The first day off after 12's

Nurses General Nursing

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My first day off after working 12's I am exhausted! I have no energy to do anything and I'm all sore and achy. I just lay around all day. Does anyone else do this? Is that normal? I've always worked 8's so this is new to me. Is there anything I can do to have more energy?

When I started working 12s, I was exhausted and achy for a couple of days after my 3-in-a-row. However, once I changed the brand of shoes I wore and learned to make rest a priority between shifts, I didn't have any problems. Now, though, I work nights and am back to having the same problem.

Specializes in geriatrics.

You're not alone. I exercise and eat well, yet it takes me 2-3 days to recover. I sleep all day my first day off, since I work permanent nights. Then the next couple days I'm running errands, cleaning, laundry, etc. I'm up, but I'm still tired. The only solution I see is to either decrease my FTE. Definitely, I need to find an easier rotation. I have weeks where I'm scheduled 5 nights in 7 days. That's exhausting.

Specializes in geriatrics.

To give you an idea...today was my "sleep" day. I got off work early this morning, so the morning of Sept 12. Came home, went grocery shopping. I fell asleep on the couch for 4 hours, and dragged myself into bed. I slept from 2:30 pm until 10 pm. That is not uncommon for me on a sleep day. I've also been working full time as a nurse for 2 years, so I'm not exactly a new grad. My other nurse friends say the same about feeling tired.

I'm usually exhausted after working 3 or 4 12's in a row (I work nights)- however I found that I feel 100x's better if I drink enough water (6-8 16oz glasses) while I'm working. It may sound stupid, but it works for me! I'm still tired, but on my days off I'm able to get up at a decent time and make something of myself instead of spending them feeling like a slug..

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I work 5-7 12-hour shifts in a row and then have 5-7 off. I'm on nights. I've learned to just work, eat, unwind, and sleep during the stretch of shifts. Some days in between night shifts I sleep 9 hours. I'm lucky I have a short commute, so I can just come home, eat, unwind, and then it's straight to bed. When I do nothing but this during my work nights, I find I don't really need to recover much with the first day off. Of course, I have a pretty sedentary hospital job. I'm surprised how many night shift nurses I know who switch back to sleeping at night on their days off. They seem constantly tired and needing a recovery day.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

I'll probably be in the minority here, but having worked both 12 hour days and 12 hour nights, I think 12 hour days are a lot harder! Of course 12 hour nights are tiring, but at least I would usually get a chance, from roughly 12:30am to 4:00am or so, to catch up on charting, sit down, and just kind of go, "Whew!" On 12 hour days, I was dealing with doctors all day, patients going to/coming back from surgery and other tests and procedures, three meals, and all of my patients being awake the whole 12 hours. Oh, and patients' families rolling in in the late afternoon and evening when I was pretty much spent and being full of questions, etc.

I think 12 hour shifts are great if you have to work full-time, because otherwise you live at your job, but they are very, very tiring, and yes, it is normal to need some time to get rested afterwards, especially if you work them consecutively. To the PP who works seven 12's in a row: I can't even imagine how you do it, but my hat is off to you!

Specializes in med/surg, tele, oncology, PACU, research.

I just worked two 12 hr day shifts and today is my day off. I'm tired and achy and just want to lay on the couch all day. I've been doing 12 hrs for over 2 yrs. Doesn't get any better.

Specializes in geriatrics.

I also keep to a night time schedule on my off nights, which helps, but the only time I'm truly rested is every 4.5 weeks, when I'm off for 6 days. Working 12's with only 2 or 3 days to recover isn't sufficient.

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
My first day off after working 12's I am exhausted! I have no energy to do anything and I'm all sore and achy. I just lay around all day. Does anyone else do this? Is that normal? I've always worked 8's so this is new to me. Is there anything I can do to have more energy?

Heck yes and my hubs doesn't get it. The only thing I can say is drink a lot of water (because you got to hydrate sooooo much in those last 3 days, didn't you lol) and in the afternoon I try to psych myself up for a run (okay, jog).

I tend to work 16 hour shifts and I know that feeling well. Make sure you invest in some great shoes, exercise on your days off and stay hydrate through out your shift. Those are a few things that have made a difference for me.

However, I always plan a lounging about or easy day after my 16 hour shifts, especially if I work two in a row. It's alright to take some time for yourself to rest and recover. Take care of yourself.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I have the flip side to this topic. I used to work 3 12s but switched to a m-f 8.5 hours a day. I can't get used to working five days a week. I feel like I never have alone time. I have to take pto for doctor's appts. I really miss the 12 hour shifts.

When I worked 12s, this was my experience to a tee. Really prefer four 10s; I'm good for 10 hours, but those last two on 12s really kick my butt.......

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