I actually work 4 "10's" and this works for me! love that extra day off!!!
Hi - Thanks for the feedback. I did not include 10's because they are not as common - same with 4 hour pick ups. 10's may be a great shift and I am glad you are happy with it! Thanks for the thoughts!
Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.
Hello Everyone!
I have been a registered nurse for over 31 years (wow, time sure flies) and I am a 12 hour kind of gal. Nights. Currently I am working at the VA (VISN3) and the hospital doesn't offer 12 hour shifts on the unit where I am (telemetry) but my fingers are crossed that soon they will implement 12 hours shifts house-wide.
Have worked nights for most of these last 31 years.....Now working third tour (evenings) and y'all know how it is....By the time I am finished up with all the required paper-work/computer imputing....I leave the unit after 10 hours! Sigh...
Happy Holidays to One and All. Have a very safe, healthy New Year 2007
After 3o years of lifting, lugging, tugging, pulling, hefting, pushing, hauling and wrestling, I ain't got 12 good hours a day left in me. My back aches, my sciatica is a killer, got arthritis in my hips, hands, feet, ankles and back. Got a slipped disc, a fused spine from a stress fracture (lifted a 300 lb pt during an emergency and broke my darn back doing it.) Arches fell 20 years ago, rump followed a few years later--now by doggong cheeks and eyelids are tryng to join em. Worst part-doesn't seem to be too many kids coming up behind me. If you need me to work for another 10 years, you better start protecting me a little. Shorter shifts, lift team and devices, power stretchers, easier to move equipment etc. all will take the strain off the old bod.
Up until this year I loved 12s ... but my health took a nosedive and those long shifts just kill me now! I crave to remain at the bedside, but can't see being able to if we aren't given options on how to make the shift length work for nurses of all abilities.
When I was new, I worked 6 -12s in a row just to get extra time off in a row to travel out of town ... now I struggle to do 2 in a row. Jadegypsy is right - we can't keep experienced care at the bedside if we can't take care of our workers.
I would rather work 8 hour shifts and have a good week all week instead of 2 or 3 good days and the rest I am beat! When you work 12 hours and have to stay over it is the pits. And when you need 2 days off that is 24 hours!
I want to go back to eight and have every day be a good day.
As an older nurse, with over 20 yrs experience, I would prefer part time 3-4 times a week of 8 hour shifts. Now I work 2 12 hr shifts per week, nights and I'm wiped out for one and a half days after ward, and I can't do two 12's in a row. But I do see other nurses my age doing 12 hrs fulltime. It's rough on this arthritic nurse, lol.
I prefer 12s; that's all I do. But I only do 2 per week back-to-back nights. If I start out at 11p as opposed to 7p, I feel like I'm behind all night. That may change as I get older.
outcomesfirst, BSN, RN
148 Posts
Hi - Thanks for the feedback. I did not include 10's because they are not as common - same with 4 hour pick ups. 10's may be a great shift and I am glad you are happy with it! Thanks for the thoughts!