12 hour shifts

pmchap · Oct 21, 2003

I work 10 hr shifts - but id love 12's - the change from 4 a week (for 10's) down to 3 a week for 12's would mean you have an extra long weekend evry week.

girloutnumbered · Oct 30, 2003

I work in a paed and adult cariodthoracic intensive care unit. Almost all of us work 12 hour shifts nad have done for some years now (about 8years I think). Our shifts run 0700 - 1930 or 1900 - 0730. We work 10 shifts over three weeks to get our required 120 hours. We have quite tight rules governing number of shifts in a row etc. Can only do a max. of 4 in a row.

Most people love them as more days off etc. :cool:

There is still the option though for people to do 8 hour shifts if necessary for them.

Kizomo · Nov 23, 2003

12 hour shifts apparently work really well for some people, but I've yet to meet any of those people. Here in Canada, most shifts are 12 hrs, and I found them almost impossible to get used to. I must admit that 12 hrs in the NICU was a lot more manageable than 12 hrs in surgical or LTC - I guess that's because the work is not quite as physically taxing. However, I still found that all I did during my work week was work and sleep. My family almost had to make appointments to see me. I've given all that up for 7 hr shifts in the community, and haven't looked back. Cheers from Canada - Tracy!

joannep · Dec 25, 2003

Hi, I work a 4 week fixed roster which consists of 3X12 hr shifts per week, and include 1X8 hr shift in the first fortnight which allows for a 8hr rostered day off in the second fortnight. I thought I was in a win/win situation but the roster is fixed and swaps are rare, only if someone agrees. I thought with all this time I could do a sewing class ... wrong, I don't work the same days each week, I frequently work 1 then have a day off, work 1 then have a day off, work 1 etc so I don't get more days off together. In fact I have one 3 day weekend break in the 4 week cycle. I am home so much later, and that means I can't supervise my kids homework, which means it doesn't get started until 8pm. I also found that my extra time at home was boring because everyone I know is working 8X5, so no-one to go to lunch with, I also find I am just aimlessly wandering around the shopping mall spending money. The novelty has worn off and I am seriously considering changing to a different workplace to get back to the 8hr X 5 days a week. And don't anyone suggest I study, I have a 2 postgrad diplomas and a masters, I never want to study again.