How many 12's?

I have done 6 12's in a row off a day (collapsed) and then back for another 4. I have done 4 12's and 2 eights before too. I am sure I could not keep that pace up constantly, but I prefer to do my days in a row. I know my patients get into the groove of working and it works fine for me. We freq do 4 12's a week. I find that acually the more says together I work, the better I do mentally. Am I tired? Yes. But it works fine and my family suffers but my patients don't. I work a-p now, but did the same when I worked p-a.

We have a nurse that will freq work 8-10 12 hour nocs in a row. By the end of her nights her actual patient care does not change, just her charting and the "extra" stuff she does dips a little.

Per hospital policy, we are not allowed to work more than 60 hrs in a row.

I've never done more than 3 in a row. By the third one Im exhausted, no matter how easy the first two were. My ideal is 2 in a row with 2-3 days off in between.

I worked 4 in a row this week. It wasn't too bad, except for the rapid respons I ran at 5 am, and the fact that we were so short staffed that I bumped up to 6 patients last night. I work on a stepdown unit, and we are normally matrixed at 3-4 patients, although I haven't had less than four for several months, and have had 5 more often than not for the past few weeks. Grrrrrr. We are also terribly short staffed tonight. I might have gone in had I not walked out of work an hour and a half late after catching up on all the charting and MAR checks I fell behind on while we were RRing my patient. I have 3 days off, then I will be back for 3.

Four doesn't bother me too much. I had 3 of my patients all four nights, and 2 of them for the last two nights, w another patient my first 2 nights. Good for continuity, and it's nice to know your patients "tricks" when you are carrying a super-heavy load.

I love my workplace, but I really wish they would hire 2 more nurses. We had a nurse pass away unexpectedly, and another one move due to a family emergency, so we're running really short this month.

My hardest week ever was 5 on, 1 off then 4 on! Night shift! Not fun. Great paycheck!

Terri

The worst I had was around the holidays, 4 nights on, one off, 4 more nights on, 2 off, 2 on, then 2 days trying to recover (or should I say, just be able to get out of bed and go to the bathroom). I still haven't fully recovered (think it's PTSD ) & the OT pay wasn't worth it. Never again, never again....

I did 6 on, 8 off 12 hour shifts for 2.5 years a few years ago. It worked because I lived 5 hours from work, and I got to go home every other week.

I tried it in my current job, but it is just too darn busy and after 3, I am ready for a break. My husband is out of town for a few weeks so I am working an extra shift per week. If you look at it as a short term ordeal it is easier to deal with.

You are such hard workers people. I say it without any sarcasm. I worked 3 12's in a row quite a few times in a past, and realized I hate it too much by the end of third day, and even 4 days off after do not make up for it. Now work two, 2-3 off.

I am working 5 12's in a row next weekend- not looking forward to it! I normally work all 3 of my shifts in a row, which usually isn't too bad.

I work two jobs, one 8's one 12's and in the summer often work 3 12's and 2 8's, or vice versa, and sometimes as much as 5 12's in one week. I always try to make sure I have 2 days off per week (preferably in a row) and usually one week a month I manage to have a break because they just don't need me (maybe 4 days in a row).

That's the way it's worked for me for the past 3 summers, this summer I am hoping to do less (maybe 2 12's and 2 8's, or 3 12's).

We can only do 3 12s in a row. I seem to have the best schedule: 5/6, 2 then 1 off then 3 then 3 off. I like the shift. Unlike my fellow co-workers I don't work anyplace else.

I worked 2 full time 12hr shift jobs for a little over 2 years, the worst month I can remember was 24-12's in a row, 2 off, then right back at it. I no longer do this anymore WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! My wife just graduated her LPN program last Friday. I only did it to pay for her school and to keep up with the bills, 3 kids, house, cars, and on, and on.....

DON'T EVER DO THIS!!!! I am now 37 and feel like I'm about 60, My beard is grey, hair is getting there, back ALWAYS hurts. The only good thing about it is that now she OWES ME..BIG TIME:devil: .

Tom