The first day off after 12's

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

I can do 12s and be fine the next day if they are days. I can do up to five 12s in a row.. I also regularly go to the gym though and stay active by hiking and hanging out with friends.That said, I find I mentally need a break after a few days in a row. I usually stick with a basic workout, laundry, bill paying and a pedicure (every other week...all that walking is brutal on the feet sister!)

Lovelymo79 · Sep 14, 2012

I'll probably be in the minority here, but having worked both 12 hour days and 12 hour nights, I think 12 hour days are a lot harder! Of course 12 hour nights are tiring, but at least I would usually get a chance, from roughly 12:30am to 4:00am or so, to catch up on charting, sit down, and just kind of go, "Whew!" On 12 hour days, I was dealing with doctors all day, patients going to/coming back from surgery and other tests and procedures, three meals, and all of my patients being awake the whole 12 hours. Oh, and patients' families rolling in in the late afternoon and evening when I was pretty much spent and being full of questions, etc.
I think 12 hour shifts are great if you have to work full-time, because otherwise you live at your job, but they are very, very tiring, and yes, it is normal to need some time to get rested afterwards, especially if you work them consecutively. To the PP who works seven 12's in a row: I can't even imagine how you do it, but my hat is off to you!

I definitely think it makes a difference whether you work days or nights. Not saying one is harder than the other but when I've done day shifts, I was exhausted at the end of the shift. I usually stayed up until 10 or so and then went to sleep. As a permanent night shifter, after I eat and shower, I'm in bed by 830am sometimes!

I think it's important to do a minimal as possible in between shifts when you work 3 12s in a row. I do a schedule of 6 shifts on, 8 days off now and all I literally do is eat, sleep and work, to minimize time do extra stuff during my 12 hours off. That's important. I don't even cook during that time!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

This is so very important. I have a long commute that really cuts into the amount of time I have between shifts. When I used to work 4+ days in a row, I'd have things set to be on auto-pilot for those days. I'd have scrubs with underwear and socks set up in the bathroom for each day I'd be working, as well as sleep clothes for those nights. The snacks I'd take to work would already be in the refrigerator or on the counter ready to throw in my bag. Basically, it was work, drive, sleep and eat on those days. NOTHING else would get done.

I do the same thing. Everything is organized. It kills me when I go to work and people ask, "So what did you do today?" I work permanent nights, so I sleep all day. Some of them act surprised by this. The other night, I said, "What are you doing at 4 am?" Their reply, "Sleeping, of course!" Exactly.

Flatlander · Sep 14, 2012

My first day off after working 12's I am exhausted! I have no energy to do anything and I'm all sore and achy. I just lay around all day. Does anyone else do this? Is that normal? I've always worked 8's so this is new to me. Is there anything I can do to have more energy?

I just ran across this article and thought it was pertinent. I'm curious about the politics and fiscal aspects of the 12 hour shifts. In light of all the negatives, I can't quite see who is benefitting. My experience was as most have said. Long and tiring. And spending most of the days off trying to recoup.

Article: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/blogs/the_angle/2011/05/by_suzanne_gord.html

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

I much prefer 12s, even if exhausting. I've done both, and working 3 12 hour nights is way easier than 5 8s.

And if like me, you've got a killer commute, being there for 12 instead of 8 makes the drive worth it, not to mention saves a couple days of commute time.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

I don't think the answer is all 12 hour shifts or all 8 hour shifts. I don't like Suzanne Gordon's call in the article just linked for no more 12s. Twelves will work in some areas and for some nurses. Eights will work in some other areas and for some nurses. At this point I cannot imagine having to go to work 5 days a week every week. I like working 7 twelve hour shifts in a two week pay period. I like having half of my days without work. What the nurse wants should matter. There shouldn't be a blanket one-size fits all solution.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

We were asked if we wanted 8's and half of us said no. I worked 8's in the OR, which was fine. But the reality is, you're still tired after an 8 hour shift, and you're working more often. I don't see the benefit. For me personally, I will decrease my FTE within the next 2 years and find an easier rotation.

Nurse ABC · Sep 14, 2012

I agree with the article in the sense I don't get enough sleep the days I work. I only get about 6 hrs and I don't function well unless I have 8-9. It can't be helped due to not usually getting off on time and my long commute. That being said, when I work five 8's I feel like I live at work and the two days off never feels like enough time to feel relaxed and get caught up either. Working is just plain hard, esp when you have a family to take care of on top of it!

anotherone, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

Hmm I do. I have no energy sometimes. Othertimes I do. When I worked days I was fine right away. Even after 5 twelves. With nights it is very different.

Guest343211 · Sep 14, 2012

I can do 12s and be fine the next day if they are days. I can do up to five 12s in a row.. I also regularly go to the gym though and stay active by hiking and hanging out with friends.That said, I find I mentally need a break after a few days in a row. I usually stick with a basic workout, laundry, bill paying and a pedicure (every other week...all that walking is brutal on the feet sister!)

Yes. I think the key here though is DAYS--if they are days.

Nights just sucks the blood or something out of you. I know some people may like them, but the more you have scheduled the worse you feel. Some people feel like crap with only a few nights thrown in, and then other people are OK with nights, so long as they get 3 off in a row. The problem is that scheduler revises will override this kind of night schedule for night nurses in order to fill holes or please favorites or whatever.

I think if you do nights--mandatory should be three shifts off in a row after your 3 12s. It's the only humane way to work plus live in the real world--you know, the day world. The other parts of our lives require that we function in the day world as well.

So what I mean by this is say you are scheduled to work the weekend, and Sun is the new week, plus you have to do some many Friday nights per month. So put the person on Monday of the week his/her weekend starts, then put them on Fri, Sat on that week, and then Sunday of the next (his/her weekend Sunday). Then, for that Sunday week, since you did that Sunday, now you are on Thursday and Friday. OK, so that two Friday nights in a row, but, many places want you to schedule at least two Friday nights per month--or so (six week schedule).

It's a pain to try to ensure that each full-timer (nights) has 3 consecutive nights off in a row, but I believe it is usually better on the person's health.

If they want to not hire people for smoking, b/c it increases the potential health insurance burden from the employer's end--those self-funded insurer-employees, then they should also consider the effects of night shift work on the health of their employees.

Just think it's worth considering. I think having three off a week when you do 12 hour nights is quite a reasonable thing.

Guest343211 · Sep 14, 2012

I much prefer 12s, even if exhausting. I've done both, and working 3 12 hour nights is way easier than 5 8s.
And if like me, you've got a killer commute, being there for 12 instead of 8 makes the drive worth it, not to mention saves a couple days of commute time.

Yes commuting is a major consideration.