Noc shifters

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2012

Most of the staff asks to work their three shifts in a row because many people prefer to enjoy their four days off all in a row. It can feel like a mini vacation.

I request to work Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I can have two days off in a row on two separate occasions during the week (Monday + Tuesday and Thursday + Friday), and this prevents exhaustion. Also, I earn significantly more money for working the weekend due to the differentials. Moreover, I can request Wednesday off on occasion, which would enable me to have five days off in a row (Monday through Friday).

anotherone, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2012

Depends. sometimes i can do 5-6 in a row. other times the thought of more than one day there in a row is enough to almost drive me crazy.

FutureOBNurse2118 · Mar 8, 2012

Although having a break in between shifts can be a relief, I often find it better to just do the three days in a row, especially with night shift. Working night shift already is a nuisance in itself because you are out of sync with a normal sleep/wake cycle, but if you work say, two nights and get one night off, then come in the next night, it seems like it just ruins my whole week. It doesn't even feel like a break ya know? I'd rather have my four off in a row to at least feel like I am getting a break, and to feel a little normal.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 8, 2012

it's an individual thing. when i was in my 20s and 30s, i liked to do my three nights in a row. i'd do 3 on, 1 off, 3 on and then have a week off to go off and do something fun. now that i'm older and physically challenged with a back injury and rheumatoid arthritis, i find that two in a row is about all i can handle. your milage may vary. right now, you're not used to nights . . . you may find that as you acclimate you'd prefer to do three in a row.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 8, 2012

Totally what you can do. In ICU during my internship I easily did 6-8 12s in a row. When I got a job up on mdical, I would only do 4 12s as by the end of those 4 I was ready to suck start a shotgun. 1 day off between is useless. I had to have at least 2.

sapphire18 · Mar 8, 2012

I like my 3 in a row to better enjoy my days off, but yes, it is exhausting.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2012

I have a set rotation of permanent nights. There isn't a choice. I work 5, 2, 5, off a week, 2, 5, 2, 5, off a week, 5.

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 8, 2012

I work 3, off 1, work 2, off 4, work 1, off 3 and start back over.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2012

I rotate days/nights but when working nights, I'd rather clump my shifts together. 3 nights in a row is more manageable than 3 days in a row, IMO, though it does feel like all you do is work and sleep.

Like, right now, I worked last night 7P-7A and am working Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights... today I slept until about 12pm when my phone woke me up and then got up for the day around 12:30. Today's technically a day off but it feels like a wasted day because I'm so tired and don't want to be up all night. Tonight, I will probably go to bed around midnight and sleep until hopefully 9am then get up, go to Zumba, shower and take a nap tomorrow before I have to go back and do it all over again.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Mar 8, 2012

Personally, I don't care to work 3 in a row - too exhausted at the end, but I do it once in awhile. My normal schedule is 2 on, 3 off, 2 on, 3 off, 2 on, 2 off - rinse and repeat. Now and again I make a trade to have 4 off in a row.

I hate only having one night off - doesn't even feel like a"day" off because I end up sleeping the whole time.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Mar 8, 2012

I prefer to have my three in a row, or work one, be off for a day, then work 2 (or work 2, be off, then work 1). If it is split up more than that I feel like I get burned out really quick. I also flip flop between sleeping schedules and it just works better for me to get all of the shifts done at once versus having them split up over the entire week.