16 Hour Shifts

Published

I've been a RN for thirty four years and for the first time in my life I am being scheduled sixteen hour shifts in a long term care facility. I am the house supervisor and am told this is the norm for long term care. I do everything I can to make it work but these shifts are hard. I work 7a-11p Saturday and Sunday, 3p-11p Monday, Tuesday-Friday off. Thoughts?

Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

At my former LTC there were a number of employees that preferred to do 16 hour shifts on the weekend. However, when they called out it was unpleasant for the on-call nurse who had to cover all 16 hours. I don't think I could do back to back 16 hour shifts. I end up doing just about one a month and it's always hard if I have another 12 the next day. I'm not sure about facilities requiring that schedule, good luck getting what's best for you. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is the norm where I used to work. They did the whole weekend Baylor thing back in the day. Did away with the extra pay bit kept all the doubles. The weekend supervisor would do a double then work some random 3 to 11 like Tuesday I think. It is really up to you if having 4 days off in a row every week is worth it. Maybe you could talk to the night sup and see if they would want to move to a 7p to 7a and you do the same. I suppose this would involve a total change in their scheduling. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

What is the role of the house supervisor? Do you have a full patient load along with supervising the other nurses and aides? 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, geriatrics, acute care.

I do not have a patient assignment.  I am responsible for trouble solving, staffing issues, etc. Basically, I am the administrator on the weekends.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you have to decide if the pay is worth it, if you are able perform your duties safely while you're there and if you can physically/mentally handle it.

Doubtful they will change their mind based upon any sort of reasoning you could present. If you have been there awhile and have managed to accrue some good will, you could just try telling them that you otherwise enjoy the job but aren't physically (or whatever) capable of working such a long shift and ask about brainstorming for other ways to make things work.

Not sure what else would even give them a second's pause.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, geriatrics, acute care.

Many staff on the weekends work two 16 hour shifts back to back without a full 8 hours between the shifts. I am advocating for the 16 hour shifts to be abolished for all staff, not just me. I cannot imagine safely giving meds and doing treatments for a group of patients for 16 hours. I did not clearly state this in my original post.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

16 hour shifts are already long, but doing 2 in a row is extra hard. You don't have enough time to sleep in between. By the time you give report, drive home, shower, and go to bed you will probably only have 5 or 6 hours to sleep before you need to wake up for work the next day, maybe less depending on commute. Doesn't seem sustainable to do that every weekend.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion