Help me choose the days I work/schedule

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I will be switching to 12 hour day shifts at work.

I will do a 0.6 FTE. So that is two days a week. Hours are 9am to 9 pm.

I'm allowed to somewhat choose my own schedule. I have to do four 12's in two weeks. My boss said one day has to be a Saturday or Sunday. So, 1 of the 4 shifts should be a weekend.

What would you choose? Kids are 16 and 18 so they will be fine.

Also, I will see if I can negotiate working every Friday instead of the weekend day. Sometimes they allowed that in the past.

IF that is possible I was thinking every Tuesday and Friday.

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Given the choice would you rather work every * other* Sunday 9-9 OR every single Friday 9-9?[/TD]

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If it's not possible, what would you suggest?

Example

Week one Tuesday and Thursday

Week two Tuesday and Sunday.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I am a weekend option nurse. the differentials and bonus make it worth it. Your kids are old enough. Otherwise, you could do every Fri/Sat. I am one of those that like the same sched. I used to do Wed/Sat/Sun which was great. now fri/sat/sun. I know you are only doing two. Fri/Sat gives you most of the week and then Sundays every weekend.

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My shift differential is only $2 per hour on weekends. Weekends are the only full days that the kids are home.

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The dread of knowing I will be doing nothing but work for the next two full days. Sorry, that is not something I am chipper about.

I have a desk job, so I would not get the same patients back anyway.

Maybe I will rethink the two in a row.

I could do Sunday, Tuesday one week. Then Tuesday, Wednesday the next week. So it's only two in a row every two weeks.

You have a pretty sweet schedule and a pretty sweet job. Are you ill? How could two 12's at a desk job be a problem? Only YOU know if you want Fridays or Sundays off.

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No, I am not ill. It's not physically hard but it is a stressful job. There Is also a certain amount of productivity required. It's a busy place.

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I like to take short vacations so I cluster my shifts as close as possible the haveup to 5 days off in a row.

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, Burn ICU.

Can you try it one way and then change it later? I hear you about not having worked 12s before and that is why you are questioning the two in a row. I have only ever worked 12s and I can tell you that I don't dread doing 2 in a row and I like having larger chunks off at a time. It is true that I am basically not around on the homefront or any other front during consecutive 12 hour shifts. I will add, though, that personally I would not want to sit for 12 hours at any job. Are you literally sitting like at a telephone or computer -- like at poison control or something? If so, I can see why you might want to break those shifts up. But I hate sitting.

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I'm so jealous to hear a lot of people get to pick the days they work! I have to work whenever they tell me :(

I do get my schedule at least 2 weeks in advance but I never know which days I will work.

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Specializes in PICU.

I realize it may not work, but what if you did Friday Saturday, Sunday Monday. That way you would have off a week+ in between weeks. Yes, it would be 4 days in a row, but you would have off a lot of time in betweem. Since you have the opportunity, find days that you prefer to have off and work around those.

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Specializes in Critical care.

I made a part time 0.6 schedule that was 4 on and 10 off and I had full time people wanting to go part time to take it. It is Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon, then 10 off, I have people lined up to take it after the current employee leaves, if she ever does.

Cheers

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I made a part time 0.6 schedule that was 4 on and 10 off and I had full time people wanting to go part time to take it. It is Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon, then 10 off, I have people lined up to take it after the current employee leaves, if she ever does.

Cheers

That sounds awful to me now that my kids are older. I want as few weekends as possible.

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I realize it may not work, but what if you did Friday Saturday, Sunday Monday. That way you would have off a week+ in between weeks. Yes, it would be 4 days in a row, but you would have off a lot of time in betweem. Since you have the opportunity, find days that you prefer to have off and work around those.

I sort of prefer my shifts spread out. Having a big stretch off is not important to me.

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Specializes in PACU.
Also, the feeling of dread waking up on the first day, knowing you have two 12's in a row...

I could do Sunday, Tuesday one week. Then Tuesday, Wednesday the next week. So it's only two in a row every two weeks.

I want as few weekends as possible.

I sort of prefer my shifts spread out. Having a big stretch off is not important to me.

My shift differential is only $2 per hour on weekends. Weekends are the only full days that the kids are home.

Seems like you've made decision and really don't need our help picking your days.

Tips for 12 hour shifts.

Plan your meals ahead. Plan on errands and shopping on one of your days off each week.

Prep as much as you can on the days off... last thing you'll want to do is stop on the way home and shop or come home a prep and cook a meal.

Crock/insta pots could be your best friend... (drive throughs are mine, what ever floats your boat).

Make sure kids know what chores are expected to be done before you get home from your twelve hours... coming home to a dirty home when you only have a couple of wake hours is miserable for me.

Make sure you get a good nights sleep on those days too, don't short change yourself.

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