Too many hours?

cmggriff · Jun 23, 2002

Can't say how it will affect you. I currently work 6 straight 12 hour shifts, then I'm off for 8 in a row. This works well for me and my family, but my wife does not work. I don't have to go home and clean the house or care for the kid most of the time.

A lot of working long hours like that is mental. If you convince yourself you are doing well, you probably will be fine. Good luck, Gary

uk_nurse · Jun 23, 2002

well i do 3 long days a week which is 14 hrs a day. It works well for me as i have 3 boys a husband and a house to run. I tend to do 2 long days together and a couple of days off and then a one long day. I enjoy having 4 days off a week. Sometimes it is tiring as i come home about 10 o'clock and have to do boys lunches for school and get things ready for the next day. My hubby sits infront of the computer, unless i say do this and that nothing gets done so i have to do it. He works too but i'm a computer widow :) I am also a student nurse in my final year (paediatrics) so i also have assignments and exams to contend with as well as my shifts i'm doing on my placements. It is hard but i haven't got long to go now. I do have times when i think i just want to give it up and go back into nursery nursing working in a school but i have come this far i must carry on.

Good luck to you :) :)

nursegoodguy · Jun 23, 2002

I think anything is worth a try... I did (3) 12's and (2) 16's every week for several years to get ahead of the game and all that happens is you wish you were already at the end of the game! It is very draining but then again 10's are only a few hours more than a usual shift... Try it if you think you are up to it... just keep in mind that you shouldn't do too much after work and "try" to get enough rest.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jun 23, 2002

I did the three 12's option for a while and that like to have killed me, but it's so person-specific - you won't know until you try it. The idea of a week in a row off every other week sure is tempting. What's your home sitch? Kids? Hubby? How will this affect them if they're in the picture?

Good luck on your decision! :)

MQ Edna · Jun 24, 2002

I have a friend who worked that schedule (7-l0's, then 7 off) and she loved it! Her husband was in business and the time off gave her time to help him, time to serve as an officer in her fav. nursing orgs, time to serve in her church. Or maybe she just had more energy than I did! At any rate, because they had an overlap, it sounded like the nurses there had time to do a lot of extra things. Another nice thing--if you take one week of vacation, you get three weeks off!!