How many shifts to work in order to prevent Burnout.

missnurse01, MSN, RN · May 13, 2013

well it all depends on your tolerances. I work with a nurse that has been working 6-7 12 hour shifts a week for 30 years. Sometimes she gets all wild eyed, but for the most part loves her job. I have often done 48-60 hour weeks in a row...depending on where I am working! I think only you can make that decision. You could also change to a different, less stressful job.

sharpeimom · May 13, 2013

I worked three 12's per week at the state mental hospital. I worked the same days every week, Wed., Thurs., and Fri. Because I worked every Friday, that counted for all my weekend shifts. I worked 7pm-7am, which worked well for us. My husband taught Wednesday evenings, so he wouldn't have been home anyway and often sang with his barbershop group Friday evenings.

My benes are as an add-on to his so that wasn't an issue. I began by working in a building whose patient population I didn't especially care for but stuck it out and after about six months of eight hour shifts hither and yon, in only that dreaded building, I was offered a fulltime job with the three 12's. The days were all over the pay period and all over the campus grounds, but I hung in there and soon knew the exact location of every building! I was a walking talking map!

What I learned about myself:

I don't like eight hour shifts.

I'd much rather work longer shifts less often.

I can work either days or nocs, but I absolutely cannot rotate.

Eventually, a MSN in psych nursing was almost inevitable.

Staying well hydrated is absolutely vital.

A lunch I could just pick at when I got the chance was a Godsend on a crazy busy night.

wooh, BSN, RN · May 14, 2013

Working any shifts per week can lead to burn out.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 14, 2013

I start feeling frazzled if I do more than 3-4 shifts a week. I also choose to work 8s because I know 12s would take too much out of me at this point in my life. Because I want that flexibility, I've opted to remain per-diem for now.

However, every person is different, and my threshold may not be the same as yours or anyone else's. Some people thrive on more work per week; others need less. I've worked with nurses who absolutely refuse to work more than 2 shifts a week, and others who thrive on a weekend full of 16s PLUS a shift or two during the week.

Gauge what schedule is best for YOU. If you start feeling like you're being worn out, cut back a shift. If that doesn't help, cut back on a second. Remember that you are a per-diem: as long as you meet the facility's minimum scheduling requirement, you don't owe them any more than that.

allnurses Guide · May 15, 2013

I was given a full time position when I started but changed to part time.

I never wanted to be a nurse full time and working full time convinced me of why I didn't want to!

I like what I do but I couldn't tolerate it every single day.

Yes, I got burnt out and crabby.

Nobody wants a crabby nurse.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · May 15, 2013

I worked an ICU that did 7 twelves in a row, then 7 off. I simply wasn't safe doing that, but other nurses loved it. I believe in getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep per night. I only work about 56 hours every 2 weeks, so I don't get burned out, and really that is like working part-time. I find that after taxes, gas, ect., I bring home almost as much this way as opposed to working full-time 80 hrs.

everyday6/12 · Mar 11, 2015

Thanks Everybody!!

greenbeanio · Mar 16, 2015

My facility considers us full-time at 32 hours and I think that's wise. The work we do is much much more draining than your average desk job. 32 hours of acute psych nursing is like 48 hours of a calmer, less strenuous job. I can work 40-48 hours a week occasionally and still be okay, but not every week. You know your body and your mind and your life - what feels like a healthy "max" to you?