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at my hospital we always work the same shifts unless we're called in to cover a shift. It's nice not having to constantly switch back and forth from days to nights. our shifts are 06-1830, 1800-0630, 09-1730, 11-2330, 1700-0330 and 1700-0130.
the previous ER I worked in only used to have 07-19 or 19-07 shifts, you would work 2 days then 2 nights. they ended up adding positions for 09-21 and 11-23 so there was better continuing coverage but the majority of nurses still worked the day/night rotations.
In our ED is all about schedule chaos.....While our traditional shifts are 7a-7p....We have a bunch of staggered shifts to boost nursing levels during our traditional "busy times.'....While its nice to have the extra staffing, trying to keep everyone straight as to when they start and when they leave is just a nightmare.
In my experience, a combo of 8s and 12s are utilized. Some full-time staff are 40 hrs/week, some are 36/week.
7a - 7p
9a - 9p
10a - 10p
11a - 11p
1p - 1a
3p - 3a
And just about every conceivable combo of 8 hrs shifts overlapping the 12 hrs. shifts listed.
I consider it a major plus of working in the ER. For me personally - the set schedule of 7a - 7p/7a - 7a in the unit seems monotonous by comparison.
In our ED is all about schedule chaos.....While our traditional shifts are 7a-7p....We have a bunch of staggered shifts to boost nursing levels during our traditional "busy times.'....While its nice to have the extra staffing, trying to keep everyone straight as to when they start and when they leave is just a nightmare.
That is exactly what we do, and I do not know how anyone would enjoy doing variable shifts for a long period of time. I have another life outside of nursing.
PACNWNURSING
365 Posts
In the ER that I recently started working in, the majority of nurses work variable shifts on both days and nights meaning, there is no set time you work for example the traditional 7-7 nights or 7-7 days. You will work 5a-5p one shift and 13-01 another shift. I definitely do not like working variable shifts.