Seeking commiseration and chocolate, will accept honest assessments of whether I'm being a total princess about this. ?
Just got my schedule for the next few weeks, and I got scheduled to work four 12s in a row that I in no way, shape, or form requested. Now, I am an absolute bear after three in a row, especially now that I've got a practicum for my MSN to schedule into the mix. I prefer to spread my shifts out a little bit - work two, off one or two, then work one or two, etc. - but I know I'm not the only person my manager is trying to accommodate while staffing the unit, so I totally get it when I don't get what I requested sometimes. That said, I've never done four in a row, and my past managers typically never scheduled them unless someone specifically requested it.
I'm not gonna make a big stink about it, though I may see if anyone is willing to trade a shift so I can get a little break somewhere in there. Just curious, especially from managers or unit coordinators - do you often schedule staff for four in a row if they didn't request it? Does anyone LIKE having them all packed together like that? I am honestly dreading the whole thing, especially since our unit is super small with a lot of us in clinicals, so I doubt anyone is going to be able to switch. ?
I enjoyed 3s.. Work some days and be done with the rest. I didn't do to many 4s, since that would require weekends. Since a lot of my old coworkers were religious, my required "weekend" shifts were almost always Sunday nights. So, often it would be a SMT schedule. Prep for procedure, see them the next night, and well, Tuesday was admissions..... The only times I worked sat/sundays was if I were scheduling a "vacation", I'd work SMT-off off off WEEKEND off off off - RFS... I literally took no "vacation" days for a whole year because I did my scheduling like that.. Included trips to Europe and across the country. ?
I hate 3 in a row and only work that if I absolutely can’t help it (or if it’s for a trip, which wouldn’t be the case right now). I hit a wall come 3pm on day 3 and there is no way I’d be able to work 4 12 hour shifts in a row. I’ve worked an extra weekend shift multiple times before to split up 3 in a row. If I’m scheduled Saturday-Monday, then Wednesday, Thursday I often find it easy to swap Monday for the next Saturday (although it can stink working 2 Saturdays in a row it’s typically worth it for me). Most of the time, unless I have an appointment or something going on, my only schedule request is no 3 in a row and my manager who does the schedule knows that. I would definitely be letting them know that 4 in a row is no good for the future.
Three was my limit. I have worked with people who did 7 twelve-hour shifts on, then had 7 days off....and I don't know how they did it. I worked four days in a row a few times and the fourth day was kind of a blur. But different people have different tolerances. The real question is, are you going to get at least two days off after it? because you will need at least one day for downtime/recovery.
Can't complain on that front, I do have a good chunk of days off after it. I think when I do three in a row, I'm pretty useless for at least the first day and a half afterward (and, like I said, a bear - anybody just want to scream any time someone even talks to you after a stretch of shifts???). That's more what I'm dreading - the recovery time I'm going to need and can't really afford right now, rather than the actual four in a row. Still learning to completely leave work at work, I guess.
@Michellelizz gosh, yeah, most of the time three in a row is the longest stretch I or my coworkers end up working. One nurse I knew fondly remembered skiing six in a row during the Summer so she could get in a week of beach time between. I suppose a regular set of five days off together would be pretty great!
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
Could you try to switch with someone? We work 3 12's a week as well (as NP's) and though I like the consistency of having the same ICU patients in a row, I feel like a 4th 12hr shift in a row would be too much unless I asked for it. No way I would do that on a night shift either but luckily I don't do nights anymore.
My preference is actually for six 12's in a row (followed by 8 off). I'm curious how many people who prefer to work no more than 3 in a row work days vs nights.
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
I worked days briefly to cover someone's maternity leave once, and with days I actually liked my 12's broken up but with nights I like them all together.
My preference is actually for six 12's in a row (followed by 8 off). I'm curious how many people who prefer to work no more than 3 in a row work days vs nights.
I’ve never been overly picky about that, although I’m not a huge fan of one on/one off, one on/one off.
I work one day a week now, so it’s not really an issue at present.
I used to do it routinely because we worked every third weekend and because I liked long stretches off I worked 4 starting Thursday night. Not my weekends off were 4, 5 and 6. I also did the schedule at 4 or 5 different places and I never scheduled someone for 4 unless they asked for it OR it was the only way to give them a bunch of requested days off &/or vacation days. And if I had to do it I always called them and warned them in case they wanted to switch requested days off. I can't before they're was no other way to schedule you unless it's around a major holiday or a bunch of people are taking vacation.
CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN
1,017 Posts
I enjoyed 3s.. Work some days and be done with the rest. I didn't do to many 4s, since that would require weekends. Since a lot of my old coworkers were religious, my required "weekend" shifts were almost always Sunday nights. So, often it would be a SMT schedule. Prep for procedure, see them the next night, and well, Tuesday was admissions..... The only times I worked sat/sundays was if I were scheduling a "vacation", I'd work SMT-off off off WEEKEND off off off - RFS... I literally took no "vacation" days for a whole year because I did my scheduling like that.. Included trips to Europe and across the country. ?