Help me choose the days I work/schedule

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.

[TABLE=class: forumline, width: 100%]

[TR]

[TD=class: row2, bgcolor: #F7F7F8]

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

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

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

Example

Week one Tuesday and Thursday

Week two Tuesday and Sunday.

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.

[TABLE=class: forumline, width: 100%]

[TR]

[TD=class: row2, bgcolor: #F7F7F8]Given the choice would you rather work every * other* Sunday 9-9 OR every single Friday 9-9?[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

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

Example

Week one Tuesday and Thursday

Week two Tuesday and Sunday.

Why does it matter what I would choose or what anyone else would? Schedule yourself for the days that you want to work. Isn't that the whole point of self-scheduling?

Well I haven't really worked 12's before. So I am wondering if there are any tips, suggestions from those who do.

Well I haven't really worked 12's before. So I am wondering if there are any tips, suggestions from those who do.

Well, if you don't have a preference yet, you could let management make your schedule around everyone else. That's what I did when I worked full time with very few other commitments.

Your co-workers will love you for it because they'll be more likely to get their requested schedules.

Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

Are your kids in sports/school activities? 9a-9p is pretty much going to guarantee you will miss anything kind of sporting event, concert, group activity they have going on on a day you work. For instance, my son has football games every friday night during the season, so working every friday wouldn't work for me. Think about those things when planning your schedule.

Specializes in LTC.

I would personally put the 2 days together so I'd have 5 days off, but that's just me.

They don't have any after school sports.

Are your kids in sports/school activities? 9a-9p is pretty much going to guarantee you will miss anything kind of sporting event, concert, group activity they have going on on a day you work. For instance, my son has football games every friday night during the season, so working every friday wouldn't work for me. Think about those things when planning your schedule.

I'm debating that. I just worry I will be so tired. Also, the feeling of dread waking up on the first day, knowing you have two 12's in a row...

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.
I'm debating that. I just worry I will be so tired. Also, the feeling of dread waking up on the first day, knowing you have two 12's in a row...

What dread? It's like working any other two days in a row. You get your same patients back usually. You have a kind of routine since you just worked. 2nd and 3rd days are actually easier for me. Then you get all your days off together. I, and most of those I work with, prefer two or 3 days together over splitting the schedule. No one ever wants to come in for just one day.

I'm sure there are a few out there who just can't physically handle more than 1 day at a time, but that is truly the exception. Just make your schedule around your life. What any of us would do doesn't actually matter because our life is different then yours.

For me I pair 2 days together, take 2-3 days off, then work the other. But this is because I have a PRN job as well and I will usually put in to work as either a second or third day around my FTE schedule. If I only had one job, I would probably schedule my 3 together most weeks and try to work it around my kids activities or any vacations I would like.

Specializes in Oncology.

It's way easier to do my shifts together for me. If you don't hate your job there's no dread. I'm usually pretty darn chipper going into work.

I dislike 3 in a row, but it's not a huge deal.

It did take me a bit to physically get used to it though.

I like to do 2 in a row, take a few days off, then do my last one.

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.

+ Join the Discussion