How many 12 hour shifts per week

Nurses General Nursing

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I work 12 hour shifts and am able to work as much as I like. I am grateful for this because I have some debt I want to pay down. I do not want to get burnt out. How many shifts per week is too many? I am thinking between 4-5. Just wondering how many shifts per week you can work without over doing it? What works for you?

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

3. I dont do overtime. I'll take the lower paycheck to have more fun

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

I've seen nurses do 4 per week for weeks on end. Personally when I was on the floor I could do 4, then 3 the other week but that's it!

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
I've seen nurses do 4 per week for weeks on end. Personally when I was on the floor I could do 4, then 3 the other week but that's it!

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My friend cleared over 6 figures last year doing that. Yeah kind of money is nice but it would kill me. She has since stopped because I think it did just that to her. She is so much happier now.

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I work 12 houer shifts, mon, tues, wed, fri, sat and sun. I have the following week off. One week on and one week off. I am so lucky!! I really do not feel burnt out on the weeks that I work. Life is what you make of it. I can have someome dying, someone with COP struggling to breath, ect.... all in one nights shift. All that I can say again is that your world is what you make it.

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Enjoy life, save your health.

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I only do 3 and I feel it's plenty!

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I would start with 4 and see how you do. 5 in 7 days is a lot. If you really want that maybe do 5 one week and 4 the next. I've done 4 without too much trouble, but 5 would have pushed me.

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Specializes in LTC/MDS.

I used to work lots of OT. I could NEVER say no. I vowed when I started my new job (a year ago) I wouldn't do that. I'm very proud to say I haven't! They money can be nice but don't burn yourself out. If you have a family, spend the extra time with them. You won't regret it in the future!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I work 12 hour shifts and am able to work as much as I like. I am grateful for this because I have some debt I want to pay down. I do not want to get burnt out. How many shifts per week is too many? I am thinking between 4-5. Just wondering how many shifts per week you can work without over doing it? What works for you?

I would start with 4. If you have a family or even a pet...5 twelves is A LOT! Is this days or nights?

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I only work 3 and enjoy my off time with my kids. I work more than 3 only if I need extra money for a bill or Christmas, etc.

If you are wanting to pay down your debt, perhaps you could work an extra shift every other week and commit the extra cash to the payments.

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Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

I do 5 in a week several times a year but I rarely do more than 3 in a row. It is okay for me as long as I have a couple of nights off between. I do like my overtime but 4's are much easier to handle. Taxes eat you up if you work more...

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