I don't know about the rest of you, but I am so thankful that as nurses we have the option to work three 12's. I'm definitely not cut out for working 5 days a week!! Anyway, the point of this post is to ask all of you what you like to do on your days off....hobbies, clubs, activities. There are so many options!
JenTheRN 212 Posts Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE. Has 10 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 Personally, I don't like working 12's. One would think that if I only work three days a week I would have more time to do other things. That's just not true. My 12 hour days are totally shot...meaning all I do is work, come home, and go to sleep. If I worked 8 hour shifts, I would be able to do something after work.Plus, on my days off I am so tired I can hardly function.Also, when I have to work overtime it usually ends up being 13, 14, or 15 hours.Personally, I don't think the human body is designed to work for 12 hours straight. Not mine anyway. But, I have a good paying job, so I put up with the 12 hour shifts.
linearthinker, DNP, RN 1,688 Posts Specializes in FNP. Has 25 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 Hate 12s and refused to do them. I did one 8 a week, occasionally two.In the rest of my time I run my household, parent my children, am a wife to my husband, socialize with my friends and extended family, travel, hike, bike, run, ski, scuba dive, shop, read, pamper myself, exercise, relax, work on my DNP.
FancypantsRN 299 Posts Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER. Aug 16, 2011 I kind of wish I could do 8's, at least for a while.... but maybe that's because I am on nights and they are spread out (set schedule) so I really only have 2 days off per week. And the diff really isn't all that. I am pretty tired on my time off, and those 2 days off sure do fly by!All I seem to have time for is housework and spending some time with my husband, oh and naps.Geez, I need a life :)
BamaRN3 19 Posts Specializes in Psych. Has 9 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 I love 12's! I did them for 3 years then thought I wanted 8-5 Monday through Friday and did that for 4 years and realized my mistake. Now I have been back on 12's for almost a year and haven't had to use one hour of PTO! Working just 3 days a week is awesome! I do agree with FancypantsRN though, when you are working nights its not the same . Luckily I am on days now. On my off days I clean house. I cook big dinners for my family. I scrapbook and just enjoy some alone time :)
Sl1011 402 Posts Aug 16, 2011 Personally, I don't like working 12's. One would think that if I only work three days a week I would have more time to do other things. That's just not true. My 12 hour days are totally shot...meaning all I do is work, come home, and go to sleep. If I worked 8 hour shifts, I would be able to do something after work.Plus, on my days off I am so tired I can hardly function.Also, when I have to work overtime it usually ends up being 13, 14, or 15 hours.Personally, I don't think the human body is designed to work for 12 hours straight. Not mine anyway. But, I have a good paying job, so I put up with the 12 hour shifts.Exactly how I feel, which is why I'm looking for 8's somewhere else. On my days off I'm just exhausted and don't get much done. I usually don't get home until 9pm.. just enough time to clean up and go to sleep.
tma0312 57 Posts Aug 16, 2011 I thought 12's were great! Until I moved and got a job only working 8hour shifts, and boy does time FLY by now! I no longer dread going into work because I am so incredibly exhausted after working 13hours the day before. I can now function on my days off, too! Its amazing! I love my 8's and would never do three 12hr shifts again as long as I can help it!
linearthinker, DNP, RN 1,688 Posts Specializes in FNP. Has 25 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 Those of you who work 12s and would rather not, do you have the option of giving away 4 hours? My last staff gig was officially 12's, but I gave away either the first or last 4 hours every time. I had plenty of coworkers wanting the extra time. I was there 10 years, and I can count on one hand the number of times I actually pulled the whole 12, and whenever I did I quickly remembered why I don't do them and it was another year or two before I'd try again, lol. At the end, I only worked Thursdays and it was just understood that I did the first 8 and another nurse did the other 4, plus Friday. I got my 8 hours, and she got her 16. We were both happy. If either of us was going to be off, everyone knew the difference had to be covered b/c neither she nor I was willing to do a 12 on Thursday (well, I was not willing on any day, but she had something else on Thurs and could only do the 4 anyway). It was never a problem.
tma0312 57 Posts Aug 16, 2011 But, getting to the point of your post, when I worked 12's, I didn't do much on my days off. I was too unmotivated! Now I've been doing alot of gardening! And lots of little projects around the house! And alot more traveling to visit people on my weekends and days off!
Lissa,RN 26 Posts Has 3 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 I too love my twelves. Our schedule is a little different. We work 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off...so have to work every other weekend. On my weekdays off I clean and take care of the household. That leaves every other weekend for camping, four wheeling, trips, throwing BBQs. It works quite nicely for my family.
NewTexasRN 331 Posts Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg. Aug 16, 2011 I feel the same exact way. I could never do a regular 8 hour a day job. I hate the thought of being at work 5 days a week. Thank goodness I chose nursing. I recently got a job offer that would require me to work 5 days a week and honestly, I seriously thought about turning down the job for that reason. I am also a student and I need days off to concentrate on school. If I had to do it, I would consider 7-3pm.
healthstar, BSN, RN 1 Article; 944 Posts Aug 16, 2011 I love 12s , time flies on my floor. I work with lovely nurses, we all get along, we are like a family.
