getting used to 12 hour shifts

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hello! i have a question.

i work for an agency here in oklahoma, and i am currently working at a large hospital in town, doing sitting and floor work. my agency is super flexible, so i have decided to try 12 hour shifts, instead of the 8 hour shifts ive been doing.

i feel so exhausted!! is this normal?? i am working overnights on days that my kids have school, and im getting tons of sleep but wow. any advice?? i really want this to work out.

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Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

I have been doing 12 hr shifts for years and for me, they've never gotten any shorter or any easier. I'm still wiped out afterwards. If I do 3 in a row it takes days to recuperate. It's a long, hard day. That's just all there is to it.

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I work 12 hour shifts as a PCT, no desk like the nurses have. If I have a moment to sit ( rare) I sit at front desk area. Otherwise I'm spending about 11 of those hours on my feet, my health App logs approx 7 miles a shift. I'm considering a new job, I think I would rather work 8 hours shifts five days a week in stead of three 12's a week. My days off are spent recovering from my work day, so it's just not worth putting my body through this much aching for such little pay.

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the work itself isnt hard at all...i have a set routine i follow, and i am pretty much on my own, since i work through an agency...the break room is awesome, has a tv, snacks etc...but its the whole sleeping during the day thing thats killing me! i feel pretty ok today though..hopefully i can just get used to it. my plan for trying to do this 5 days a week is off though! dont think thats going to work! :roflmao:

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im doing 3 days every other day for now...i wish i had it in me to do them all in a row, but i think i would pass out!

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12 hour shifts are all I do and once you get used to them to me it does seem to get easier because you find things to keep you busy.

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Snacks, lots of water, and some coffee. I frequently worked 24 on/24 off, and would make sure that I would get some food and water in me whenever I had a break. I would also use breaks to sit down for a few minutes and do some stretching.

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