12 hour shift question

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How closely are your 12 hour shifts usually? Do people usually do 3 straight 12s and call it a week? I'm planning to be a new RN in the future and trying to figure out how my life working nights may be, as far as sleep, family, social life.

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I personally like working 3 12s in a row if they're night shifts, NOT day shifts. For days I prefer to work 2 in a row and have a day off in between my third.

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Specializes in ICU.
How closely are your 12 hour shifts usually? Do people usually do 3 straight 12s and call it a week? I'm planning to be a new RN in the future and trying to figure out how my life working nights may be, as far as sleep, family, social life.

Most like to do 3x 12hrs and then have off. It can be a marathon, but seems to work for most people.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

When I worked 12s (not in nursing though), I worked them in a row to get them over with. Also, they were also night shifts and it was easier to do them in a row so I didn't disrupt my sleep/wake hours too often.

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I hate 3 in a row. Like to work 2, off 2 work 1 off 2. I work days, 7:00am-7:30 pm. I don't get home until after 8:00 pm, and I feel out of sorts with my kids if I work three in a row. Typically, where I work, if its not your weekend to work, you will work Mon and Friday, so I just tack a Tues or Thursday with it. Probably feel different if I worked nights though.

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Specializes in LTC.

I work 7p to 7a and like working 3 in a row. I feel like crap the last shift, but its easier to switch my sleep around when they are grouped.

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Depends if I work nights or days. If I work nights, I like to do all 3 of my shifts in a row to have the longest stretch on a normal day schedule.

If I work days I usually work one day, then take a day off, then work two in a row. I feel like this helps keep my sanity :-)

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Specializes in ED.

I would prefer to do three in a row days or nights, it gives more time off in a row afterwards and easier on the sleeping schedule.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

3 on 1 off 3 on 7 off. I used to do 6 on 8 off but that damn near killed me. Makes it easier to switch to day normal hours on the time off.

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

When people see 3 in a row on my floor they wonder what they did to the NM to deserve such punishment so it definitely depends on the person! I know a few people that like it but it can be hard on the body. By your 3rd you're ready to crash.

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

What happen to 8 hour shifts?

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Specializes in Emergency, LTC.
What happen to 8 hour shifts?

I don't know about you, but there's no way you could get me to work FT 5 days a week. I would MUCH rather do 3 days a week with a longer shift.

-emerjensee

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