Which hospital was that? For internal med?
 
Almost all of our ER rotations are 2nd shift. I would ask around and see if there is anything like that at your sites.
 
So far every rotation has had different hours. If your SP is cool, that will help immensely. Every time I start a new rotation, I let him know what my availability is, and he has no problem making it work. I've had one that was a regular 9-5 m-f, hospital 10hrs x4 days (7am-5pm), one where I'd rotate between 9-5 and 1-9, and another hospital that starts at 6am, and I usually get out around 3, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes not until 5. Haven't had my community yet, so can't speak for how flexible that will be. If I can do the same hours as my preceptor and do 3 or 4x12 or something like that, I'd be able to work a ton at my regular job.
 
So far every rotation has had different hours. If your SP is cool, that will help immensely. Every time I start a new rotation, I let him know what my availability is, and he has no problem making it work. I've had one that was a regular 9-5 m-f, hospital 10hrs x4 days (7am-5pm), one where I'd rotate between 9-5 and 1-9, and another hospital that starts at 6am, and I usually get out around 3, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes not until 5. Haven't had my community yet, so can't speak for how flexible that will be. If I can do the same hours as my preceptor and do 3 or 4x12 or something like that, I'd be able to work a ton at my regular job.

Wait, you tell the preceptor on your rotation what your availability is? Did I read that right?
 
My average hours have been 8-4ish. Inpatient starts at 7 or even sometimes 6, outpatient starting 8 or 8:30 and retail at 9.

That being said, I had one retail rotation (so far) that the preceptor expected me to mirror their hours - including evening shifts and weekends. Thankfully I contacted them a few weeks early and was able to rearrange my regular work schedule to accomidate that. 😱

That does seem to be unusual, the staff at both my regular employer and my school were shocked about the weekend hours. On the other hand, it was actually a pretty good community rotation.
 
I think by SP he meant his supervisor at work, so he was basing his work schedule on his rotations, not giving his availability to his preceptor.

Yeah same with me. The DOP at the place where I worked as an intern knew that I was on rotations and I'd just come in whenever I got off rotations in the evening. Like one month I'd show up at 6PM, another month at 8PM, etc.
 
I think by SP he meant his supervisor at work, so he was basing his work schedule on his rotations, not giving his availability to his preceptor.
Right. I tell my $$ SP when I will be at my rotation, so any time that I am not on rotation, I am working.

Just got the rough schedule for my retail rotation, basically going to do the same shifts as my preceptor, so I'll be rotating through 8-4s, 2-10s, and every other weekend. Kind of sucks that he doesn't do 12 or 14 hr shifts because I'd get more days off (and by off I mean work for $$) but they're short shifts, so I guess it's alright.
 
Top