Great Opportunity vs. Humanly Impossible?

Nurses General Nursing

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A facility that I am interviewing at offers only swing shift employment. Meaning 2 weeks of 12 hour days and 2 weeks of 12s on nights. Would it be a welcome change of pace or physically exhausting?

I vote physically (and mentally) exhausting. I did swing shifts when I was younger and they killed me then- wouldn't even think of doing it now!

Studies have proven that rotating shifts are more likely to be unhealthy and unsafe. People need to work the shift that works for them. If you are young and don't have a problem sleeping "whenever", it might work for you.

Personally I have turned down jobs because I think mandatory rotating shifts are WRONG.

My husband worked shift work at a factory for several years. He took a huge paycut to get a non-rotating shift and says he has never regretted it. He always tells people not to take a shift job because the job is your whole life. You have no energy for anything else.

Specializes in Critical Care, Long Term Care.

I never did the rotation in quite that way however have done an occasional night shift because it was requried of the staff. Took me two days to recover. Would not recommend it. Have known other people who did it and had no life because they were always washed out.

Hi! I worked nights only for 7 years, which I hated but at least I was on a routine schedule. I just stayed up on my two nights off....which worked for me. Then I took a job with swing shifts, which I did for about a year. The 12 hour days were great, four days off and I really don't need to recuperate, 12 hours are okay. I'd do that for SIX weeks, then six weeks of 12 hour nights, and I'd fall apart. I'm certainly not going to stay up on my four nights off, so I was EXHAUSTED!! Very difficult to keep up with. Now I'm doing 12 hour days only and love it. Hopes this helps a little bit. :nurse:

Most of the nurses in our hospital do that...2 weeks of 12 hour days and 2 weeks of 12 hour nights...I haven't heard any of them talk about finding it hard to adjust to switching all the time...I work casual so I don't have to do that...I don't really like nights anyway.

Amanda :)

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Huh? What? I'm sorry, I fell asleep just THINKING about what swing shifts do to my bio clock.....smashfreakB.gif

DON'T DO IT!!! JUST SAY NO!!!

Our facility makes nurses do 2 days followed by 2 nights each rotation! It is an absolute killer. I am casual and so I get to pick my shifts and take almost all nights because I find switching back and forth very tiring.

I don't know if I would like the twelve hour thing, but I do rotate day/nights at the job I just started. I never thought I would consider working nights, but it's actually kind of nice... I don't have to pay for parking, have more time to spend with my patients and it's usually just less hectic. At the same time, I like my days because I'm done at 3:30 and I have my whole day ahead of me. Not too shabby...

I work not really swing but one week I wk 2 12hr day and 1 12hr nights then, the next week work just the oppisite, IT IS KILLER!!!!!! DONT DO IT well thats just my advice anyway I am always tired I never know if I am coming or going. Birght side is only 1 week left and I go back to 3 12hr day shifts good luck you will need it lol

Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by huggietoes

A facility that I am interviewing at offers only swing shift employment. Meaning 2 weeks of 12 hour days and 2 weeks of 12s on nights. Would it be a welcome change of pace or physically exhausting?

Do NOT this!!!! You won't know which way is up! Bad for the health...mental and physical!

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