The first day off after 12's

redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN · Sep 13, 2012

Maybe I'm tougher than I thought. When I was in my late 40's I worked 3-4 16 hour shifts and one or two 8 hour shift in the same week.

Girl, you crazy! Well I guess somewhat it depends on walking distance, how much you get to sit down, and how much responsibility is on the nurse at the facility. Where I used to work I didn't feel like they put as much onto the nurses; the doctors did more of the monitoring etc. and also almost all the supplies you needed were in the room. Now if someone makes a mess i have to go to one central location for any linens, gauze pad, supplies etc. It's a lot more running back and forth.

studentnurse50 · Sep 13, 2012

Perhaps part of the aches are from your shoes? I am overweight and until I bought the right shoes (Pothia-Greek shoes,) I would have very bad leg and back aches after our 12 hour clinicals. After switching to Pothia, the leg and back issue diminished greatly.

sunnyskies9 · Sep 13, 2012

Cut back on sugar. Eat high quality protein. Try to get enough sleep before the days you work. Try to stay as active as possible the days you don't work. You will end up sleeping better at night and feel more rested in the morning.

JesseJ · Sep 13, 2012

I have been a nurse for a little over a year. I first started on 5pm-5am (yeah ER has weird hours) and it killed me. After a shift re-bid I switched to 6pm-4am. I work 3 on 3 off and then 4 on 4 off and occasionally pick up shifts. 10s are a nice compromise between being at the hospital way too much and not feeling utterly exhausted every day.

Ehrlict · Sep 13, 2012

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?

I work graveyards, 8 hours one night and 12 on the next two. Fortunately, I have no children at home, so I can keep pretty much to a vampire schedule all week. My first day off has become my decompression day, though, for me to do whatever I want (usually catch up on sleep). Please make sleep a priority on your work days, too. There is no social life on those days. By the time you get home and wind down, you can get enough sleep just in time to wake up for work. As more hospitals go to the 12-hour schedule, this is going to become a bigger issue, and already-fatigued nurses are going to be stretched to their limits and beyond.

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

Please make sleep a priority on your work days, too. There is no social life on those days. By the time you get home and wind down, you can get enough sleep just in time to wake up for work.

This is so very important. I have a long commute that really cuts into the amount of time I have between shifts. When I used to work 4+ days in a row, I'd have things set to be on auto-pilot for those days. I'd have scrubs with underwear and socks set up in the bathroom for each day I'd be working, as well as sleep clothes for those nights. The snacks I'd take to work would already be in the refrigerator or on the counter ready to throw in my bag. Basically, it was work, drive, sleep and eat on those days. NOTHING else would get done.

LoveToHike · Sep 13, 2012

I work 1945 to 0905 x 3 and I'm always tired. I've been doing this for 4 months now and I haven't gotten used to it yet. I'll try the suggestion about hydrating more, but sometimes we're so short staffed it's hard to even get a bathroom break.

sallydee101 · Sep 13, 2012

I think it is normal. The gals who pull the day Baylor say the same thing. I work as a LPN on a 60 bed LTC unit Baylor..(love it)..my two 12 hour 7p to 7a shifts are a lot of the time 14 hours.. Monday I am zombied even after sleeping. My body hurts. I have started going to a gym and feel my endurance is better at work but come monday dont ask mommas taxi to go anywhere.By tuesday I can play catch up in the house and feel normal.But then Tuesday I have class....

manteifan · Sep 13, 2012

My first day off after a 12 hour shift is known to my family/friends as recovery day. I seldom plan anything especially

in the mornings and usually just do only what I feel like doing..nothing is set in stone at all. 12's are exhausting.

Butterfliesnroses · Sep 13, 2012

wow I thought I was the only one who had this problem. I nap off and on throughout the day on my 1st day off because I'm soooo tired! I'm drained of energy. I work 12 hr days, usually 3 in a row.

Guest343211 · Sep 13, 2012

I think the level of suckage for the 12's depends on how your schedule ends of rolling. If you are required to include Frid w/ you Sat and Sun and somebody decides to move your schedule such that you are working Thursday or Monday, well, even though the weeks are different, b/c Sunday starts a new pay period or whatever, you end up doing 4 12's in a row. Make this night shifts and the suckage increases--and you need at leas two days off in a row, b/c the first day, you are sleeping and are crap for anything else. So then you only have one day to get things done. If you don't get two in a row with the 12's, unless you are really superhuman, you aren't going to get crap done that next day/night.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

Certainly, when I use to work the 12's everyone knew Not to count on me on my first day off, period. Having said that, you need time to recuperate from those long hours. Therefore, it's perfectly natural to feel the way you do make sure you turn off your cell/phone and alarm clock on your day off wishing you the best in all of you future endeavors, and get some rest as I send you a hug from across the miles... Aloha~