If you had the choice to work five 8 hour shifts (11p-7a) or three 12s (7p-7a) which would you choice? I'm having a hard time deciding which is better. One the one hand if you do three 12s then thats it, you're done and have four days to yourself...but the down side is that you're trying to play catch up the rest of the week before you have to start all over again.
I can see five nights being good because it's only 8 hours and then you have more time to catch up on sleep and live a normal life, but the down side is that you have to do FIVE 8 hour night shifts. I can see this being better when it comes to holidays and things like that...if you work three 12s it must wipe out any time with your family on holidays vs. 8s.
Also, what's harder on you, fulltime night shift or day/night rotating (two weeks day and two weeks nights)
What has been your experience? If I get the job I just interviewed for I will be doing nights but it comes with the option to do five 8s, three 12s, or two 12s and two 8s (which I wouldn't do).
Specializes in LTC/Rehab,Med/Surg, OB/GYN, Ortho, Neuro.
I've worked nightshift my entire nursing career, and I've done both 12's and 8's, and honestly, both have their advantages. As others have said, w/ 12s I had more days w/ my family, and the opportunity to pick up OT was there if I wanted it, but my stress level was was too much (more to do w/ the job itself, than w/ the hours). I now work 10P-6A, and I love it. I go to work after my kids are in bed, I come home to get them rdy for school, sleep while they're in school, and have the evenings w/ them. Plus, my stress level is almost non-existent. That's what matters to me most. A happy Jnrsmommy, makes a better Jnrsmommy :)
I love doing 12 hour shifts. I do three in a row and then have the rest of the week to relax. Perfect situation for our family. It just takes some getting used to.
Another thing to consider is that with the 12 hour plan, you spend less of your time and money commuting. And you don't need to buy as many sets of scrubs (or need to do laundry as often).
3 twelves. That way I'd only miss three nights of sleep instead of five. But then I'm old and tired, LOL.
The other thing is you're kind of at a disadvantage (maybe some would call it an advantage) in that you're having to come in and do your initial assessment just as your patients have fallen asleep.
I usually do three to four shifts in a row, sometimes with only one day off in between when I'm picking up a lot of extra shifts. A couple of months ago I worked 20 twelve hour shifts in four weeks; I'm surprised my husband and children didn't tie me up and beat me I was such a PITA. The paychecks were awfully nice though!
Our upcoming schedule has little OT shifts on it, so I actually have two runs of four shifts on, four shifts off. It's been a while since I've done that, although I'll probably need the four shifts off just to recuperate b/c I'm coming off of six weeks of FMLA leave and am on a day shift schedule now!
I've done 5 8's and I'm doing 3 12's now and will never go back. I do my shifts in a row and believe it or not that helps me. I do feel that some weeks all I do on my days off is sleep and then by the time I wake up all the stores are closed. Makes scheduling dr's appts hard too. I like knowing I have 4 days off though.
With regards to holidays, even though I work 12's, our manager only allows 8 hour shifts on holidays unless you specifically ask to do a 12.
jnrsmommy
300 Posts
I've worked nightshift my entire nursing career, and I've done both 12's and 8's, and honestly, both have their advantages. As others have said, w/ 12s I had more days w/ my family, and the opportunity to pick up OT was there if I wanted it, but my stress level was was too much (more to do w/ the job itself, than w/ the hours). I now work 10P-6A, and I love it. I go to work after my kids are in bed, I come home to get them rdy for school, sleep while they're in school, and have the evenings w/ them. Plus, my stress level is almost non-existent. That's what matters to me most. A happy Jnrsmommy, makes a better Jnrsmommy :)