staffing patterns on NOC shift - what is working for you?

[estrogen]

We're a sub accute skilled unit with approx 50 beds for patients on vents. so far we've been staffed with 3 nurses, 3 CNA's and 3 RTs on both 12 hour shifts. Now our management decided to implement some drastic changes (to save money, of course). Instead of 12 hour shifts they want to change to 8 hour shifts and on NOC shift, they want to go down to two nurses instead of three. The DNS told us, that for her it will be simplest to split the assignmet between three nurses, and rotate the schedule 4 on, 2 off, but that if we are able to come up with a different schedule, (say one nurse takes 4 days on, the other takes the opposite 3 days every week) she is more than willing to go with that. I personally am working only two twelves a week. I have little kids and a working husband and therefore I am not particularly interested in working four or five nigts a week. Three would be allright with me. I'm not quite sure though what my other co-workers will want to do.

To me personally, the four on, two off rotating schedule seems extremely inconveniet and uncomfortable. ... I mean, you can't really plan your life around it, if your work and rest days are allways changing. And especially on night shift, if you only have two days off in a row, you don't really get a decent rest, because the first day off you're sleep deprived and miserable...

What are your experiences with scheduling on NOC shift? What works for you? What doesn't work?

[live4today, RN]

Nightshift used to be my shift of preference when I was much younger. Since returning to hospital nursing two years ago, I have tried working nightshift to see if I could readjust to it again. I stayed sick constantly, so had to stop working nights. I would have a job now if my stipulation wasn't dayshift only, or evenings part time. That is all I can safely give to any job right now. So far, employers aren't interested in hiring someone who knows what they can do and what they can't. Sorry Management...a golpher I am NOT! A robot I am NOT! I am a human being with human needs that no longer function in a healthy way on nightshift. I wish I could work nights now because the other shifts take away the autonomy I enjoy having when working with my assigned patients. Dayshift and part of evenings has too many wanna be chiefs who interfere with me doing my job. Yet, it is all I can tolerate now. So.......dayshift or partial eves it must be.

If any job interferes drastically with your homelife -- regardless of what shift it is -- it's time for a change. It's your family and your own sanity that counts on your decision. I'm without a job now. I have been since May 2005. I need a paycheck on a regular basis, but I respect my health and my life more than selling myself short for an employer who only sees me as a number with robot capabilities and not a human being with a brain who thinks, a body that needs rest and leisure time, and emotions that can't dance to the tune of their every need just because the employers bosses are pushing them to "cut cost" any way they can. Sorry......I'm no SuperNurse.