Most consecutive 12's worked in a row?

tntrn, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2001

I am horrified by the numbers of shifts some of you are actually admitting to having worked. I certainly would not want to be your patient after, oh, say, 5 of those 12 hour shifts.

I personally begin to really watch myself at the end of my 8 hours. I am beginning to get serious about some kind of movement to legally limit how much we can work, and to prevent adminstrations from allowing such policies.

Professional pilots have a certain number of hours a year that they can fly (while on the job). It's 1000 hours, and while that would be on the low side for nurses, working 60 12 hours shifts in 2 1/2 months, is crazy.

Just my .02 worth, but as one who works with those of you who may be guilty of this practice, and as a potential patient, I am outraged.

skybird52 · Dec 12, 2001

I would love to see that a limit was put on the number of consecutive shifts, and also that the limit would be followed by the facility, hang the cost of using agency staffing if needed. In addition, those agencies should also limit how many consecutive shifts being worked.

grouchy · Dec 12, 2001

Where do you Stepford nurses come from? Personally, I want to start a post re: least number of hours worked and still felt fried afterwards! I dare all you other tired-out nurses to answer that one! I suppose I should be glad that you robo-nurses are out there racking up the OT, or we'd really be short-staffed.

skybird52 · Dec 12, 2001

There ya go....

How about working less than half an hour before getting "fried"? :eek:

RNforLongTime · Dec 13, 2001

The most twelve hour shifts that I will work in a row is three and that is pushing it! I am a zombie on the third day. The last time I worked three twelves in a row, I was soooo tired that I was late for work on the third day!

Sixty days in a row? That is insane! Sure I want a new house too but I aint gonna kill myself for it! And I certainly don't want to kill any of my patients either!

skybird52 · Dec 13, 2001

I did not say I worked 60 12-hour shifts in a row! :eek:

NurseKevin · Feb 18, 2006

I have worked 63 12 hour shifts in a row...

but then again, I was in the army and was deployed to a combat zone :)

NurseKevin · Feb 18, 2006

adn once back while stateside I did a 23-07, came back did a 15-23, and then came back and did a 07-15 on a friday-saturday-sunday

zacarias, ASN, RN · Feb 19, 2006

There is a CNA at my hospital who does 16 hours EVERY day of the week. 112 hours a week. I'd love to have his check.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 20, 2006

I did 8 x 12 in a row once when I was in my early 30's. I was agency, it was the week between Christmas and New Years, it was all overtime and I could not pass it up. I could not do that now for any amount of money.

LPN2RNdude · Feb 20, 2006

i usually do an eight hr shift on friday and 12 hr shifts on sat and sun.... its all i can do to drive hopme after that...... i guess because im going to school all week, too. i did work a 16 hr shift the other day, and for some reason after the first 12 hrs everything got a little easier... wouldnt want to make a habit out of it, tho.

leslie :-D · Feb 20, 2006

i didn't count but i did several 16 hr shifts consecutively (around 2 wks). in hindsight i don't know how i did it, and highly doubt i could ever do it again....especially hospice.

leslie