Appropriate to ask for schedule switch?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Ortho, OR.

I have just received my schedule for the next 6 weeks. I am on orientation.

One week, I am working 4 days in a row, then I have 2 days off, then I'm working 2 again. Is it appropriate to ask for them to switch one of those 4 days to any other day? (and I mean really I'll work any day if it means not having 4 in a row). It's also the first week I am to have 3 patients, and the first week I am sharing my preceptor with another orientee. I just don't see this going well at all.

I'm next to useless by the end of the 2nd day, so 4 blows my mind.

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You can always ask. Personally I would just suck it up and work as scheduled. They might view it as whiney asking to switch days this early on.

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Specializes in Ortho, OR.

For what it's worth, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Is that common, to work 4 shifts with 2 days off before you're back on again?

ETA: The first one is an 8, the other 3 are 12 hour shifts.

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Specializes in PACU, Surgery, Acute Medicine.

Aaah, those were the days! Three whole patients! I'm sorry, I don't mean to make light of it, I (kind of) remember what it was like to be an orientee. And 4 days in a row is a lot, especially if those are 12-hour shifts. But remember that it's also easier to get your same patients back than it is to have to learn a whole new slate of patients. Like the previous poster said, you can always ask, but my advice is to just do it. You'll be impressed at how much you can learn when you do things over and over in a short period of time (working 6 out of 7 days). Plus, if you're working that many days all bunched up, then that must mean that you have periods on either side when you have more days off than you would have otherwise.

Remember this message that you posted 6 months from now when you have 6 patients and your techs have all called in!

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Specializes in LTC.

Are they 12 hour shifts? THen yeah that's a lot...8 hrs? Not so much...I work 4 8s in a row all the time.

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hmmm that's a tough one. If it were me I would just suck it up and work the 4 unless you have a good reason to switch...

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If these are 8 hour shifts for 4 days, work the four. I would not be

asking for changes on orientation. If they are 12 hour shifts, that is alot,

so ask for the change.

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Specializes in Hospice.

are you serious? 4 days in a row.......i work nights, and i often got 6 nights in a row one day off and then had to work 3 more.........I have a nice boss and it would not have gone over well for me to ask her to switch it.

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Specializes in ER.

It is. If you're working a schedule that is not regular, you can get 4 in a row.... but if you're 12 hour shifts, it's not usual unless you request it, and certainly not on orientation. Maybe it's an OOPS that they didn't realize they scheduled it that way. Are you on 8's for your orientation?

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Specializes in ER.

I agree with others, suck it up, get through the 4 days, and off orientation, then once you prove yourself you can ask to switch the schedule.

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Specializes in Ortho, OR.

I edited my post, but the shifts are all 12s except for the first one. If it was 8s I wouldn't even think about trying to change...I could do many more 8s in a row than I could 12s.

I've about decided to just do it. I do worry about my quality of care the 3rd and 4th day though. This isn't "oh I'd like to go to the mall or go to the movies instead of working." I'm worried I'm going to make a bad mistake.

I know it's silly to be nervous about 3 patients, but I've never had more than 2 in nursing school.

Thanks again for yalls responses. I really appreciate your insight...as a new grad I don't know much about "real" nursing.

are you serious? 4 days in a row.......i work nights, and i often got 6 nights in a row one day off and then had to work 3 more.........I have a nice boss and it would not have gone over well for me to ask her to switch it.

Yes it's all a big joke...you're so smart for picking up on it. Aren't I funny. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Hospice.
I edited my post, but the shifts are all 12s except for the first one. If it was 8s I wouldn't even think about trying to change...I could do many more 8s in a row than I could 12s.

I've about decided to just do it. I do worry about my quality of care the 3rd and 4th day though. This isn't "oh I'd like to go to the mall or go to the movies instead of working." I'm worried I'm going to make a bad mistake.

I know it's silly to be nervous about 3 patients, but I've never had more than 2 in nursing school.

Thanks again for yalls responses. I really appreciate your insight...as a new grad I don't know much about "real" nursing.

Yes it's all a big joke...you're so smart for picking up on it. Aren't I funny. :rolleyes:

yes well my wordage was because im too lazy to use the roll eyes siggy.... good luck im sure you will do fine

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