NOC 8hr shifts, how many nights in a row?

Published

I am about to start a new position in LTC. Charge RN, nights. The HR lady said the shift is 10pm-6am M-F, and every other weekend.

So I'm a little lost. Wouldn't that mean I'd be working twelve nights in a row? That can't be right. So I asked her this morning, and I don't think I explained what I was asking right. She said it works out that there are ten shifts per paycheck (ok, but not what I was asking).

If I work M-F, that is five shifts. weekend off, then M-F (five in a row again)- work the weekend (now we are up to seven) then M-F again..TWELVE!

She said it was because they start counting the night before, so monday's shift starts at 10pm Sunday.

I still don't understand.

Do any of you have a schedule like this? Could you maybe enlighten a confused girl?

ms_sgr, BSN, NP

206 Posts

Look at 10 pm as 12 am. When you go to work on Monday night you are actually working Tuesdays shift which means you work 4 days Tues - Fri then you work Tues-Fri and Sat & Sun which is 6 days for a total of 10 days

dharma

28 Posts

Ah! See, that makes perfect sense. :)

Thank you for your help.

mamamerlee, LPN

949 Posts

Specializes in home health, dialysis, others. Has 35 years experience.

You will get off a night during each week to account for your weekend on. It is not 'really' M-F, at all. Typical would be to work M-T-W, off TH, F-Sa-Sun, off M, T-W-TH-F, off Sa & Su. Your schedule may be repeating (the same pattern) or non-repeating ( different days off each 2 weeks). That issue may be more important - do you always want the same days (or nocs!) off?

dharma

28 Posts

Honestly, I'm grateful to have any job in this area (new grads are having a notoriously hard time around here). I don't really care what my schedule is so long as I get to work. I have to say though, the idea of twelve nights in a row was making me really twitchy. ;)

kcochrane

1,465 Posts

My old schedule used to be like that. You get one week day off each week and every other weekend.

CapeCodMermaid, RN

6,090 Posts

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health. Has 30 years experience.

Ah--they like to confuse everyone by scheduling 'per pay period' instead of per week like normal people. 12 days in a row is too much....I know....I've worked in buildings where the managers did manager on duty on a rotating basis...I'd work all week then be the MOD on the weekend and then work another whole week before I had a weekend free...not so good.