Average Hours

Full-time nurses where I work take three 12-hour shifts per week (~12 shifts per month). Three in a row is the max that we do. Five in a row would be heinous (I wonder if there are studies out there that question the safety of that many shifts in a row).

A good friend of mine is currently an L&D RN in Canada, and is wanting to compare her hours with the states. On average she works about 10-13 12hr shifts every month. The shifts will sometimes be consecutive where she'll work five in a row. Would love to hear your comments.

Blessings,

Dmitry

I do 3 12's a week. But the shift usually is at least 13 hours and is a minimum of 12 shifts every four weeks.

We have the ability to work alot of overtime right now too. So if we wanted we could be doing 4-5 13 hour shifts a week.

Allright nurses! Listen up, it's "captain ebear"!! I figured out one thing recently that was killing me! I was working killer hours HARD and then coming home and watching the news!! A MIND CAN ONLY ABSORB A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CRAP! You do need to be informed of world events, but a steady diet of it is just too much! TURN OFF THE NEWS after a few minutes. It really does drain you before you realize it!! Your whole view becomes a hole view...

ebear

Yes sir, Captn sir. That's why we dont' have a TV...no news is good news.

OP-

Most people on my floor have a set schedule, and some (by choice) work 4-5 in a row; it enables them to have a large chunk of time off later in the schedule.

I don't have a set schedule, so when they call to tell me when they have available shifts, I make my own schedule, sort of (I am not PRN, I just don't need a set schedule and kind of like mixing it up). I usually don't schedule myself for more than 3 in a row--but I have accidentally scheduled myself for 3 on, one off, 3 on, which was killer.

I'd rather work 4-6 in a row than have the "on-off-on-off" type of schedule, for night shift anyhow.

At our hospital, the official limit for scheduling is 5 in a row. If they are short, though, and they call you in, you can work 6 in a row (overtime is not mandatory, though). We had a nurse once who went 10 in a row on a short stint. He was a single guy, no kids, roommate also worked night shift. He's like "What do I have to do anyhow?" He didn't seem off his game or anything. Just sick of work (but happy with his paycheck) by then end of the run.

Hope that helps!

Allright nurses! Listen up, it's "captain ebear"!! I figured out one thing recently that was killing me! I was working killer hours HARD and then coming home and watching the news!! A MIND CAN ONLY ABSORB A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CRAP! You do need to be informed of world events, but a steady diet of it is just too much! TURN OFF THE NEWS after a few minutes. It really does drain you before you realize it!! Your whole view becomes a hole view...

ebear

That is EXACTLY why I spend my free time, what little there is, on allnurses. I can absorb lots of "crap" from here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep those comments coming.