Is it a good idea to work 5 days straight (12 hours shifts/day)?

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Hi nurses! Some of my co-workers have done this before, but at the end of the 5th day they look so tired. Do you think it is worthy? Some of the older nurses say that after the 4th day everything is lost in taxes. Give me your opinion in this matter.

As a retired over-the-road trucker, I worked 70+ hours a week for many years but it is a young person's game. It takes a toll on you mentally and physically.

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I do it every 3rd week! My hospital won't allow more than 40 hr/wk, even though our pay periods are 2 weeks. So, when it's my weekend, I do Thurs, Fri, Sat (week 1) and Sun, Mon, Ties. (Week 2.) I get 6-7 days off before AND after this stretch.

I love it. Honestly, by day 3 you've really hit your stride. You know all the patients, their general plan of care, and the mood of the unit that week. You're a better nurse because of the great continuity of care you provide. You're a better charge because you KNOW what's going on and can predict how the next few days will go, barring some freak tragedy.

It works if you can do it right. "Doing it right" for me means: for those 6 days, I ONLY work. I don't cook, I don't clean, I don't watch movies, I don't go out with friends, I don't even go out to dinner. I wake up, work, go home, unwind for 90 minutes, and go to bed. Full stop, end of story.

And I hope I can continue to do it for years to come :)

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I did 4 12 hours shifts as the norm for three years...nights. Occasionally I did 5 12 hour shifts. We did have 2-3 nurses that did the 5 12 hour shifts on a regular basis. They had no trouble. One of them would get a little irritated at times, but as charge I reminded him that he chose to work those hours and we did not deserve his attitude.

It really depends on you, your home life and your ability to get to sleep. I never had a problem, but my kids were grown and I went to sleep as soon as I got home. Never once had any issues with falling asleep while driving my 30 minute commute. But the military helped train me like that. Also I did mine all in a row, so I was in a pattern.

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Specializes in ER.

I could do it on nights but I can barely handle 2 in a row on days (I am a night person). It can get taxing though and it can be frustrating. Honestly, I am going to look into getting a per diem spot after six months so I can get more money.

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2 things, it is up to the individual person as if they can do it. ( I personally do it all the time), secondly overtime wages are taxed AT THE SAME RATE as regular wages. There is not a special tax rate for OT wages. The IRS considers all wages earned as just that, wages and are taxed at the individuals tax rate. They do not care if it is overtime or regular time.

But our income tax is a progressive tax - IOW the rates go higher per dollar earned as overall income rises. I wish we had a flat tax, but we don't. At a certain point the amount per dollar you get to keep actually decreases in relation to hours worked, and this can be plotted on a line graph.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

One time I worked 5 nights in a row (on purpose) and by the end of it, I literally did not even feel like a member of the human race any longer. World War 3 could have begun in that time, and I wouldn't have known I was so out of touch.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

I am working 6 12s this week d/t call ins and quits. It is happening way too much here lately. I wish we could get some quality people hired who will stay. I am exhausted! Its a 3 and 3 split, I have Wednesday off and am sure they will call begging me to work then too. I will not be answering my phone if caller ID shows their number!

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

"Some of my co-workers have done this before, but at the end of the 5th day they look so tired."

I frankly would wonder why a nurse manager would jeopardize the safety of the patients, risk the hospital being sued and risk the individual nurse's license by allowing a nurse to work 5 \ 12 hour shifts.

And really let's look at this. I have read numerous threads on this site about how we feel used and abused for being forced or encouraged to work over their shift or not take a break...but yet some nurses are volunteering to do this kind of scheduling???

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.
I am working 6 12s this week d/t call ins and quits. It is happening way too much here lately. I wish we could get some quality people hired who will stay. I am exhausted! Its a 3 and 3 split, I have Wednesday off and am sure they will call begging me to work then too. I will not be answering my phone if caller ID shows their number!

That is crazy!! I am amazed at how undervalued we are as a profession, that they think we can work that many hours still function at peak performance and not even try to make sure we a life outside of the hospital.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Its a ltc facility. One of my coworkers asked about 8 hr shifts and was rewarded with a comment about nurses who live in stupidville. This is an LPN who works M-F 8-5 as staff development coordinator. The nurse printed out the email reply and showed everyone just how caring our management is. Let her come work some of our 12 hr nights til we get some hirees. I really don't mind 12s, only want to work 3 a week, occasionally a 4th. And some kind of plan in place for call ins that doesn't include working 16-20 hr shift!

That is crazy!! I am amazed at how undervalued we are as a profession, that they think we can work that many hours still function at peak performance and not even try to make sure we a life outside of the hospital.
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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
"Some of my co-workers have done this before, but at the end of the 5th day they look so tired."

I frankly would wonder why a nurse manager would jeopardize the safety of the patients, risk the hospital being sued and risk the individual nurse's license by allowing a nurse to work 5 \ 12 hour shifts.

And really let's look at this. I have read numerous threads on this site about how we feel used and abused for being forced or encouraged to work over their shift or not take a break...but yet some nurses are volunteering to do this kind of scheduling???

While 5 12s in a row is not a very pleasant way to spend a week, sometimes it's doable. I used to schedule myself that way in order to "stack" days off so I could fly 1000 miles and take care of my elderly parents' issues. I flew every 6 weeks/my sister did the same.

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The outcome of after taxes revenue... should NOT be the issue. Nursing is NOT about remuneration.

The issue should be .. can ANY nurse be able to function at their required level of responsibility .. with five back to back shifts... without time to regroup in between.

I can pull off 3 consecutive 12 hour shifts. After that... I KNOW I am impaired from lack of sleep.

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