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.
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Hey none-
I am glad that you decided to do the shifts instead of asking for a switch. I totally understand where you are coming from, though. It is very hard on your body to do three 12 hour shifts in a row, much less tacking on an 8 hour shift. Especially if you are a new grad and you are just learning the ropes...the mental stress alone is very hard to deal with. I admire you for sucking it up and slogging through.
It's probably premature to ask for a switch before even trying to do the schedule they planned. If you have difficulty with four days in a row, then you can at least show that you tried to do it.
If you do find yourself struggling, you might want to inquire if this will be the norm. Otherwise they scheduling goddesses might get the message that this is just fine with you and make it four 12s in a row (or more).
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
It's possible that they scheduled you that because they wanted you to work with the same preceptor?
EvolvingRN - how do you get scheduled six on, one off, three on? That's nine shifts in 10 days (and over 100 hours, unless my math is wrong). How is that legal (unless you're working two fulltime jobs at two different facilities)? I used to work six on a lot, but then I'd have 8 days off in a row.
it's possible that they scheduled you that because they wanted you to work with the same preceptor?
evolvingrn - how do you get scheduled six on, one off, three on? that's nine shifts in 10 days (and over 100 hours, unless my math is wrong). how is that legal (unless you're working two fulltime jobs at two different facilities)? i used to work six on a lot, but then i'd have 8 days off in a row.
i wondered the same thing about the preceptor(s) possibly being the reason for the scheduling.
in my unit, we've always self scheduled. as long as all the shifts are covered, our nm doesn't care how we do it. if we sign up for a shift and later develop a conflict, it's our responsibility to get it covered. we have guidelines regarding expectations on holidays, but other than that, she leaves it to us to be fair and responsible. only when there are days which are short and too many nurses have signed up for the same day does she get involved. works out great and i can't imagine it any other way.
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.
working THIS particular schedule usually is per your request, not the standard.
I definitely know how brutal a schedule like that can be!
I was supposed to work 6 nights in a row (my preceptor worked a super crazy schedule because she liked to travel a lot), but I did bring up my concerns to my educator. She was able to tweak my schedule a bit with my secondary preceptor.. but that just meant working 4 nights, day off, then working 2 nights. It was exhausting, but I managed to do it. I definitely felt like a zombie! I just accepted it since it seemed better than working 6 nights in a row lol.
Good luck! I think its okay to bring up your concerns. Just let your manager know that you are a little worried because its hard on your body working so many nights in a row.
If it's to get you with a preceptor, well, sucks, but you need to be precepted. In nursing school I had to do ALL of senior hours with a nurse that did 6 on 8 off. Sucked. But I did it. Now I've got a nursing student working with me. And I do 4 in a row all the time. Sucks for her, but at least she gets to use a secondary as long as the "majority" is with me. Might just be a glitch, but still:
Rule of thumb: NEVER complain about anything on orientation. It's just going to come off as being a whiner, and frankly, I'd look at it like, "Well if you can't even handle this or that on orientation, how much will you whine once you're off orientation and REALLY working?"
I'm NOT saying that you are whining. But I can guarantee, that's how it will be perceived.
As for my 4 in a rows, LOVE THEM. By the 4th day, it's auto-pilot. Which will be good for you, instead of thinking about how?why?oh my!what do I do now?ack! you'll get to actually think about what you're doing and why and learn a little something extra instead of just trying to survive the day. You'll be tired, but hey, plan ahead, have your clothes laid out for the 4 days, have your lunches and snacks ready to go, fill up your gas tank before you start and just get through. Then sleep in on day 5.
canesdukegirl, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,543 Posts
Hey none-
I am glad that you decided to do the shifts instead of asking for a switch. I totally understand where you are coming from, though. It is very hard on your body to do three 12 hour shifts in a row, much less tacking on an 8 hour shift. Especially if you are a new grad and you are just learning the ropes...the mental stress alone is very hard to deal with. I admire you for sucking it up and slogging through.