no more than 4 shifts in a row

[Surfandnurse]

Does anyone else's institutions have this rule? "No more than 4 shifts in a row."

This is a small hospital, labor and delivery unit, we do an average of 30 births a month, and always have staff, i would say low to no burn out rate. We work 12 hour shifts, I've never had to stay for longer than 12.75 hours. I researched and found nothing in JCAHO regarding "no more than four 12 hour shifts in a row for RN's" I found some information regarding JCAHO not wanting people to do multiple 16+ hour shifts in a row...which makes sense, but as an RN my dream job would be 6 on 8 off... but they are so strict on this stupid rule!!! I love doing all my shifts in a row on nights, you can actually ADJUST to being on nights and feel good instead of feeling like junk every night.

Thank you I would like some insight, or proof of some JCAHO rule/standard that RN's shouldn't work more than for 12 hour shifts in a row.. You know the people making these rules ARE NOT WORKING NIGHT SHIFTS.

[shamrokks, ADN, ASN, RN]

I think my hospital would let us work every night if we would

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I wouldn't complain too much. It sounds like you work in a fabulous place. I'm wondering if rules like this designed to prevent burn out are one of the reasons you're feeling so happy? Or if you're fairly new at this?

[AZQuik]

6/8 nights is perfect for me. Not good for the scheduling in my Dept. We self schedule, and I have at last one two week stretch like this every month.

Days might be different, but I'm not "fresh" until my third night (yes, I shower everyday before work). 34&5 are always nights I kick butt. 12&6 I'm less than full speed usually (and that's usually twice the speed needed).

Then I go fishing

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

One of my friends used to love doing this. It's certainly different for everybody. I like to keep my nights schedule maintained, so I can understand why this works better for you. But the idea of being at work for more than three nights straight makes me want to punch a wall. There are other ways to be tired, and I feel like that would wear me out emotionally.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Yup. And as a night shift worker, I think that is BS. In my opinion, working every other day is far worse than working six in a row. After the third shift, you kind of get into a groove and your body is on the night schedule...usually.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Our unit limited it because we were having more mistakes, especially on nights. We do have a newer crew and they aren't used to nights either. Plus it was messing with others schedules, especially when they would sign up for a lot of the same a days, then complained when we had to move them off their string.

[Emergent, RN]

I was working 6 nights in a row. Then I injured myself badly on my first day off, fatigue was a huge factor. Would never work that schedule again.

[RNKPCE]

I get that every other night is not good option. However if you had several nurses who wanted to work 5 or 6 (12hr) nights in a row, the nurses who have to work the large group of days you are off might not want to work that many in a row, or in a short time span. Your wanting all those days in a row can impact the schedule of other nurses. On a small unit this would impact of this would be greater.

[amoLucia]

I wouldn't complain too much. It sounds like you work in a fabulous place. I'm wondering if rules like this designed to prevent burn out are one of the reasons you're feeling so happy? Or if you're fairly new at this?

I doubt there's any JCAHO rule or even any Dept of Labor regulation re working 4 shifts in a row MAX. But I betcha someone at your place was interested in employee health & wellness or QI and knew of some evidenced research that promoted a short work interval as an indicator for improved employee OJT safety and reduced error rates. Also to poss reduce absenteeism. Seriously!

Is there a union there? (Or was there one before?) Maybe it was negotiated, or has it been touted as an employee recruitment bene? There prob was a reason somewhere a while ago.

From the sounds of your post, I'd bet y'all have low employee turnover.

FWIW - I think you might be looking a gift horse in the mouth! JMHO