How many 12 hour shifts per week

j0yegan · Jan 27, 2014

I only work 3 per week. I know some people who work 3 one week then 4 the next week.

allnurses Guide · Jan 27, 2014

I did four every week for quite some time and got so burned out I became depressed. I stopped the OT for a while and now am picking up one extra shift per paycheck. It is easy to burn yourself into the ground and not even notice until you have a real crisis on your hands simply from emotional fatigue. I absolutely refuse to do three in a row though. Like the above poster said, I do okay if I have a day or two off in between.

Billy_Ruben · Jan 27, 2014

I do five a lot. Right now I'm scheduled six in a row on, two off, eight on. I work nights. I have two older kids (16 & 12) and I'm married. It's exhausting but something I need to do for now. I try to make the best of it and have a good attitude. I work a busy telemetry floor. I've been a nurse for 18 months. Hey, I'm there so much that I learn tons and am getting super efficient. I'm also learning the role of charge nurse right now. I do miss my family.

RNperdiem, RN · Jan 27, 2014

With 4 shifts a week, my house was always a mess and I was always tired. Never again.

Keep in mind, if you are new to 12 hour shifts, that when you add time to commute both ways, walk to work(parking is not close here),get in a little early, leave late some nights, that your door-to-door time is a long haul day.

For extra money, you can always schedule in some weekends or nights if they pay a differential.

Caffeine_IV · Jan 27, 2014

I have done 4 when we were short but as a habit, I don't volunteer for OT. 3 a week is ok.

I have a family also so I like to spend some time with them without being an overtired grouch.

When I do 4, cooking and cleaning were neglected.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2014

I used to work 0.9 12 hr nocs; every 3rd week was 6 shifts in 7 days. I think it was Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun. That was followed by a week off, followed by a week of 3 shifts. I also had two babies at the time and found it really hard to even enjoy my week off, I was so exhausted.

That's just me though. Maybe start with four a week, give it a couple months and see how you do? I'd hate for you to take on too much and wear yourself out.

Biffbradford · Jan 27, 2014

The most I ever did was 6. 3 on, 1 off, 3 on over Christmas ... Thanks Mr. Scheduler! I was fried. One hospital here does 7/70 which is seven 10 hour shifts, then seven off. Some like it, I think it sounds suicidal.

anon456, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2014

I read some statistics somewhere that nurses who work more than 3 12's a week are more prone to making medical errors. That also goes for being sleep deprived. Unless you have no life and you go straight home (and live close to work), you are going to be sleep deprived by the second day. By the fourth day you may be just plain dangerous. I heard talk of a nurse who worked in my hospital who fell asleep at the wheel and died. :-(

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2014

I have had two jobs since January of 2011, aside from when I was a travel nurse, but I was often scheduled 5 days during traveling. I worked 6 10's every week for 2 years, then traveled, now I work 5-6 12 hour days a week. Sometimes I am sent home after 8 hours with my current jobs. So I have worked 50-60 hours a week for 3 years (except when I'm vacationing). Yes it is possible and no I do not hate my life or am suffering. My husband and I have paid off $90k in student loans, cars, credit cards. We are almost debt free (just had to buy a car). We got married, went on a honeymoon. In those 3 years, We have been to Vegas, San Diego, LA, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, key west, Miami, disneyworld, the Grand Canyon, Utah, Denver, Nashville, Bermuda, Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, DC, charleston, myrtle beach, savannah, Palm Springs, Joshua tree park, Corpus Christi, Jacksonville, Tampa, Charlotte, Asheville, the Super Bowl, etc... Have visited friends all over the country and yes I worked every chance I got when we were home.

Don't have kids or pets, we just want to live life, And so we figure we have to work REALLY hard to have extra freedoms in life. We are now saving for a house and retirement in extreme mode. I regret nothing and have seen and done more at age 27 then most. Sure things are different when you have kids... But why are people so afraid of hard work?! Hard work pays off, people all over the country work 60 hours a week and are not miserable. They have goals and responsibilities. Look at our ancestors...

eeffoc_emmig · Jan 27, 2014

I worked 6 12 hr shifts back to back last year to do my agency a favor. On my last morning to drive home I fell asleep and ran off the road. Thankfully, it was very early and no one else was involved. Never, ever again will I do that. All my OT went to car repairs.

