7 Days On/7 Days Off- Love It or Hate It?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 16, 2004

I worked that sort of shift for several years when I did regular night duty, I enjoyed it but it was tiring especially towards the end of the seven. Also the other best thing was when I booked 7 days holiday I actually had 3 weeks off work........... now that is a nice added bonus.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 16, 2004

Sounds a lot better than the 7 on, 7 off 12 hour shifts some places use. I hated that system. I felt that my first two days off were wasted due to not having any energy by the end of the 7th shift.

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2004

I just recently took a 7on/7off position and love it. Keep in mind I came from yrs of Mon-Fri, no nights, no weekends; but I was on administrative call every other week.

I look at it this way. Yes it may be tiring by the time you get to your last few days, but you have a full week off. A vacation every other week. You know a yr in advance what your schedule will be so you can plan well ahead for out of town things. You can choose to work some extra on your off week if you want to, or work prn doing something completely different.

The down side, you work every other weekend, and if you happen to work the week of the 4th of July, you will work Christmas and Thanksgiving. But you are off New Yrs, Memorial and Labor day.

I dont mind working every other weekend, least Im getting paid for it now, as when I was on call, I didnt get paid for anything and couldnt plan things, just "in case" I got called to help a nurse out.

Weigh out the pros and cons that directly effect the things in your life and go from there.

Chevelle · Jul 17, 2004

Boy, this type of shift sounds neat..but I bet the weeks off go by way too quickly! :chuckle

I wish you luck!

stressednurse · Jul 17, 2004

My first nursing job was 7on/7off, I worked 6 hours Monday-Friday, 12 on Sat and Sun. Then had 7 off, got paid for 40 and had full time benefits that was in 1992, I have suggested simular scheduling where I work. We have just started a weekend program for nurses and nurse aids. They work 12 hours every Saturday and Sunday and 8 hours on Monday or Friday, get paid for 40 hours and get full time benefits. Right now full time and part time get double time for extra shifts worked on weekends which includes from 3pm on Friday until 7am Monday. One of the benefits of a regular schedule like these is you know far ahead of time when you have time off.

Blackcat99 · Jul 17, 2004

:) I had this schedule many years ago. I loved having the 7 days off but I sure was tired after working 7 days in a row. Having 7 days off in a row was great!

heart queen · Jul 19, 2004

It really depends upon the type of nursing that you do. I work critical care,,, come day 4, I am a zombee, unorganized, and down right retarded. plus, if you change my patient assignment, someone crumps out on day 6, I'm gone.. a blubbering idiot. I much prefer my 3 13 hr. shifts on together then a nice long stretch off.

it takes two days to recoup and stop drooling all over yourself after 7 in a row for it to be worth it for me.... spoken by a true night nurse.

nurseygrrl, LPN · Jul 19, 2004

I would absolutely love that! Too bad my place is so inflexible. :rolleyes:

chattypattyCRNA2B · Jul 19, 2004

It really depends upon the type of nursing that you do. I work critical care,,, come day 4, I am a zombee, unorganized, and down right retarded. plus, if you change my patient assignment, someone crumps out on day 6, I'm gone.. a blubbering idiot. I much prefer my 3 13 hr. shifts on together then a nice long stretch off.
it takes two days to recoup and stop drooling all over yourself after 7 in a row for it to be worth it for me.... spoken by a true night nurse.

LMBO!.....YOU ARE A RIOT!:chuckle

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Jul 20, 2004

... much prefer my 3 13 hr. shifts...

Actually, three 12s. Or better yet, two weekend 12s.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2004

a close friend of mine has worked at a 7/70 hospital for many years. She loves it but adds the following:

"Do be aware that a lot of places that adopt this aren't going to be able to make regular allowances for child care crises, ear aches, surprise family events, etc. I love the schedule but I notice those who left were unable to commit to it. You do need to work hard to make it a priority. Every year, someone comes crying that they didn't know they were working Christmas. A look at the calendar would have told them that! For those who can commit, it is the best schedule I've ever had!"

I work 4 /10s with a 3 day weekend every week. Had I still been doing clinical nursing, I'd have liked 7/70.