.9 = Nine 8-hour night shifts in two weeks. Too much?

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

It's the same 72 hours per pay as 3 12s per week ...

The 11pm start time allows for better sleep, IMO. Working more days per week will force you to stay on the midnight sleep/wake cycle ... but there may actually be health advantages to that ... vs. the continual flip-flopping of when you only work 3 days/week and, presumably, attempt to switch back to being awake in the daytime and sleeping at night on days that you're off.

I would consider it.

nola1202 · Jul 28, 2011

Night's are rough, seems like you only get one real day off, to work 9 instead of 10 seems a little better, you can always take it and go part-time or prn in a year or two.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I worked nights (and other shifts). In 2 weeks of 8 hour shifts, I'd expect to work 10...so the .9 is in the ballpark... :)

Purplefred · Jul 28, 2011

I work 3-11 shift 5 days a week. Most times I actually get off after 12 or 1am. Then my days off are not together, so you never really feel rested. Personally I would prefer the 3 -12hr shifts. I've been doing this now for 3 months and I feel burned out. I thought the most I would work is 4 days a week, but because of need for staff, I get the hours. I'm looking for options

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I'm currently 36 hrs 3 12 a week, but I go back and forth on changing to 32 hrs 4 8hr shifts a week.

I like the 12's except we get screwed on the holidays and every other weekend. If not for that I would be happy with 3 12's.

But I wonder if I would be happier with 4 8 hr shifts since holidays and weekends are such a big issue. I like being there only 3 days a week, I like the head start I get coming in a 7PM and having time to talk to patients, but the hospital refuses to improve things for the 12 hour shift workers and the night shift really gets screwed.

I do think nursing is too high stress to work 5 days a week. I've done .8 before and it was ok. I don't even know if I could go back to 8 hours to try it out because the manager prefers 12 hr shifts, almost all the night people work 12 hours, but a bunch of day people have changed to 8 hours.

Guess you got to try it for yourself and see how it goes! But 32 hours a week would be a pay cut, and I'd like to get a few bills paid before trying to change my schedule

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I think the 8 hr shifts are better for your sleep schedule and you don't feel rushed. When I'm doing 12's I literally work, sleep, shower quickly, grab a bite to it and do it again. Luckily I'm close to work I would hate it if I lived an hour away. Too sleep deprived.

But it is so nice to be off and you can get away from the hospital politics, cliques and maintain your equilibrium better being there just 3 days a week. Also less chance of mandatory overtime, short staffing, bad assignments cause your there less often. I don't know how people do nursing full time.

It is never just 40 hours, always some overtime, plus all the extra hospital meetings, fairs, etc. You'd have no life.

EmmieRN · Jul 28, 2011

I'm glad to hear that others have lived this schedule and survived! I'm particular about making sure I get enough sleep to avoid burning out, but I still want to be able to spend time with my husband and my young daughter. One one hand, I probably wouldn't sleep more than 8 hours in a 24-hour period anyway, so that's why the 3 shifts seems more appealing to me--fewer overnights and more full days off. But on the other hand, 8-hour shifts seems to offer some flexibility so that I can still have a life during my work week. (Either sleep in the a.m. to have dinner and the evening with my family or sleep say, after 3p.m. if I want to do something in the morning and afternoon). Like pp noted, the thing I don't like about 12's is that during the workweek, I'm either at work, in the shower, or asleep. I just hope I don't turn into a vampire and stay up alllll night ALL week long too!

GM2RN · Jul 28, 2011

I'm surprised that anyone is even complaining about this. Before 36-hour work weeks became common, 40-hour, 5-day work weeks were the norm and nobody thought that working 5 days per week was too much. Even now, it's only in healthcare that people only work 3 days per week and are still considered FT.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I'm surprised that anyone is even complaining about this. Before 36-hour work weeks became common, 40-hour, 5-day work weeks were the norm and nobody thought that working 5 days per week was too much. Even now, it's only in healthcare that people only work 3 days per week and are still considered FT.

I agree. Ten 8-hour shifts was the standard full time employment when I was young. It's still the standard in most industries. Back in the days when most hospitals started switching to 12-hour shifts to save money, a lot of people fought it becaused they preferred the ten 8-hour shifts. That gives you more time off each day -- a few hours to see your family & friends and get some decent sleep.

I worked straight nights as a new grad and loved it. I either ran a few errands after work in the morning (or went out to breakfast with my coworkers), then slept from about noon to 9 pm. Or I went right to bed after work, got up late in the afternoon, and socialized for dinner. A friend of mine and I used to go to the movies at 7 pm before work. It was a great schedule.

Mothers liked being able to be awake and home for dinner with their kids ... put them to bed ... then go to work.

The extra 4 hours per day that you have off can really improve the quality of your life. You are not as tired and can incorporate activities other than work into your average day. Of course, people who have long commutes don't get as much benefit because they spend more time on the road because they work more days. It also means you have to find child care more frequently.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I'm glad to hear that others have lived this schedule and survived! I'm particular about making sure I get enough sleep to avoid burning out, but I still want to be able to spend time with my husband and my young daughter. One one hand, I probably wouldn't sleep more than 8 hours in a 24-hour period anyway, so that's why the 3 shifts seems more appealing to me--fewer overnights and more full days off. But on the other hand, 8-hour shifts seems to offer some flexibility so that I can still have a life during my work week. (Either sleep in the a.m. to have dinner and the evening with my family or sleep say, after 3p.m. if I want to do something in the morning and afternoon). Like pp noted, the thing I don't like about 12's is that during the workweek, I'm either at work, in the shower, or asleep. I just hope I don't turn into a vampire and stay up alllll night ALL week long too!

We didn't always have 12 hour shifts.....the nice part about 8 hours is laying back down until 9 or 10. I always felt more rested even though I did miss the extra days off. Jobs are tight out there......I'd not turn it down.

P.S. You already are a vampire....you work nights!!!! :lol2:

Cat_RN, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I did that schedule and I burned out. Had to reduce my days. It's not the hours, it's the amount of nights devoted to working which means sleeping all day and becoming totally disconnected with the rest of the world. It's lonely.

I working 4 nights a week now but am dying to get 3 12's somewhere. More hours paid but less days of the week devoted to work.