Has anyone ever worked a "double shift" ie 16hr shift?

[chingy1206]

I just took a job as an RN at a behavioral health facility and was told I have a choice of working 11p-7a five days a week or 2 double shifts on the weekend (3-11 then 11-7) fri and sat and then an 8hr shift on a weekday. They both equal 40 hrs a week. I have always worked 3 12hr shifts so this will be very different for me! Does anyone have any recommendation on which shifts I should go with? Does anyone work double shifts here? Got any advice? Is it real overwhelming?

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I worked double shifts day(8) and then evening(4 hours)0700-1130 PM (16 hours total)

I also used to work 2 8 hours shift back to back-days (8 hours) and then evenings (8 hours)

Personally I think it would be harder to do evenings to nights that day to evenings.

I rarely would do the 16 hour shifts-we were short-staffed or had too many call-ins-by hour 14 I was DONE. It wasn't worth the extra money.

otessa

[rn4babies63]

I've done it only three times and will never do it again it I can help it. I once worked 7A-7:30PM, took my husband to the ER from 8:30-11:30 then drove an hour to my second job and worked 12 midnight to 7:30 AM. By about 5 AM I didn't know my first name! Safe, huh? Oh yeah, and my legs hurt soooo bad from the terrible cramps from overuse and dehydration!

[RNAEMTCC]

ahh I double shift. I've been mandated into many of these unfortunately....many many many of them. Thankfully the new law came through in NY that we can no longer be mandated and I will never ever work a 16 hour shift again, I felt unsafe, I had to pee. I was exhasuted, dehydrated, and didn't have a break the entire shift and that was most of the 16's I worked, because when you're mandated it's already short... so you're not going to get a break.

Sigh... what they do to nurses.

[elkpark]

I worked a modified Baylor position in inpatient psych, 2 16s (7a - 11p) every weekend, for over two years, and loved it. Sure, I was pretty beat by Sunday evening, but having Mon-Fri free every week sure made up for it! (I took the opportunity of having all the extra free time to complete a BSN and eventually left that position to go to grad school.)

The position included a bonus for working every weekend -- I worked 32 hours and got paid for 40, plus benefits. It was a great deal. I originally worked 2 12s on the weekend (the standard "weekend option" that the hospital offered -- work 24 and get paid for 32), plus an 8 hour shift during the week to take me up to 32 hours, the minimum at that facility to get benefits, and it was actually my suggestion, eventually, to the administration that I just work two doubles on the weekend. Worked out better for me and worked out better for them.

Yes, the two doubles back-to-back are v. tiring, but you've got five days free to rest up each week.

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

If they want you to work two doubles (evening to nights no less!) AND an 8 during the week, if you have anything else going on in your life be prepared to be exhausted.

I've pulled the occasional 16 and while occasionally it isn't bad, every weekend would wear me out.

[florianslove]

I've done a double on occassion and can't say I enjoyed it. I felt exhausted and punch drunk. I think alot depends on your age and stamina:wink2:. At 47 I don't feel I can do it safely. This weekend, I am doing the Baylor (7A til 7:30P), I'm only doing it as a favor and won't do it again.

You have to think of your patients or residents, can you safely take care of them after 15 hrs? Good Luck

Roxann:redpinkhe:nurse:

[Straydandelion]

I don't think I could do two double shifts in a row and function effectively. I realize the hours sound nice, but you may want to try just doing ONE double shift and see how you feel after that.

[calledtodo]

I did it as a Cna, never again. Not worth your health. The worst part for me was driving home. I was soo tired.

[SPower82]

I agree with Straydandelion. Try it out, the question can really only be answered on a case by case basis. I work at a nursing home and there are varying levels of difficulty on all the different floors. I can do a double on the 2nd floor but not on the 3rd.

if you work at an acute care facility it may also depend on census and the complexity of the cases presented to you on the floor on a given. Careful with doing it to much, it will make you crazy.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I've done a few, but not as a regular practice.

[MsDorsey]

I worked a 32/40 weekend shift at a LTC. It was difficult to say the least. I had five days off during the week, but it wasn't worth it. 2 double shifts back to back is a disaster waiting to happen. I was so tired after working those two days, that I spent the next day & half after recovering. I wouldn't recommend doubles on a regular basis to anyone.