3 12's - in a row or break them up?

Do you plan to get some OT in? I am trying to save up for a house downpayment so I'm trying to get in as much as I can without blowing myself out....I like 2 on, 1 off, 2 on, 2 off best but even with that I am getting tired. Also if my schedule works out sometimes I'll do 3 one week (usually 3 in a row) and then 5 the next (2 together, 2 off and then 3 together). Works out to a bigger paycheck than 4 each week because that 5th shift is straight OT since you've already gone over 40 hrs.

I do my 3 12's in a row. Have pretty much since I started and it works for me. Once did Mon., Weds., Fri., 12 hour nights, but that was in another life. Looking back, 3 in a row doesn't seem so bad. Sure, I'm tired and worn out by the end, but the week's done.

My current schedule though, rocks. 3 on, 2 off, 3 on, 6 off; rinse, lather, repeat. Used to do 3 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 3 on, 8 off, but I was incoherent by the time I hit day 3 of week 3. Not a pretty picture.

Cheers,

Tom

3 in a row works best for me. I like to get it done and I like that I usually have most of the same patients (not always though). I do not like them broken up becuase I feel like I don't get enogh personal and family time. But when I am working the 3 in a row there is very little I do other than, work, sleep, and eat.

2 on 2 off 2 on for me. (night shift)

Definitely 3-4 in a row for me. I like having pts for several days in a row. But by the 4th day I tend to get overstimulated with all the beeps and alarms of the hospital environment and am sooo ready for a long quiet sleep.

I try to do three in a row so I can live a normal life on my days off (I'm on nights). Sometimes I do 2 then 1 or something to break them up because a bunch of 3s can wear me down.

My preceptor likes to do 3 in a row, and it's not so bad. Just a little tired sometimes is all.

it takes most of my days off to recover from 3 in a row. this week, i'm going to try and break them up to see if it helps. i've been worn out from last week. the 4 days off is so nice, but I didn't start feeling normal until the last day. maybe i'm just too old for floor nursing, mid 40s, and my body is telling me so.

This is my first job in the hospital setting, and I cannot manage to do 3 12's on a regular basis. Part of it is me being tired because I'm pregnant, but I'm not sure I would feel much different otherwise. By the second day I'm miserable knowing I still have to come back the next day.

I like to work 2 on, 2 or 3 off, one more on then another couple of days off. If I have a trip planned or something Ill do 3 in a row. When I worked private duty it was no problem...I could even do 4 or 5 in a row without blinking, but that's because it isn't nearly as stressful or tiring as floor nursing.