The 3 12s, 5 8s Debate

ponderingDNP · Apr 6

I had that same dilemma four years ago. I took the five day work week, became adjusted to it and rarely used any leave because of the nights, weekends, and holidays being free. I was home at a decent hour, could go shopping after work like everybody else, and when I used my leave for even longer weekends or vacation, the pie became a little bit sweeter.

I recently transferred back to nights at a different location for the pay, but have interviewed for the same day position at the new organization, as the increased pay will now transfer with me wherever I go. Fingers crossed that I get that day position. Don't get me wrong, being on nights comes with an added $23k/yr, but without that, the base is just as sweet as the hours.

I would love to hear what direction you're leaning towards.😁

Kroov · Apr 6

I changed to Monday-Friday from 12hr shifts 4 years ago, it was a big adjustment at first - having less time for appointments and running errands etc, as well as a pay cut, but now I love it. I have so much more work life balance, never have to check if I'm free for a weekend event and have a normal sleeping pattern. I'm actually going back to 12hr shifts now for a promotion and am pretty nervous about it!

CCC_nursing, BSN · Apr 6

ponderingDNP said:

would love to hear what direction you're leaning towards.😁

I'm definitely leaning towards the 5 day a week job. It seems like a cool job to try, as I'm literally just trying to get away from working directly with patients. I've done it for 8 years now and it just keeps getting worse with people not taking care of themselves, being abusive, and nursing shortage. For out of work life purposes, I am training for a half marathon and there is a group that runs every Saturday to prep, and I would be able to participate. I teach a Monday night Hot Yoga class only part time now because I work some Mondays, but with 8 hrs. I can teach it more often. I can go to the gym every morning. My sleep will probably be better as I am NOT a morning person and waking up at 5 am is torture. I keep thinking, do I stay at a job I totally hate for the days off or try something new away from patients for my sanity, but work more days. Seems silly when I type it out, but its an important decision.

CCC_nursing, BSN · Apr 6

Kroov said:

I have so much more work life balance, never have to check if I'm free for a weekend event and have a normal sleeping pattern.

I like the idea of not having to worry about missing important events. I'm always scared about what days I am and am not working. Also, the unfairness of the schedule, some people work more weekends than others. I hate not knowing my schedule. We "self-schedule'" right now and we rarely get the days we sign up for.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 9

I have been a weekend option nurse for 8+ years and love it! I work 3-12s and couldn't imagine working a 5 day week ever again! I am lucky that I still love bedside.

I was an older new nurse (passed mt boards at 48, now 59) and it has been awesome to work 3 days and have the other 4 to manage my midlife crisis LOL

I have 2 sons that both were in marching band and are both T1. I got to go to all the competitions. I have started collecting German Shepherds and do obedience and agility. I am also an old hippie and love to go to jam band concerts. My schedule allows for all of this.

Another thing is that I live 48 mi from work and the drive 5 days a week is a huge reason not to work 5 days, not to mention traffic at 0600 and 2000 is very different during rush hours coming and going.

Is there another position that you could do 3-12s that wouldn't involve bedside care? I work as charge nurse, preceptor, and floor, so it is not one thing day after day.

To me, this is the best part of nursing, there are SO many options.

Hope you can find yourself a good fit!

Emergent, RN · Apr 9

I am working 5 days a week now. It's a seasonal, non-nursing position, 99.9% stress-free, in the outdoor nursery/greenhouse of a local variety store. I'm retired from nursing, this is just for fun, and ends in July.

The only downside is that I would like to work 3 or 4 days a week, so I can have more time off. I've been told they want me back next year, and I have a retired nurse friend who is interested in doing one day a week, so, we'll see. The job is great though, and is 7am-4pm, with an hour lunch, and no micromanaging or documentation required.

k1p1ssk, BSN, RN · Apr 9

I had a similar dilemma - though I liked working bedside, what I realized was I liked working bedside when it was *quiet*. I worked nights, and so there was no admin, no OT/PT/SLP, rounds were much shorter, etc. etc. What I couldn't handle was the night schedule and I didn't want to switch to days as I found them overwhelming with the number of extra bodies and noise on the floor. I also hated that I couldn't take a vacation in the Summer because I hadn't been there long enough to have "earned" it ("prime time" vacations were given based on longevity).

I went from bedside to an outpatient peds specialty job in the same hospital system, and just as you mentioned, struggled with the sudden 9-5, M-F change. The sanity of being able to take an actual full week off without worrying about longevity was great, though, and the holidays and weekends off was also great.

But for anyone who doesn't mind peds or adolescents and is looking to strike a perfect work-life balance, try School Nursing. I've been in it for nearly 6 years now, and I can't say enough good things.... Sure, there are some headaches, but if you are someone who likes to work independently and is confident in your assessment skills and is organized, I can't recommended it enough. I typically work 8:30 to 3:15, no weekends, no evenings/nights, no holidays, guaranteed vacations throughout the year, and then the absolute wonder of it all - ALL Summer OFF. In my area, this could be 8-10 weeks off for Summer break. There is a dramatic pay cut, but many of us work per-diem to make up for it, and with per-diem rates, this is easy to do with one shift per week in the Summer, and occasional shifts during the year...

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 10

k1p1ssk said:

I liked working bedside when it was *quiet*.

This is why I like my weekends!! None of the "real" people are there LOL. Just us and an intern. case management is on call for our d/c needs. To me it splits the difference from weekdays, which I do not like, but have to work one, and nights, which I do sometimes for OT, but cannot tolerate all the time.

mdsRN2005, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 10

Different strokes for different folks. But when possible, always go with the option that gives you more peace. Sounds like for you the M-F job might do that. I went from a 12 hr 5/2 shift (2 on, 2 off, 5 on, 5 off) to a M-F 8-5 non clinical job and wouldn't trade it. Back when I still worked that 5/2 I thought not having extra days off was a deal breaker, but honestly I enjoy my 2 day weekends more than I did the 5 day ones because I'm not exhausted and overwhelmed. The biggest adjustment for me was having to take off for Dr appts. My job is pretty chill about such tho, so if it's an hour or even two I can either take shorter lunches the rest of the week or work an hour later a couple of days. But there may be some that make you actually take off and use vacation/sick time, IDK. Worth asking. Also if you get hour long lunch breaks you can run quick errands, if you only has 30 min it'd be more difficult. I'd definitely give it a try. You can always go back to rotating 12s if you don't like it, but if you pass it up when will the same or similar job be open again?

carol w · Apr 12

I have been a nurse almost 30 years. I worked all types of shifts during my career. 13 years ago, I gave up working 12-hour day shift mother/baby to work in corporate denials management, M-F 8 hours a day. I almost talked myself out of changing positions because I still liked mother/baby. However, working 12-hour shifts and being on call was wearing me down. I took the chance and found a new area of nursing that I love. I don't miss not having days off during the week because I can take a PTO day or comp time if I need to run an errand or schedule an appointment.