Got an email from a nurse I befriended at my old job. When I worked there, everyones biggest complaint about the mandatory 12 hour shifts was that they turned in to 13-14 hours shift.
Report on that unit typically takes 40 minutes. Oh, it takes the oncoming shift 10 minutes to get their stuff (assignment, CNA assignment, report sheet) together to even get report. After report, another half-hour to finish up our own charting from the day (after finding the chart), and asnswering the phone/call light while since nobody else is at the desk to do it...etc, etc.
Sound familiar?
She is so burnt from this, and upset because on workdays, she doesn't get to see her toddler at all.
When I am able to afford this, I will follow in her shoes...
She is now working at a job working 4 days a week, 8 hour shifts.
Again, she said on most days, she doesn't get out until an hour later....so she does end up getting almost exactly 36 hours/week....on average. She does try to get out on time, but that rarely happens.
She says she feels so much better, she has energy, she sees her family every day now, has energy to exercise, etc, etc....
Nice, eh? Anytime I work 8 hour shifts, they FLY by. I could easily do 4 of those a week.....