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2014

I think the most important thing to remember when working overtime, is that you MUST take good care of yourself. You need to eat a healthy, balanced diet, go to bed on time, even if it's 8:30 p.m., and get plenty of exercise. Also need to make time for fun. You can't just sleep on your days off and excpect to have a balanced lifestyle. I worked 22 days in a row in April of 2011, the only way I did it was because I got enough sleep and I exercised 30 minutes per day. It gave me the stamina and good health to get through each day. It really wasn't that bad once you get up and get moving.

Aren't we a priveledged group of professionals, that we do not HAVE to work overtime in order to pay our bills? When I was working as a waitress through school, I worked with plenty of single moms and young people who HAD to have 2 jobs and work their tails off, just to scrape by. I have met CNA's that are single moms, putting themselves through school, and still working full time. I think if you are so exhausted and depressed from working 50 hours a week, it is because you are not taking proper care of yourself, not because of the work itself. Sorry for the minor rant, but I have seen so many people (not nurses) bust their tails, working 50-60 hours a week, just to end up with no retirement, and not much to show for it. They worked 2-3 jobs so that they could keep their lights on, feed their kids, and hopefully give a better life to their kids then the one they had. Single moms don't have a choice, people working blue collar may not have a choice either. People work for $10/hour night and day just to keep the fridge full. I do not like hearing excuses about how working 50 hours a week made someone depressed or made them make mistakes. I do not believe blaming the hours worked is accurate, it is the person themselves, who could not handle this either mentally or physically. 50 hours a week is not that much... We are so lucky to have a job that pays the bills in just 3 days.

If you so desire to work overtime for whatever reason, the way to success is to take really good care of yourself: Sleep, water, healthy diet, exercise, and fun/relaxation. Our bodies are not meant to be resting all the time, so get out there and work hard! Make some money, not excuses!!!!

allnurses Guide · Jan 27, 2014

I think the most important thing to remember when working overtime, is that you MUST take good care of yourself. You need to eat a healthy, balanced diet, go to bed on time, even if it's 8:30 p.m., and get plenty of exercise. Also need to make time for fun. You can't just sleep on your days off and excpect to have a balanced lifestyle. I worked 22 days in a row in April of 2011, the only way I did it was because I got enough sleep and I exercised 30 minutes per day. It gave me the stamina and good health to get through each day. It really wasn't that bad once you get up and get moving.
Aren't we a priveledged group of professionals, that we do not HAVE to work overtime in order to pay our bills? When I was working as a waitress through school, I worked with plenty of single moms and young people who HAD to have 2 jobs and work their tails off, just to scrape by. I have met CNA's that are single moms, putting themselves through school, and still working full time. I think if you are so exhausted and depressed from working 50 hours a week, it is because you are not taking proper care of yourself, not because of the work itself. Sorry for the minor rant, but I have seen so many people (not nurses) bust their tails, working 50-60 hours a week, just to end up with no retirement, and not much to show for it. They worked 2-3 jobs so that they could keep their lights on, feed their kids, and hopefully give a better life to their kids then the one they had. Single moms don't have a choice, people working blue collar may not have a choice either. People work for $10/hour night and day just to keep the fridge full. I do not like hearing excuses about how working 50 hours a week made someone depressed or made them make mistakes. I do not believe blaming the hours worked is accurate, it is the person themselves, who could not handle this either mentally or physically. 50 hours a week is not that much... We are so lucky to have a job that pays the bills in just 3 days.
If you so desire to work overtime for whatever reason, the way to success is to take really good care of yourself: Sleep, water, healthy diet, exercise, and fun/relaxation. Our bodies are not meant to be resting all the time, so get out there and work hard! Make some money, not excuses!!!!

Not everyone has a life that allows for that kind of work even with taking care of oneself in the above mentioned manner. Taking good care of myself meant not working so much on top of other things in my life that require attention, such as school, children, ill family members or whatever the case may be. My floor is high acuity and I take excellent care of my patients. I also take excellent care of my family AND try hard to take good care of myself. Having different priorities than you doesn't mean someone isn't working hard and not wanting to work 50-60 hours a week for any other reason doesn't either. There is something called work/life balance. If that lifestyle does that for you, that is great. But to cast a one-size-fits-all blanket over the profession for those who do not have the mental or physical desire or capacity to work that much does not infer they are not taking care of themselves. In fact, some would agree it means that they ARE. Working that much doesn't depress you. Great. It did me. Be judgy, I don't much care. Even if I WAS willing to work that much, I would not be able to travel as much as you have. Perhaps therein lies the difference. Work is not the only thing I have to do and my own life is not the only consideration on my time.