have you worked three 12 hour shifts in hospital, then left that for five 8 hours outside hospital? did you like the change? did it work out better/worse for family time?
i have a 3 12 hour hospital job. 3 nights a week, 7p-7a. been doing this for 3.25 years (did 1 yr of 3 12 hour dayshifts before that).
have a best friend who si a nurse and left for a "normal people" schedule of five days a week, 8 hour days-she loves it. no nights/weekends/holidays. so i've accepted a job with teh same schedule-community health.
im worried about how now i am only working three days, and soon it will be five days, albeit shorter days.
anyone else made this switch? did the schedule transition go well? any problems, expected or unexpected? ever wish you'd stayed with the three 12's?
i have done 3 12's .i have done 5 8's in and out of hospital.and i have done 4 10's which turned into worse hrs then 3 12's .it was in a clinic and we never could leave on time.give me 3 12's anyday .it gives me more free time.i can do ot as i want to.and i have a long commute so its good .i will do them as long as i physically can.
I guess it depends on your situation. Five 8s may be great for a parent, etc. I did 12s for 9 years before going into homecare, I started with five 8s (and every fourth weekend), I couldn't stand not having at least one weekday off so I asked to switch to four 10s, and about a year later I asked to switch to three 12s again...it was a good time to ask for it when it happened, new shift for this place. So now I'm back to three twelves (sometimes they are actually 13 or 14 hour shifts), but I no longer work weekends and they give me my four days off all in a row, which ROCKS! Like a minivacation every week! I have to admit, one of the reasons I didn't like the eight hour shifts in this particular agency is because my days were NEVER eight hours, always more like 9 or 10...if your 8s are regular and you get out on time, I'll bet you'll like it. Good luck!!
Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.
I had been doing three 12 hour shifts for years, then I switched to a clinic job 5 days a week.
I did that for about 16 months, and couldn't take it anymore. Mostly because I had a long commute (at the train station at 6:15am and returned home at 6:30pm) and only 8 hours of that is paid. ;( Weekends went by so fast, and I was using vacation time for things other than an actual vacation (dr. appts/ taking care of sick family members(in laws)).
Now I am back to three 12 hour shifts in the hospital....working nights. I think the older I get, the more intolerable this shift is for me. But it pays well, and I have to stick to it until some bills are paid off. sigh.
I did the switchover a few times back and forth. I currently work 8-4, M-F (supposedly, although it's never 8-4!) and I would MUCH RATHER do 3x12. I end up doing 5x10-11 anyhow. With 3x12, I love having the days off during the week, and you can get more done in the 12hr day anyhow.
My body couldn't handle 3 12's in the hospital, especially because it was often 3-14's with 0-15 min lunch. I currently do 4-10's out of the hospital with full lunches, supportive management, and out on time, 1/2 day Saturday 1-2x/month, no holidays, and it is far better mentally and physically for me. Base pay is the same too; I only am giving up differentials.
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ONCRN84
251 Posts
I used to think I liked 3-12s, but then I did 4-10s (Tuesday-Friday) and loved it. I'm back to 3-12s and my body hates it.
Edited to add: my 3-12s were/are nights in a hospital. My 4-10s were days in community health.