Back-to-back 12 hour shifts

[Tiki_Torch]

How many back-to-back 12 hour shifts do you often do? How do you feel about working several in a row?

[PMFB-RN, RN]

How many back-to-back 12 hour shifts do you often do?

*** Always at least 3 and once a month 6.

How do you feel about working several in a row?

*** Great! I love working many in a row in order to get many days off in a row. I sleep in an apartment 500 yards from the hospital between shifts rather than going home. I always get at least 7 hours and often 8 hours sleep between shifts.

Different nurses have different tolerances for working hours. I am very much opposed to "one size fits all" work hour rules or laws. I even turned down a job at a hospital due to their policy of never schedualing more than two 12 hours shifts in a row.

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

When working in the UK, I have worked in 2 seperate units where we worked 7 nights 8pm-8am and then had 6 nights off and we rotated to nights every 5-6 weeks, depending on staffing.This is quite normal in England. When I was but a poor wipper-snapper, I once worked 11 nights in a row as I needed the cash.

Dayshifts are another matter and I try not to do more than 4 on a row.

[hikernurse]

I usually do three in a row so that either DH or I can be home with the kids (we each work full-time). If I split up my shifts more, then I feel like I'm always at work or sleeping (esp if it's my night run). I live close to the hospital, if I lived further away, I'd have to have someone pick me up that last morning of nights, because I'd never make it home alive.

But three is my limit :).

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

2 occiasionally 3 days

7 nights ( but nights are somewhat less intense and are damagement free) - also 7nioghts on = 7 nights off for 'free'

[wizap]

I usually do three 12's in a row. I have done 5 in a row. I will refuse to do that anymore...it is unsafe!

[Sabby_NC]

Good heavens none ewwwwwww ewwwwwwwwww and ewwwwwwwwwww.

I admire all of you that work 12 hour shifts. Never have and don't plan to start now.

Get plenty of rest when you can.

[GrnHonu99, RN]

I do three in a row and sometimes 4! I commute 30 mins each way! 6pm leave my house 815-830 get back home! Get up and do it over again!

[fergus51]

4 is my routine, but I often do 5 or 6. Right now I am in the middle of a wierd stretch (8 shifts in 9 nights). I think it's actually easier on nights to do a longer stretch of shifts.

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I usually do two in a row. At times, they schedule me for 2 days on, one off and then 2 days on. I need foot surgery, so that combination usually leaves me limping around the next day. Not fun.

[not now, RN]

Three but I'm new, young and child free so I can handle it. For now.

There are two nurses on my floor who do five in a row every week. We are paid pretty well for extra shifts and that's why they do it.

[medicrnohio, RN]

Usually two, sometimes three. I really don't like working three in a row though. By the third night I am exhausted.