Who else love's their 12's?!

Fribblet · Aug 17, 2011

12's when you're only doing 3 shifts a week isn't bad, but my employer has staff working 5 shifts every other week (no overtime), and that sucks.

tokidoki7, ASN, RN · Aug 17, 2011

I LOVE MY (WEEKEND) 12s!!! I work 24 on weekend days, get paid for 32. Monday-Friday I get to be a stay-at-home-mommy, cook nice dinners for my family, visit my grandparents, take kiddies to the park, go shopping. Plus I save a ton on childcare because I work the opposite of everyone else, little one can stay with Dad or Grandparents or other family while I work! Works out great for everyone, I dont think Ill ever have a full-time job again (at least not while Ive got little ones)

That's my goal! Definetly going to make that a reality in the next year or two!

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Aug 17, 2011

I worked the NOC shift (23-0730) five days a week for 8 months and it nearly killed me...I now work three 12's day shift and I am in heaven! My current schedule is "work three days, eight days off; work three days, two days off; work three days, four days off; work three days two days off; work three days, eight days off; work three days"....I can totally go on a vacation without taking a since day of vacation time. I would not want it any other way!

adpiRN · Aug 17, 2011

I also have mixed feelings about 12s. While days is A LOT better than nights, I still feel too tired to do anything after work and am sometimes so exhausted after a busy few days that I waste an entire day off on the couch.

I also often feel like I'm working all the time and I don't know why! I think because the weeks blend together. Tues, Fri, Sat, Mon, Wed, Thurs etc.. Just a never ending cycle of 1 or 2 days off at a time. And working 3 weekend days in a month sucks - there's often social events I can't go to because I'm working.

On the plus side it's nice to schedule yourself for Sun, Mon, Tues, then Thurs, Fri, Sat, the next week week to get 8 days off in a row!

So to answer your original question - on my days off, I like to travel when I can, read, see an afternoon movie by myself, go to a museum. Though in reality I usually just end up going to the gym and doing chores around the house. Haha.

I took a local pottery class this summer which was fun.

I'm applying for a part-time office job which will be 8 or 10 hours 3 days a week, no weekends. I'm guessing I'll like that schedule better : ) And I think it'd be the same 3 days a week, so I can schedule my life a little easier. Plus I should be free every evening to have dinner with friends or maybe even have the energy to exercise after work. That would be nice.....

Jules A, MSN · Aug 17, 2011

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!

I love mine also! Mostly just sleep on days off, lol.

littleneoRN · Aug 17, 2011

To each their own...I know some people really do love their 12s. However, my friends who work 12s all say they love them, but they also always seem so exhausted. They say the love the extra day or two off. (I work 4 days one week and 5 the other. They work 3.) But they seem like they spend at least the first day sleeping/laying on the couch. I've done both. I don't buy that they all like them as much as they do. Most of them have never tried 8s. I have free time every day. I run or do something active almost every day. I cook meals and bring the leftovers to work for lunch. I actively volunteer with my church. I play tennis regularly. I play piano. The list goes on. :)

exnavygirl-RN · Aug 17, 2011

I work 8 hour night shifts and hate it. I feel like I have no life. My last job I worked 12 hour shifts and worked 7 on and 7 off. It was AWESOME. I keep asking myself why I changed jobs. LOL

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Aug 17, 2011

I don't like 12's because mine isn't 3 days/week. FT hours are 4 12's (2 days, 2 nights), 4 off. But your first day "off" is finishng at 0700, going home to sleep for a few hours, feeling like crap the rest of the day.

So, in my books, you really only get 3 days off and then start the brutal 2 days, 2 nights again. Ugh.

If you start your block on a Monday, your very next block starts the following Tuesday. (Monday-day, Tuesday-day, Wed-night, Thursday-night. Friday, Sat, Sun, Mon-off) And that's already with your days off. I spend the first day off (not the sleep day) catching up on houswork. The next day doing appointments, personal paperwork, maybe coffee with a friend and the following day dreading that I have to start it all again tomorrow!

It's so exhausting!

Chixie · Aug 19, 2011

I miss my 12's I found it much easier to get everything done ie charting and dressing changes and leave work on time. Im currently working 8's and im struggling, on one hand when i leave work i am able to go shopping or do housework but on the other hand i can have 7-8 shifts in a row with no days off and i feel like i am always at work.

Her Own Catalyst RN · Aug 21, 2011

I can't imagine doing 8's as a floor nurse I agree, there's not enough time.