Night shift 8 hr pattern?

[brdavis17]

Hi, I am a new grad working 8 hour night shifts, 32 hours per week. I'm going to start on my own soon and have a 5-day stretch of 8s for my pattern. I was wondering if people who have worked 8-hr nights have been able to find a schedule pattern where you work 4 nights in a row and still are able to have a stretch off. I think five 8-hr nights will be brutal...

Here's my pattern: 5 on, 2 off, 3 on, 4 off. That fifth night in a row is a Sunday night so it goes into that next week so I get 32 hours that week. Anyone have suggestions? Or anyone have other 8-hr NOC patterns that have worked for them?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Could you do 4 on, 3 off, repeat? Otherwise, the only way you will get more than 3 off in a row is to do more than 4 in a row.

You may be contractually obligated to work a Saturday AND Sunday (rather than 2 Saturdays) which is why they're tagging that Sunday on to the end of your stretch, making it 5 in a row.

[brdavis17]

Thanks, klone. Not sure about the Sunday but I think I can do this pattern for now. :)