How to survive 16h shifts...

funfunfun550, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2013

Try NOT to preschedule doubles...some places that is illegal?? At least where I work..you can not preschedule 16 but you can "pick up" after the schedule is posted.....fishy huh...try to work an extra day but not doubles...reason is that there is a law suit or two out there(easy to google) where nurses made med errors on the end of that double and they were hung out to dry. You are still liable for your actions...and it will be easier to make you look like you were not "fit for duty". I just want you to protect your license ANd not get burned out. You say you are a new grad... I can remember those days...people would call.. I would say yes..than after the call ended I would feel like I needed to grow a back bone. Eventually I did...I made it a policy to say I would consider the extra shift. At least hang up and give it some thought... Or say you will work your 12 and then see how you feel to pick up an extra 4. Sometimes you may feel ill and calling off is going to be counted against you. If you left it open and were feeling ill... you could just go home. What if its one of those days when you just wish the day would be over ...you have the assignment from hell...and you are stuck there for 16...you will wish you had left yourself some options...

OCNRN63, RN · Feb 3, 2013

Twenty hour shifts are not just crazy, they are flat out dangerous for you and more importantly for your patients. Would you want to be in an airplane with a pilot who was flying a 20 hour shift? Working like that is the same as working impaired.

chrisrn24 · Feb 3, 2013

I just don't answer the phone when they call. If anyone asks just say "I was busy."

mindlor · Feb 4, 2013

First off, if I were a law maker I would write legislation that capped a nurses day at 12 hours. Beyond that, it is just flat out dangerous. Working those kind of hours you will burn yourself out. Take care of yourself....please.....

SalineFlush · Feb 6, 2013

That sounds like hell. Nurses at my hospital are never scheduled for 16 hr. shifts, certainly not on the floor. 12 hours is cruel enough---16 hours is torture. Nurses only work 16 hour shifts in extenuating staffing circumstances when there is no one to be found to relieve them, and even then approval for the extra four hours must by policy be obtained from the Service Director.

rnpatrick · Feb 6, 2013

You should call the state board of nursing in your state and ask them what they think of this. Or your state nurses association. You and your patients are being put at risk. It is your responsibility to question this practice. Look up risk rates for working such shifts. Get some research in hand and make a copy of your schedule and talk to risk management. If your hospital has a director of patient safety, nursing excelllence or research department get a confidential consultation.

DoeRN · Feb 6, 2013

So you are prescheduling yourself for these shifts? That is a good way to burn out

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billyboblewis · Feb 6, 2013

We are forced to work 12 hour shifts due to the non profit religious organization cutting down the number of nurses way below need. In additon we were put on salary and if you work less than 40 hours in a week of a 2 week pay period we get docked despite the fact that we worked 48 hours are more in the opposite week. For some bizarre reason this organization which uses the name of a religion in its name feels this is proper and that we should be donating our time to them I have never found out the salaries of the board members or ceo, etc but I dont think it is low.

judybsn · Feb 6, 2013

I know it feels like THEY are trying to kill you, but you absolutely have to learn to say NO without guilt. You are the only one who knows how much you can take emotionally and physically and if YOU don't take care of YOU, you will be of no use to anyone!!! Staffing will pressure you to take shifts until you are near dead (and beyond) but you really call the shots on how much overtime you are willing to pick up. Staffing's desperation is really not your problem. Sounds heartless but it is the only way to survive long term. At first it was near impossible for me to say no (the guilt was overwhelming), but eventually it was do or die and I learned to take care of me and it has paid off big time.

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2013

Oh, one more thing.
I keep hearing about how nurses don't even have time to pee.
You HAVE to pee. You won't be able to concentrate with a full bladder.
You must make time to pee.

I know. We are told to keep hydrated but yet we do not have to pee...LOL....well, my bladder is weak, so if I do not go, I will do it on myself...LOL...so I must, I must, go the loo.

kkschall64 · Feb 6, 2013

I work 16 hour shifts at least once a week, but it's by choice. I make sure that I get plenty of sleep the night before. I work in a nursing home so it is a little easier for me to get off the floor. Usually around the 12 hour mark, I go to the chapel in our facility and just close my eyes for 20-30 minutes. I don't go to sleep, just to relax and deep breathe. After that I usually feel a lot more refreshed and ready for the morning rush!

MedChica · Feb 7, 2013

- I must begin the shift with Starbucks.

- Good supportive socks/stocking are a must.

- Make sure to eat healthy. You'll start to drag and the vending machines are your worst enemy.

- A good crew of coworkers. Work can be fun.

I work 7a to 11p. The second day, everyone is dragging. Doesn't matter how much sleep you get or how long you've been doing it.

I usually have to mentally prepare myself for my shifts. The day before I'll save up all my sleepiness and hit the hay...early.