Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

4 12s a week?

Does anyone regularly work 4 12 hour shifts a week (or 3 12s and an 8?)? Seems like a good idea to work 2 days then take one off and then another 2 days on. Opinions anyone? :)

Featured Replies

I have to work 4 12s every 3 weeks on my weekend to work. It is horrible!!! Atleast for me. I feel like I am gonna die after 4 12s. I much prefer 3 12s.

I work two on two off four on six off...I love it!!!

I used to work 44 hours a week, so would do 2 on, 2 off (12 hr. shifts) most of the month. I loved it. The only time I hated it was working 2 on, 1 off then 2 more on. But it was night shift, and in an eye hospital, so not like a really busy med/surg. unit, which may be much harder.

I currently do a 4 12hr stretch every other week.... it's rough but doable on my unit which is usually pretty slow (small obs -low acuity). I tried it once on a busy ortho-trauma and just about passed out from sheer exhaustion at the end... but then I was also commuting 2 hours each way by ferry at the time too....

I routinely do 4- 12 hr shift/week, just now all in one strech when I can help, we do self-scheduling for the most part and I am one of the PSL's(charge nurse/micro-managers) and we do the scheduling anyway, if one of is on vacation or sick etc then I will 4 in a row but not often. After Hurricane Charley hit us I worked 8 in a row.... flaerman

Where I work we usually do 3 10 hour days and then 2 half days(6-12). I like that in a way because I know when I can make appts. or when I can do my errands so my weekends are freed up to do things with my family. I think the ideal hours for the medical field should be 4 10 hour days. That's just my personal feeling!

I work in a military hospital, and we work 7 12's every 14 days. Usually in this pattern: 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. Looking at a calendar week, it comes out to 5 12s in one week, 2 in the other. Needless to say, one week is exhausting, the other is great. The only caveat is getting called in on a day off due to staffing crises or unexpected emergencies. Then, all bets are off.

Single male, no tax breaks, living in atlanta, been out 3 years. Worked 5 and 6 12s straight on routine basis. Longest stretch ever was 13 straight, would not rec this. You kind of stop caring after about 10 straight and like I said, not a good thing. I'm a glutton for punishment, esp for double time. I know diminishing returns kicks in very quickly, even at overtime but I did it anyway.

We have self scheduling where I work... I have done 4 12's in a row and my FEET hate it!!! I like two on and two off rotation but I try to schedule around my husband's fire department rotation schedule right now.

FIVE twelves a week- no prob here. Have a friend working two 68 hour weeks in a row so that she can take a week and a half off without using benefit time. We do self schduling so this is possible.

Does anyone regularly work 4 12 hour shifts a week (or 3 12s and an 8?)? Seems like a good idea to work 2 days then take one off and then another 2 days on. Opinions anyone? :)

I often work 4 12's a week. Usually depends on the person on how they stack their days. I do try 2 on 1 off 2 on. Working nights it keeps my body from flipping out as compared to working 4 in a row ( for nights anyway ) because you end up sleeping all day when you finish your 4th so that puts you sleeping 5 days ( during the day) a week. Some people can handle it if you are a natural night person but it will tear your body apart if you're not and you're continousley doing it. Have worked 28 in row once for 4 week contract. Money was great!!! Body hates me still to this day. Doubt I'll ever do that again.:imbar

I struggled to find a good schedule when I first went to nights. Some people like the couple on, one off, then back on again. For me, I flip my schedule back to days when I'm not working (that happens with four young children and a husband who live in the "day world"). In my case, one or two off is worthless for anything except sleeping. I try to do a minimum of 3 in a row but typically run with 4 on, one off (for sleep), 2 on...then 7 off. I sometimes do 5 in a row and find it to be do-able. Most I've ever done was 7 in a row and found the 6th and 7th to be very difficult.

Bottom line, I try to schedule as many shifts clustered together as I can with a max of 5 in a row...then schedule longer periods off. Makes the flip-flopping between days and nights easier. The downside? Nothing gets done at home when I'm working because all I do is work & sleep so I spend my first day off catching up on housework.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.

Currently Reading 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.