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I haven't! I need two days to recover for every two days of work. I sleep on my first day off and sit around on my second day off. If I have three days off in a row I might do something fun or productive on the third day.[/quote']This sounds crazy... But I have felt the exact same way you are feeling, especially in nursing school. I slept in until noon the next day. The best thing that ever happened to me was discovering the importance of fitness! Once I started running, working out, and eating healthy, I slept better at night, I lasted longer during the day, and I didn't get as tired. If you want to take care of other people, you have to take care of yourself!! Excuses simply won't cut it anymore. Caffeine isn't a realistic, long term, healthy option. I never worked out a day in my life until I was actually a working RN. It can be done.
Now that I've been exposed to longer shifts, there's no way I could go back to shorter shifts. Since I want more days off per week, I'll take my longer shifts (12 hour shifts or 16 hour shifts) anytime.
Five 8 hour shifts per week = only 2 days off
Three 12 hour shifts = 4 days off per week
Two 16 hour shifts = a whopping 5 days off per week!
I have gotten used to it. Like others said, the four days off every week makes a pretty nice incentive. I still come home pretty tired and am definitely not in the mood to go out or socialize afterward (serious introvert here), but after a good night's sleep I am ready to go the next day. I could get up earlier than my usual 8am or so on my days off if I had to, but...why?
I felt very used to it when I worked in the hospital but now that I don't... I wouldn't ever go back.
With 12 hr shifts, I was waking up at 5:15 am and out the door by 5:50 am to take 2 buses to the hospital. I was lucky if I left by 7:45pm and then I'd be getting home between 8:30-9:00pm. There was no option to sleep 10+ hrs at night because I had to wake up and do it all again the next day.
I work more days now and more hours but I have more time to myself. I have time every evening after 4:30 to do errands, go to the gym or have dinner with friends. I rarely work on the weekends and when I do, it's only to see a couple patients.
Now that I've been exposed to longer shifts, there's no way I could go back to shorter shifts. Since I want more days off per week, I'll take my longer shifts (12 hour shifts or 16 hour shifts) anytime.Five 8 hour shifts per week = only 2 days off
Three 12 hour shifts = 4 days off per week
Two 16 hour shifts = a whopping 5 days off per week!
O try this: Eight hour shifts: all afternoon and evening off every day. No exhaustion to cut into one of those "extra" days off. I hate 12s and 16s unless they're OT and time-and-a-half or double time, and they are what I feel like that day.
SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN
1,295 Posts
We are doing 10 hr clinicals this semester, and by the time I get home I am so exhausted! It's only one day a week, so it's not bad, but do we get used to the long days once we start working? I go to bed about 9-10 and sleep till 9 or so the next day!