Which schedule would you rather work?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

i would definitely keep my current schedule 8-4pm no weekends no holidays mon-fri

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

This is tough. I loved working mon-fri. but it is not easy when you have to go to appts. during the week. 3 12's is nice too. Have more days off.

I prefer three 12's. I don't have any kids so this would be great for me and my future husband.

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I personally like working 12 hr shifts because I go to work less days (saves time on commute, getting ready, etc.) and I dont feel as tired for some reason. You mentioned that you will be working 2 to 3 days of the long shift which is not bad at all. When I had this schedule I would have to work 4 days for one week and the rest of the weeks I worked 3 days (averaged out to 36.5 hrs per week). During the 4 day week it was tiring I must admit, but if your working only 3 days max that is really nice.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I love 12 hour shifts.

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Specializes in LTC.

I love 12 hour shifts.

Currently, I work 16-16-8 which is exhausting, but HEY I have 4 days off!

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

i have a part time and 2 per diem jobs. My part time is 12hr shifts self scheduling. I get myinsurance and PTO through them so it make my life easy. I havethe option to work perdiem Home health or another 12hr shift. If i need 1, i only have to work 2 days a week to keep my benefits, the perdiems are per diems and i am only obligated PRN (3 12 hour shifts a month). It makes me very flexible and if I need OT I can do it (like for a vacation or bills) I think that 5 8 r good to obecasue you get all weekends and holidays off. For me, with children it makes it hard what holiday to work, as far as weekends I really dont mind working them becasue I hate going out on the weekends with the crowds. Unfortunately some of my friends only have weekends off so I find my self lonley during my weekdays off. Its a gamble. I have never worked 8 hr shifts but I would try it and see it fit.... the worst that canhappen is you quit and go back to 12's right?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Any possibility of working 4 9s or 4 10s instead? If I had to choose between the two, I'd choose the 12-hour shifts, but that wouldn't be my ideal. My ideal is what I do right now, which is 4 9s, during the day, with weekends off (occasional weekend call, though). I get a daytime schedule, with one day off a week to run errands, and weekends free. I don't know if I could go back to working a complete 5-day work week.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

id rather do the 12's.---less driving/less laundry/ OT..and best of all it all over and done with in 3 days. it also provides an opportunity to enjoy life a bit rather than rat racing 5days a week. thats how i feel anyways. :)

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.

I work 4 8's now and have weekends off, but I am going to 2 -12's weekends only. I think I will like it better. Off the entire week. We'll see how it works out

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I don't have children yet (one on the way!), and I currently work 12 hour shifts. I prefer the 12 hour shifts at the moment, because it gives me more time off during the week. Once I have the baby, it will be the difference between daycare two days per week and daycare five days per week- which financially is a huge gap.

However, once my children are school age, I will definitely be looking for something 7-3, M-F, no weekends, no holidays. I don't mind missing the occasional holiday when they are young, but once they are older, start having after school events, etc, I want to be available to go to the games/recitals/plays, as well as be there to pick them up from school, take them home, help with homework, and spend some time as a family. School nursing would be perfect, since I could have weekends, snow days, holidays, vacations and summers off with the children.

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who says there's no room for growth with a five-day schedule? back in the dark ages before they beat nurses to death with twelves, we all worked eights, and there was plenty of growth going on.

you couldn't pay me enough to work twelves-- too whacked at the end of the day, and you go to bed and do it all over again. no thanks.

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