What hours do nurse practitioners work?

Most hospitals operate on a 24-hour schedule, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Nurse practitioners in this working environment might have any given shift around the clock. This includes early mornings and late nights.

It is likely that most hospitals have more nurse practitioners working during the day, and slightly fewer at night and in the early morning hours, but those working in hospitals can expect shifts beginning and ending at any point during a 24-hour period. Nurse practitioners in this setting also often have to work weekends and holidays.

• Medical Clinics

Many medical clinics operate during traditional business hours, like 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Nurse practitioners in this work environment are most likely to work traditional business-hour shifts of eight hours for five days a week. Those who work part-time likely still work eight-hour shifts, but only work three to four days per week.

However, there are some medical clinics that operate much like hospitals, meaning some nurse practitioners working in this environment might have to put in shifts around the clock and also work on certain weekends and holidays.

• Physicians' offices

Physicians' offices mirror medical clinics in that most are open during traditional business hours. Meaning nurse practitioners can expect to work eight-hour shifts, from around 9 am to 5 pm.

The difference with physicians' offices is that some can be open on weekends to accommodate certain patients' schedules, meaning nurse practitioners might have to put in weekend shifts as well.

• Outpatient medical settings

Nurse practitioners that work in outpatient medical settings can work a variety of hours. This mostly depends on the needs of their clients. Some who work in this environment might put in traditional shifts of eight hours from 9am to 5 pm, while others might have to work late nights, early mornings, weekends, or even on-call shifts that can happen at any hour.