Can you work more days?

Nurses General Nursing

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okay, i dont know much about being a nurse, so this question might sound silly, i don't know. okay so i understand that nurses usually work 12 hr shifts. i've read that they only work 3 days a week! so you get four days off. and if you work 8 hr shifts you work 5 days a week. okay so if you work a 12 hr shift, can you still work 5 days a week if you want to? how does this usually work?

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Depends on the policy of where you work. I honestly don't know why you'd WANT to work 5 12s.... they are brutal!

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

We can if we want to. We are marked as extra after the 3rd day and if we are needed, we come in. That being said, we are usually understaffed so if you are marked extra, you are coming in ha.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Just depends on the place and how under-staffed they are. In this profession, it's usually just a matter of how understaffed they are lol. Most places have a few extra shifts they need to fill per week (even the desirable places), and in some places, you could work 365 days per week if you wanted to lol (I would not suggest working for one of those places if you can help it; there's a direct relationship b/w number of shifts available and being a not positive place to work. If there are many shifts available, that usually means the turnover is high. However, when you're new, you take whatever you can get since you need experience. Try for the most desirable places first, and if they only hire experienced nurses, then just work your way down until someone hires you lol. If you end up in a non-ideal place, just pick up all of the over-time you can, and dream of better times. :).

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I could NEVER work 5 twelve hour shifts a week. I do 2 eights and 2 12 hour shifts a week. I need that extra 4 hours per week.

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Well I woldn't actually work 5 days a week doing 12 hr shifts lol. I was just trying to see how flexible you can be with your schedule. I just found out about the 12hr/3 day thing. That is so cool to only work three days and get four days off. I didnt know that existed. I guess im used to poeple working 8 hr shifts. But hmm, never know I may opt for more days w/ the 12 hrs b/c im a workaholic and especially if i love the job. But we'll see I have a longgggg way to go im only getting ready for nursing school right now lol. I hope to work in the NICU one day though. Thanks.

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And these past few days of me researching nursing job conditions, when i saw they work 12hr shifts, i thought wow that is really brutal b/c i thought it was mon-fri and weekends off like a normal job. Silly me, thats only fir the nurses who actually work 8hr shifts. And what is it like to work a night shift. Do you sleep all day lol.

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Specializes in NICU,MB,Lact.Consultant, L/D.

You do realize you may not get your 3 12's all in a row. Also, where I work nights, the w/e for night shift is Fr Sat Sun. You may or may not be able to work thurs and then mon/ tues. It all depends on what others have signed up for and the needs of the unit.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

yes, you can!

as long as you are willing to and your body can handle it.

you might change mind after a few or first shift. :D

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Yes, night shift (well if you work 12's, which I do), you stay up all night, sleep all day prior to the first night shift of the week, and then go to work, come home sleep for 6 hours, get up go to work, etc. until your 3 nights are done for the week. Or sometimes, you may only have 2 nights clumped in a row with a night off in between. Then, on your days off you try to get back on a day shift by not really sleeping much when you get home after your last shift. It's hard to get used to, but you get used to it, kind of. It's not easy on your body, not natural obviously, so....you really need to do all you can to get extra sleep after your last shift of the week. Sleep for a few hours when you get home and then go to bed about 7 hours later to get back on a day schedule lol. You will be working nights as a new nurse, almost a guarantee, but you may luck out w/days. Every hospital job that I've ever seen requires every other weekend, so you learn to take advantage of your weekends off. :)

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3 12's are great! The time flies by! For example this week, I worked Sunday, today and then Thursday...Then I have a 4 day weekend! I never do more than two 12's back to back because I am exhausted after...But by noon the day after I am good to go. I loooove 12's, love. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am a new grad and I lucked out with 7a-7p shift and honestly those 12's usually turn into 13's. I do work every other weekend and I am ok with that too.

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Yes, night shift (well if you work 12's, which I do), you stay up all night, sleep all day prior to the first night shift of the week, and then go to work, come home sleep for 6 hours, get up go to work, etc. until your 3 nights are done for the week. Or sometimes, you may only have 2 nights clumped in a row with a night off in between. Then, on your days off you try to get back on a day shift by not really sleeping much when you get home after your last shift. It's hard to get used to, but you get used to it, kind of. It's not easy on your body, not natural obviously, so....you really need to do all you can to get extra sleep after your last shift of the week. Sleep for a few hours when you get home and then go to bed about 7 hours later to get back on a day schedule lol. You will be working nights as a new nurse, almost a guarantee, but you may luck out w/days. Every hospital job that I've ever seen requires every other weekend, so you learn to take advantage of your weekends off. :)

lol okay. i was thinking sheesh you have to sleep all day! but i guess that why its good that you get four days off so that doesnt seem bad.

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