7 on 7 off schedule

[MRG™]

How many of you are on the 7 12's schedule, and what is your general opinion of it. Likes, dislikes, pros, cons, etc.

[fergus51]

A friend of mine was in a facility that tried this. They had so many problems with absenteeism (people calling in sick by day 7) as well as an increase in errors (procedural and medications) that they nixed it. I have never worked in a facility with a schedule like this, so I don't know how common those problems are.

[plumrn, BSN, RN]

I can barely stand 3 12's in a row, much less 7!! I would be calling in by day 5 or 6, I think. I can't imagine I would have much patience or compassion left to give by day 7.

I'm glad we nurses can find such a variety of schedules.

[roxannekkb]

I worked in a place where the night shift worked 7 ten hour shifts, not 12s. And then had 7 days off. They really liked it and it worked very well, and kept night shift staffed. I think there is a big difference between a ten hour shift and a 12. That's 14 less hours of work total.

I think 7 12s would be too much, quite honestly.

[adrienurse, LPN]

I recently transferred to another postition for mutliple reasons, one of them being that working 7 (8hr shifts) in a row was brutal. I don't know how anyone can still have a working brain on the 7th day. I totally understand how some states/provinces have labor laws that prohibit them.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

Three 12's in a row should be the max, IMO. It is the rare nurse who is worth much beyond that.

[Mama Val, ASN, RN]

I love it, you want 1 week off for vacation you get 3. I like 12 hour shifts because you can get more done. And I love my off days. I really kinda don't want to go back to the 5 on 2 off it seems like such a drag

and it just

sounds

soooo

loooonnnnngggggggggg

[NurseAmy]

I am currently working 6 12 hour shifts at a travel assignment. I only have 3 more stretches of 6 on 8 off to go. I probably won't work this schedule again, at least not for night shift. For day shift I would consider it. By night number 4 I am starting to feel mentally fatigued. I don't know that physically it is any more tiring than working 3 in a row, but mentally it is horrible. My reaction time is not as sharp, thinking is not as clear. Maybe that is due from lack of sleep since I am working nights, and night shift really does not agree with my body very well. I spend the first couple of days off in my 8 day stretch catching up on my sleep.

I think 7 on if they were a combination of 8 hour and 12 hours shifts, or maybe 10 hour shifts, would be something I would have to consider doing. But not 7 12 hour shifts-I don't think it would be safe.

Just my .02

Amy

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

I used to work 3 on , 1 off, 3 on and seven off. That was doable, but I think the one day off in the middle was the key. I can't imagine doing 7 12's in a row on any shift. The older I get the less I tolerate long hours and wonder how I did it. I would get serious brain fog after that many days.

[Dplear]

I worked 7 12's on and 7 off night shift for several years. I only changed because a postion opened up offering me the same money for working wvwn less hours. 3 on and 4 off every week...with the 4 off in a row... I loved working 7on 7 off. And you are as good on that lst day as you want to be, I think it is a joke saying that how can anybody work like that and function. It is a case of mind over matter...you think it will be hard and it will be hard.

Dave

[igloorn93]

Dave, I have to agree with you. I did 7 on 7 off 12 hour shifts for 81/2 years and LOVED IT! I took an interim postion that changed my schedule to a Monday to Friday 8a-5p. I HATE it. I'm getting ready to go back to my 7 on 7 off schedule again. I have done it on both days and nights. I find I am more tired doing the M-F shift. Also, I don't have enough time to get things done or go and see family and friends. Our whole hospital is the 7 on 7 off with 12 hour shifts and there is very little complaint, and no more errors than a comparable hospital that doesn't staff that way. It's all in how you set your mind. For us day 6 we were more tired than any other day in the rotation, but by shift 7, look out. You couldn't stop us. We were super nurse. Bring it on. You only had 12 hours and counting left and then it was like being on vaccation for 7 whole days. We are all entitled to our opinions and likes and dislikes, but until you've given the schedule a good try, (at a minimum 3 rotations of working), you really can't judge weither it is more dangerous or not.

[oramar]

When I read that topic title I thought to myself, "i would never do that, however there will be some people that do it and love it". The previous post all prove my first reaction was correct.