How do you do it!? (TN)

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Hello! It's me again, the very confused new CNA! I'm just wondering how all of you fine people still manage a life while working 12s.... I can't find time to get laundry done or anything and I feel like a failure in my personal life and sometimes I think about it at work and wonder if it is affecting me.....

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Just like on the job, you have to prioritize. I don't work 12s very often, if at all because they aren't offered, but if I have to work several days in a row, I prioritize and multitask. It's about finding your own personal balance. If you look up The F.L.Y. Lady, you might get some tips on how to streamline your household needs.

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Agree with PP. Prioritize! I am a single mom, so if I need to get up at 4am to start a load of laundry before work, then I do so. Or if I need to stay up till 11pm doing food prep for the week, then I do so. I can't put my life or my child's on hold just because I work 12hr shifts. I have responsibilities, and thing need to get done. And yes, I have also went from working a 12hr shift to going out and hanging with friends all evening. It's doable, you just have to make the time for these things.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

I would do my 12s in a row. Before my first shift, I made sure I had enough scrubs to last me and that I had food in the house. For those 3 days I worked, ate, slept and repeat. Then I had 4 days to do whatever I wanted. :-)

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