88 Hours, tired, what was your highest week? how did you recover?

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

Last week I did 88 hours. I did get a full nights sleep each night, but its monday now, I was off sunday, slept most of the day, went to work today, got out at 3, and just got up .....My question is...how do you "wake up" from a week like that? And... what was the most amount of hours you worked in a week, and in what area? I work in the OR...

:eek:

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

That is crazy! I have never worked that many hours. I think I would sleep 16 hours straight after that and not worry about "waking up" until my body was ready to. Why did you work so many hours?

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I don't recall ever working more than 52 hours or so in a week, nor will I. If I need the money that bad, it's time to downsize. If they need staffing that bad, not my problem.

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I did 70 some way back when I was younger. I bounced back a lot faster then.

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wow 88 hours? I hope you got time and a half for all hours worked over 40 :)

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

70 something, so long as you slept. If I have to work past midnight I'm coming in late. Get up at 0430

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

As an RN, I don't think I've done more than 64 or 70. As a tech, I think I did about 72...same as when I was a clerk. This was all MedSurg.

I do know a nurse who would work five 7A - 11P shifts in a row, then be off for nine days, then do it again. She was nuts. (This was a Cardiac floor).

It really depends on your department and the availability of relief. I've done OR and I think I could do a lot more OR as opposed to the floor. (Unless I had to scrub the entire time - yikes!) It's just a completely different atmosphere.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MR/DD, Clinic.

I don't think I would ever work that many hours in a week either. I won't work over 48 unless it's a dire emergency. Sorry!

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88 Hours Wow! Is this normal where you work? Are they shortstaffed.

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Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

Think I did around 90 one time when I worked in PACU and was on call. Spent 23 hours at hospital one day when I was first call... It sucks.

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

By the time they hold out the taxes on that much overtime pay you will wonder why you bothered if you were working it for the extra money. I would never work more than 8 hr OT in a week, my body can't do it and what you have left after taxes just isn't worth it. If they are that short staffed unless we are talking hurricanes/blizzards --- not my problem!

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Specializes in cardiothoracic surgery.

The most I remember working is 40 hours. :) Not a big fan of working OT, not worth it to me.

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