How many hours in your shift?

GAgirl · Nov 17, 2004

I work 8's, 12's, sometimes a 16 hr shift. I like the 12's since it gets the hours out of the way and gives me an extra day off. Same with the 16 hour shifts, although I don't do these more than 2-3 times a month....they are exhausting. I work with a wonderful team. We all try to work with each other to get hours we can live with and keep the floor staffed. Our manager is willing to do what she can to help.

ICUnowOHN · Nov 17, 2004

I used to work 12's. I would usually work 5 12's in a row and take 4 off. That was when I was a lot younger though :) I work straight 8 now, no weekends.

eak16 · Nov 17, 2004

gimme 12's! I would much rather have the same paitents for 12 hours than have to come back the next day, have different patients, and basically start from scratch. I feel like once i kind of get in a flow with a patient, I just want to keep going. The extra days off doesn't hurt either

presC. · Nov 17, 2004

most of the time 12's but my other friends experienced 16's/24 hour shift. very seldom to 8's because we're only few..

allnurses Guide · Nov 17, 2004

I work 3 a.m to 3 p.m part-time. Used to work full-time :eek:

I like getting home at 3 p.m. for my kids. I hate getting OOB at 1:45 a.m.

My wish is to work 7-3 part-time but get paid for 12 hour shifts.

steph

peeps79 · Nov 17, 2004

I'm a 12 hour and 8 hour rotator. I LOVE 12 hour days and 12 hour evenings (11a-11p) I absolutely DETEST 12 hour nights. I feel like I'm putting everything I have into being there and at the end of the day I'm exhausted. I have fount that working 8 hours has me sleeping right after a shift, just like a 12 hour does. it feels the same to me.

ManEnough · Nov 17, 2004

I do 12 hour shifts in an extremely busy ED. When I first took the job I was so excited about having 4 days off a week. I wasn't thinking about just how grueling those 12's can be! It's especially challenging when I do 3 in a row. It's basically work 12 hours, drive home, shower, sleep, rinse, repeat.

I don't think humans were built for 12 hours shifts. For those of you who disagree with me, come and work my last 4. :coollook:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 17, 2004

I work straight 8 now, no weekends.

Me too! I hated 12's, felt like I had no life whatsoever when I was on and it took two of my four days off to recuperate. Maybe if I'd been younger when I started out......I sometimes wish 12's were an option for me physically, because I'd like more time off, but what the heck......as it stands now, I work 11A-7P 4 days a week with no weekends, and it doesn't get much better than that!

It's good to remind myself of how fortunate I really am, especially after a day like today where I ran around all day like a chicken with its head cut off and feel like I didn't accomplish a danged thing!! :uhoh3:

lapappey · Nov 17, 2004

Whenever school is not in session it's sixteens five days a week; eight scrubbin and eight as a PCA in the PACU. Leaves no social life and on weekends I do nothing but sleep ... but the money is good and the experience of having my feet really in the water in two very different (and very cool) settings is wonderful. But I'd dread the thought of doing it for longer than a few weeks/months at a time... :uhoh3:

Haunted · Nov 18, 2004

I just completed an 8 hour shift on tele, first time out with this facility. I found I needed half an hour OT to comlete my charting, etc but appreciate that I got home by dinner time, can communicate with friends and family at a reasonable hour and still have energy left to have dinner, a glass of WHINE and think about the day I had. When I worked 12's I was physically and emotionally exhausted and just drained. Can I ask you night shifters why you prefer the NOC shift? It seems like a mystery to me. What goes on? How do you stay awake, and on your nights off, how do you get to sleep?

uk_nurse · Nov 18, 2004

i do 3x 14 hr shifts a week or 11 hr shifts on nights x 4 a week. very tiring i tell u