Which schedule would you rather work?

trry699 · May 30, 2012

I would take the 3 12 hour shifts in a row, but only if they can guarantee in writing that you will always get it on those 3 days. Because if not, they will keep breaking it up, a day here, 2 there and you will never get the 4 consecutive days off that makes it worthwhile.

luv-of-kids · May 30, 2012

Nice thing about nursing, you have these different options to fit your needs at the time. I worked the 3 12's years ago when my kids were little and it worked out great. I worked 7am to 7pm and their dad worked 3-11's so they only had daycare 2 days a week for 4 hours (had to work eo we and dad was off on we's). The other perk of the 12 hour shifts is you could do some day switching with people and end up with a full week off and still get your full hours, therefore I never had to use my pto. When I left the hosp to go to school full time, I had enough pto accumulated for about 2 months worth of pay (came in very handy bc I was in school full time so I worked agency just 1 to 2 days a week). When I finished school, I took a job working every w/e 16 hours sat and sun. This worked out for me since I just had another baby and didn't want her in daycare, their dad worked m-f. Again, 5 days off in a row plus plenty of time for all the well baby visits. Their dad and I divorced a couple years later so I then went to m-f (same facility) and was blessed to find a church daycare close to home, very affordable and great with my then 2 y.o. Other 2 kids were school age by then. My kids are now teens and I'm remarried, I now work 4 days a week in home care, have every w/e off (occasionally will pick up 1 shift on the w/e to keep them happy), and I have 1 day off during the week for doc appts, school conferences or just get things done that are easier to do when kids are at school. I guess the point of my big long story is do what works for you and your families needs at the time, your needs may change later and now you know you have other options if circumstances change. Good luck to you!

DC Collins, ASN · May 30, 2012

I love my 12's, that's for sure. Any other career in a former life, 8 hour days, I was mentally exhausted by the end of the week. 2 hours after arriving on the job I was ready to go home - every day. In the ED at least, we have two modes. Running, and standing around talking to our co-workers. Running, I don't notice the time. Standing around talking (we have a minimum number of nurses needed regardless of how busy - just in case), I am enjoying my time.

5 days / week I am mentally exhausted and need the weekend to just barely recover just in time to go back and start it all over again. The only time to truly 'recharge' was on vacation.

3 12's / week, I am no more mentally exhausted, only a little more physically exhausted. I need only 1 day to recover, and the other 3 days off I have a blast. I am usually ready to go back to work again. LOVE IT!

DC, ED NOC :)

DC Collins, ASN · May 30, 2012

Where I work we can't do same days each week because *everybody* has to work every other weekend, at least one day of that weekend.

However, it does work for us because we are broken into 2-week pay periods, and (usually) have set schedules, one set of 3 days week 1, and a diff set of 3 days the next, rinse, and repeat.

I totally agree that schedules that are all over the place SUCK.

Nurserton · May 31, 2012

I've done both, and while I thought the clinic 8-4:30 gig sounded good at first, I quickly grew to hate it and went back to my 12's. You have no time off to handle your business, you always have to request time off to do any little doctor's appointment or anything, and those two measly weekend days fly by. I felt like I was always there. Those few hours in the evening were barely enough to recuperate before the alarm was going off in the morning.

I don't have kids and if I did that might change things, but I still think I'd rather suck it up for a few days and be with my kids 4 days a week instead of just weekends.

Nurserton · May 31, 2012

By the way most places now do self scheduling so, for the most part, you'd have control of what days you wanted. Of course, staffing needs trump your preferences but in general it works out.

Also, if 3 12's are too tiring, you can always split your week and do a mon/thurs/fri or something like that. There are more options in the world of 12s in my opinion.

soozabel · May 31, 2012

I work four 10s, no nights or Sundays. I do work most Saturdays, but my manager tries to give each employee one Saturday off per schedule, she's very fair. The nice thing is not working nights and having a day or two off during the week. I work in a Dialysis clinic, so it's a different environment than a hospital - pretty routine and regular hours - 5:30 am to 4:00 pm. I love it.

emilysmom,RN · May 31, 2012

Would you rather work five days a week days with holidays and weekends off in the same area or would you rather work 2 to 3 7a-7p shifts a week with options for overtime or different areas? I can't decide which to pursue. I like the thought of having a set schedule and knowing exactly when I'm working but on the other hand I really don't like the thoughts of five days in a row with no options for overtime or growth. The 12 hr shift would be more stressful but I'd have more days off with more variety. If I worked the 12 hr shifts my kids would have to be by themselves a lot more but since they are older (17,14,and 10) I think they could handle it if it were only a couple times a week. My husband also works shift work so if I go for the 5 days a week we would only have a day off together every two weeks and I wouldn't see him much whereas the other shifts we would have a lot more time off together. If I go for the 5 days a week my kids wouldn't have to be on their own at all most of the time. Do those of you who work part-time 12 hr shifts think it's a good schedule? I've never done it before. I've always worked 8 hrs. but I'm thinking I'd like a couple longer days and be done but maybe working random days is not easy either. What do you think?

I am suppose to only work mon-fri but find myself seeing Pts just about every weekend. Looking for another job.

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · May 31, 2012

I prefer the 4-12 shift.

angel337, MSN, RN · Jun 1, 2012

I work m-f and wouldn't have it any other way at this point in my life. I hate, hate, hate working weekends and holidays. When I first became a nurse I didn't mind it at all and even now I could probably do one saturday every now and then. Once I had my own family I despised the hospital schedule because I missed bday parties, holiday get togethers and could never plan anything because it may be on my weekend to work. There are pluses to working 12's but I must say now I am not nearry as tired as I was working 3 12's.

Nurse ABC · Jul 21, 2012

After trying it, I'm loving the 12 hr shifts! I don't have to normally work weekends which helps but I feel like I have more time to do what I want. Thanks for all those who responded!

kay0324 · Jul 21, 2012

I'm not a nurse yet but I do work 3 12 hour shifts and I love them. I have worked 5 8's before as well and I couldn't stand it. I love having the extra days off during the week. Yes, I do have to work holidays but not all of them. The overtime for a 12 hour shift on the holiday is great! The only downfall when you work holidays is that you take away from you own family time, but we went into this profession knowing that would happen in the first place. Besides you have all those extra days off to spend with your family and you get to make a difference in those patients lives on the holidays you work. We all no that some patients don't have any family members to come visit them in the hospital, sad but true. I would think as a nurse it would be best to do the 3 12's because you patient gets less nurses over a 12 hour period. I know that if I was the patient I would prefer 2 nurses per 24 hour period than 3. When it comes down to it..it really is your own preference. I'm not saying one is better than the other just putting up my reasons for why I prefer the 3 12's. :)