Is Three Twelve hour shifts (10:30am-10:30pm) good for family?

Nurses General Nursing

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Is 3-12 hour shifts good for a family?

Hi all! I am considering a position in ambulatory surgery that is 3-12hr shifts, 10:30am-10:30pm. I have 2 school aged children and I will be able to get them ready and off to school everyday. I will, however be gone 3 evenings a week (husband will be home with them). 

Do you think this is good shift for a family? 

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Depends on your situation. Your job schedule sounds like one many nurses would love to have. 

When you say your husband will be home after school, does that mean he is working from home? Would you need after school childcare, or the kids old enough to not need close supervision?

If the children have afternoon activities, how would that be handled?

Do you have a plan for dinner? I come from a traditional culture where my father would not so much as microwave a plate left in the fridge; my mother would work, and after work heat and serve the plate to him. I have found that planning a menu that makes leftovers a great way to feed a family on limited time.  

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Thank you for your response! They have after school extended childcare until my husband gets off work to pick them up. He is a very involved father and will do homework/dinner for them. Just not sure how I feel about working that late and being gone in the evenings! But I think it could work well for our family! 

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Specializes in OB.

I actually feel like that could be a pretty awesome schedule.  Especially 3 days a week--are weekends involved?

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You absolutely have zero idea how much I would absolutely envy that shift. I'm a 26 year old city-boy with no kids and would pay to have that shift.

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Mbg1109 said:

Hi all! I am considering a position in ambulatory surgery that is 3-12hr shifts, 10:30am-10:30pm. I have 2 school aged children and I will be able to get them ready and off to school everyday. I will, however be gone 3 evenings a week (husband will be home with them). 

Do you think this is good shift for a family? 

Outpatient schedule is the best If you want to have time to your schedule. I am working in a clinic. I am new in a clinic setting but been a nurse for long time. My schedule is office hours no weekend no holidays. Downside I work with medical assistants who gives me direction even they don't have supervisory position. My manager is non RN and used to be Medical assistants.  I feel no value in the dept as the manager always say I am not charge nurse I am just staff nurse . I don't have voice there. 

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

No one can say what is best for you and your family, but it bodes well that your husband is an involved Dad.

When I worked 12 hr shifts and had three school-age children, I missed not knowing if I could attend weekly events, such as a class or church meeting. They became hit or miss.  

It's great that you have a choice ?

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I recently turned down a similar position 11a-11:30p, in favor of night shift. My kids are considerably older, but I'm not willing to give up what I consider to be quality time in the evenings, three evenings a week. If they're consecutive shifts, I feel like I don't see them at all. There are sports, concerts, school functions, etc in the evening and I spent many years missing out on family things because I was working- I'm not willing to miss out anymore. But if that's the best option for you and your family I'm sure that you can make it work and will find advantages. 

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