night shift (7 on 7 off) 12 hour shifts

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I will be starting night shift in 3 weeks they do 7 on 7 off 12 hour shifts. It is in the department I love and have no other choice about hours or days. Anyone else do this schedule and how do you cope?

Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
The workers are not being made to work that. They choose that. If there was another nurse on the other 7 day shift that would change with me we would do the 2 on 2off 3 on 3 off (or something like that)but all of the other workers like they hours. They say they would no be able to have a normal life if they worked that schedule. I only have to work it because everyone else wants those hours. 3 days are on one weeks pay and then 4 on the other weeks pay making it 8 hours of overtime. I havent worked the shift yet but i have been told that they like the hours.

Let us know how it goes, okay? Very curious.

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I will start this night shift in 2 weeks and then It will take a few weeks before I know how it really goes!!!! I will keep you all posted.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health/Hospice, Cath Lab,.

I currently work 6 on and 8 off 12hr shifts. I find it much easier than having a day or two off in between since I am sleeping all day during my "off days" and having no time for the kids. Now I work my 6, get to see them at dinner and sometimes before school, then have the 8 off to spend with them.

I was actually much more tired, "hence unsafe", when I worked nights and had a split schedule. So it really depends.

As for the 7 on 7 off is one of those days OT as you will be working 84 hr in 2wks?

Hope this helps

Pat

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Specializes in LDRP.

WE aren't allowed to work 5 days in a row at my hospital as they deem it "unsafe." I would think hard before commiting to that kind of lifestyle! Best wishes.

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i have worked four on five off for 12 years. two day shifts/two night shifts all being 12 hour shifts. i love this rotation it makes planning the future easier and if you are low on the seniority list you can still enjoy some summer camping, winter skiing etc. the roatation is consistent in that it is printed up once a year and you never have to look at the scheduling on a daily basis for changes, as it never changes. curious as to what others find.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Have you personally asked the nurses if they really like it that way, or are you taking managements word for it. I would be talking to the nurses first.

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Well, I have been on 7 on 7 off 12 hour shifts for a couple of months now. This is also my first time working nights. I will say that on my 7 on I have only about 3 hours a day to get everything done that needs done. Bath, eat, visit family and keep household running. That can be real tough and stressful BUT i can't imagine having to work 3/2/2/3 or whatever it is shift. The nights pass pretty fast. It is slower on nights so usually it is not as stressful working. I say that but my last night which was my 7th night on Thanksgiving eve we admitted 5 new ones and I really could not have taken another day. We couldnt seem to get any of the babies IV's that night. It is working better than I had expected.

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I met a woman who did 6 on and then 8 off. She loved it. She said it took her a day or two to get into the swing of things but that it was overall easier on her body than 3 12's a week. She said she needed one day on each end that was completely shot-she had a system down for getting her body clock switched around again but that having those other 5 days to enjoy with her family was worthwhile.

I haven't tried it myself, but in theory I can see where it would make sense. I worked as a waitress in 24hr diner years ago and found that doing consecutive nights was easier...of course I was 20 years old at the time...;)

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I notice that everyone has commented on how the 7 on 7 off and other variations work for the nurse but I didn't see anything about how anyone felt it worked for patients. We have been looking at 10 hour shifts with 7 on and 7 off at the request of a couple of physicians. However, most of my staff are indicating that they are not interested. Can anyone comment on how these long shifts and long stretches are affecting the patient care?

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