What is the longest period of time you have gone without any days off?

Recently, I just got done working 38 days in a row, between my two jobs. I was just curious...how long have you gone without any days off?

[CCU BSN RN]

I have worked 5 12 hour shifts back to back, and by the end I was mentally fried, overtired, irritable, and barely safe to practice. Perhaps working shorter shifts or in a lower acuity would allow me to work more, but I now don't do more than 4 shifts in a row for my personal mental health, and consider it unsafe for me to do 5. Again, that's different for everyone. It's important to know your limits not only for yourself, but for your co-workers and patients who have to deal with it if you're irritable, overtired, and not thinking clearly.

I have never worked more than six in a row. And that was tough; it took me several days to recover from that physically, not to mention getting my sanity back.

I worked over 30 days straight in a factory once. :) Mandatory overtime.

As for nursing, I've never done more than 4 twelve-hour shifts in a row. Even that was too much for me. My limit is 3.

I suppose if I didn't have kids I could do more shifts.. but it would still be tough.

[mmc51264, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

non-nursing, I worked with horses. there were no days off unless owners would come feed them on holidays. Nursing, 5 in row and that was way too much. I struggle with 3 in a row. I work Sat/Sun/Wed now with the occasional OT shift in there.

I know there are nurses that work 2 FT jobs and to me that is dangerous.

[kakamegamama]

Yours makes my 11 day stretch pale in comparison.....

...three days- and it killed me. I don't even like doing two in a row.

[BSN16]

I did 9 12 hour shifts in a row once. It was totally by choice though

[NYbabyRN, BSN, RN]

14 days in a row - I can't imagine working 38! Now I usually never work more than 3 days in a row.

I did four or five in a row during orientation. My preceptor liked to clump all her shifts together and use the time off to visit her out of state boyfriend.

Once I was off orientation and making my own schedule, I never did more than 2 days back-to-back.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

He He He - - I've been waiting for this thread for a looong time.

Two years & 6 months without a day off. During this period of time, I was going to BSN school full time & working compressed shifts (16 hours on Sat & Sun) on my non-school days. I ended up working all the holidays in exchange for my boss' support to maintain my weekend schedule. At the time, I had 2 kids under age 6 - and a very supportive hubs.

We do what we have to do - in order to accomplish our goals and objectives.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

I've worked 5 12 hour overnight shifts and it was horrific. I was so unpleasant to be around. I would never do it again. Now I routinely work 5 8 hour days M-F with a 12 hour shift on Saturdays but that's manageable and by choice.

[emmy27]

On a few occasions I've worked 7 twelves in a row, but inevitably I wind up with a nasty URI after that, so I no longer do more than 5 in a row. And I do my level best not to do that!

I've never been a good sleeper and I have a lot of trouble falling asleep early enough to get a full night on days when I have to wake up at 0500, and my mind and body are both a mess after more than a few shifts back to back. I need a chance to sleep in now and then or my reaction time, emotional state, and immune system wind up suffering.

[Kitiger, RN]

Three 12-hour shifts in a row, four 10-hour shifts in a row, or five 8-hour shifts in a row works well for me unless I have to drive an hour in the winter to get to work. In that case, I would go one day less for each. It all boils down to how much sleep I can get.

For example, if my 12-hour shift is an hour away, it becomes almost a 15-hour shift when I include time to clean off the car and to drive safely in the snow & ice.

The most I've done is 4 12-hour shifts in a row, an hour away, not by choice!

5 days 8-hour shift at a SNF caring for 160 residents. Half acute, half long-term. I call it, the ultimate MedSurg floor :)

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

14, with 7-8 being 16 hr shifts. I was a CNA at the time. I have long since learned to say no, and say it often.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

12 days in a row, and at the same job. They're not supposed to let employees work more than 6 days in a row, but they missed that on me. It was probably because my hours were switching up so much during those 12 days, that they probably looked at it and thought there was a day off, when in actuality there wasn't.

Otherwise, I'm not that crazy. I see no point in working an endless marathon of shifts.

[amoLucia]

He He He - - I've been waiting for this thread for a looong time.

Two years & 6 months without a day off. During this period of time, I was going to BSN school full time & working compressed shifts (16 hours on Sat & Sun) on my non-school days. I ended up working all the holidays in exchange for my boss' support to maintain my weekend schedule. At the time, I had 2 kids under age 6 - and a very supportive hubs.

We do what we have to do - in order to accomplish our goals and objectives.

I thought I was the WINNER until I read this.

I worked just over a year without any days off. It was 2 part time jobs.

I taught part time M/F (8 to 1) in a small business school. And I worked EVERY weekend as nsg supervisor. When school was off for a holiday, I worked as nsg sup whatever shift was needed. Sometimes there was a lag between 'semesters' at the business school, so I covered for any nsg sup needing vaca. Some days, I wore my whites to teach and then I'd be going to be nsg sup.

It was such a drag not to be able to sleep late even ONE day or to be sick. I needed the 'time'.