12 hour shift question

[BOSS man]

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.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

What happen to 8 hour shifts?

They still exist, but most people request 12s.

[krocks1218]

Well Bossman, I really think it's up to you as an individual, y'know? I realize that sounds vague but, for me, it depends on my energy levels and focus. When I was an LPN, I once worked an entire month with only 2 days off and the majority of my shifts were 16hours! That was EXTREME and I DON'T recommend but I was very much on and ready for the challenge. (The paychecks didn't hurt either!) other months I could only handle four 8hr shifts a week. You really have to be tuned into yourself and recognize your limits. It will be trial and error to know what works for you! Good luck :)

[Music in My Heart]

I prefer 6 on, 8 off.

I work nights and it's easier to flip biweekly than semiweekly.

I'm just finishing up 9 out of 11 and looking forward to my 9-day weekend.

[knitnurse72]

I just started my very first nursing job and I work Friday 7-3, Sat & Sun 7 am-7 pm, and Monday 3-11. It's every weekend, but so far my 4 days per week fly by and I'm really enjoying my 3 days off every week, and always knowing my schedule. I was a unit secretary at a hospital before this and other than every other weekend, my schedule was never the same and I kind of hated that.

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

I work 8 hour shifts, and it's my preference. Kudos to those who can work 3 12's in a row. It's just too long of a shift for me. When I have to work long hours or too many days in a row, I become extremely crabby to everyone around. I wish I weren't like that, but I can't help it.

I love my 8's as well! I work 32 hour evenings every other weekend. I typically will work 3 in a row, have a day or two off and then work my other one.

[LTCNS, LPN]

I work 8 hour shifts as well in a low key, fairly low stress assisted living Alzheimer's home. I'm currently working Mon-Fri. 6:30am-3:00pm and it's getting to me. Starting next month I will work every other weekend with days off during the week, and can't wait to have those five days in a row broken up. I will probably work something like four on, one off, three on two off, three on, one off to equal 10 days per pay period. They tell me the weekends there are very quiet. However, if given the choice of working 12 hour shifts, I would do it to have more days off during the week.

[DEgalRN]

When I did 12s it was all over the place. But as dayshift it was a punishment to do all 3 in a row!

[CrazierThanYou]

I work my three night shifts together in a row and then I have my four days off. Some people can't hack it, though. I have many nurses tell me that three in a row is too exhausting for them.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

where I am we don't get a choice as to group our shifts together( although it didnt used to be that way). So the shifts are interspersed randomly, which stinks. Home,life??? what's that . Married to the job.

I will say that being that I was grandfathered in to a 36 hr workweek, I am allowed to work 3 8's and a 12.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

At my hospital, I do three 12s in a row on night shift. It's not a big deal in my opinion. Yes, by the 3rd night you're a little tired but at least we can keep the same group of patients all three nights and the learning curve of your patients by the 3rd night is minimal.

[CrazierThanYou]

I'm in a float pool so I rarely have the same patients two nights, much less three, but I still like my shifts together. Also, we make our own schedules, which is a big bonus, especially when I hear other people's schedules!

[Brooke Schmidt, BSN, RN]

I work 12 hour shifts, 3 days in a row, it is awful sometimes, but having 4 days off every week USUALLY makes up for it.