Regular hours?

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Anyone go from working 3 12 hr shifts to working 9 to 5? If so how do you like it?

I work either 4x 10 hour shifts or 5x 8 hour shifts - either 0700-1730 or 0700-1530 depending on staffing needs. I will say - it's better than the 12s (I was exhausted). I like my "regular" schedule - but there are definitely days we don't get out on time. And being on call can make one's "personal" time less fun...but it's a trade-off. Also this way I get paid to clean my house (I do spot cleaning on regular days, and do the deep cleaning/re-organizing etc on call days).

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I don't feel like I am always at work actually. I feel like I am getting adequate rest and that the day is always halfway over and close to quitting time. I do lots of things after work now. Gym. grocery shop. Out to dinner. Movie. Study (working on MSN). Make love to my husband. I have zero regrets. None. Nada. Could have knocked me over with a feather because I would have defended my three 12s to the death.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

It is worth noting I am not working bedside, my actual hours vary and my job is partially teaching and assessment in the clinic and partially bedside teaching at surgery centers. I am salaried, very well paid and some days are very long while others are less than six hours. I am not sure I would want five days a week at the bedside.

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I'm not sure admitting and discharge nurse would be considered bedside nursing. Or would it?

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Not sure the folks on this site consider Home health bed side or not, but when I was doing patient care Monday through Friday I liked it to and now that I'm not performing patient care I still do. I have every weekend, evening and most holidays off like everyone else in my personal life. I'm also able to leave work for an appointment or a run an errand.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

There are always pros and cons to everything but since I transitioned to regular hours I am much happier. I used to work 3 12s in the ICU....11am to 11pm, and it was brutal. I felt like I could never plan or be consistent with anything, I was always tired, and I hated being away from home for so many hours. Now I feel like I have control. I work in the same hospital but I have a desk job. I get in when I want, I leave when I want, I take lunch when I want, I take ETO when I want and I get to have dinner at home with my family every night. I have a nice desk by the window with a heated foot rest and heated coffee mug holder (it's the little things lol). I can dress nicely every day and get home without looking I was in a war zone. I have all weekends and holidays off. I truly appreciate it after all those years of doing shifts. I know it won't last forever because I will be graduating as an APRN in a year and a half, but I'm loving it for now. I like being able to look at my calendar and book something months in advance. When I graduate I plan on doing a year or two of acute work (probably in an ICU) and then find something in a practice somewhere, but hopefully part time.

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