Back-to-back 12 hour shifts

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. How many back-to-back 12 hour shifts do you work?

    • 30
      Two
    • 63
      Three
    • 14
      Four
    • 6
      Five
    • 1
      Six
    • 2
      Seven
    • 3
      Eight or More

82 members have participated

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

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

3 at the most

Feel- EXHAUSTED!

I have worked three, but mostly two.

i used to do (2) 16 hr. shifts back to back every week. that was a killer.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Every other weekend I work 3 and it nearly kills me. I've done four before and that was not doable. Three is managable...........barely. But it's worth it to get more days off in a row. :)

I work a weekend option and do three 12's in a row, nightshift. After that I need 4 days off to feel human again, then its back to nights. What a cycle.

usually two, occasionally three. One girl I work with sometimes schedules herself for 4 in a row so she can have more days off in between- i don't know how she can function on that 4th night!

Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.

I usually work no more than three in a row, but I've done more.

In order to do a vacation (without taking any vacation time....1/2 of one week off and then 1/2 of the other) I've worked 8 12hr shifts in 9 days! Now that darn near killed me!

I do 3, but when orientation ends, I will be doing 4-5 in a row. 3 exhausts me, so I don't know HOW in the world I am going to do 4-5. *sigh* We shall see. ;)

Add commute time into that... and it is a 15 hour day. No way could I do more than 2. I would be a danger to myself and others!

When I was doing floor work, I sometimes did 4-5 at a time but I was mentally not there sometimes. I don't think I was practising safely most of the time. I have had a back injury since then so I know I could never do more than 2 now. I really like more days off too. It somehow balances out!! :uhoh3:

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I regularly do 3 in a row. Last weekend I did 4 in a row and this weekend I will start a 5 day stretch so I can have extra time off for vacation. I've never done 5 before.

I couldn't have done 4 or 5 in a row when I worked med/surg/tele. I hurt too bad after 3 in a row then.

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