Working 3 12hr shifts in a room, yay or nay?

Nurses General Nursing

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I know ultimately I will be making this decision based on what works with my current schedule. However, I would like to get some knowledgeable input from you guys that have done this before. Since I am in school, I would love to have my weekdays free and just work on the weekends, but are 3 12hr shifts in a row excessive? I'm leaning more towards working one day in the middle of the week and then the weekends. It will be night shift.

What are your opinions? :coollook:

Edit: Ugh, I meant to write "Working 3 12hr shifts in a row." Sorry!

I work 3 12 hour shifts in a row every single week without trouble. But I also live alone in a quiet location, come home from work, eat breakfast and go to bed for 7-8 hrs then get up and do it all over again for two more days. I have no interruptions or obligations to attend to when I'm working, and that's really important because all you will want to do on those 3 days is work then go sleep, and repeat.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I almost always work my 3 in a row.

I used to work 6 in a row, and did that for about a year.

Specializes in SNF, 2 year s hospital.

Iam also in school and my current schedule is Fri-sun 7a-7p and it gives me free time during the week and when school is out i feel like im having a mini vacation!

Specializes in Tele/PCU/ICU/Stepdown/HH Case Management.

i work 3 to 4 twelves in a row depending on the week. i have a rough time on the last day of the four in a row, but i think that working them in a row on nights is better than splitting them up. it's already difficult to sleep during the day and recover after a shift. doing them in a row gives me time to recover and relax.

Specializes in Cardiac, Ortho/Neuro, Hospic, LTC.

I work three 12 hour night shifts in a row every week. I work wed-fri nights every week. I am on break right now as a matter of fact at work. I work in a hospital. I like my days together and not broken up. I sleep when my kids are at school and get up when they get home from school. I don't miss anything except them sleeping. I have weekends with them. I have been doing this now with the same scheduale for over four years. Every so often I add in a Saturday shift, but not to often. Once and a while a Tuesday slips in. I try not to do more than three cause it gets to be to much. I love it and wouldn't go back to eights for anything. You couldn't pay me enough to do dayshift either.

Specializes in Critical Care.

All throughout nursing school I worked 3 14 hour shifts in a row. So yes, 3 12's can be done.

Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

I hate having my nights split up. Frequently I will work 4 or 5 in a row just to get them out of the way. It also guarantees I will get the same pts (not always a good thing) and I won't have to float since it would break up continuity. I also work another job and I just finished 8 12's in a row. As long as I stay on a night shift schedule I'm good.

Everyone has different preferences and tolerances. Many co-workers I know on days will never work 3 in a row and at night most of us prefer 3 consecutively. You'll definitely know your preference and unit scheduling policies when you start working it's too early to start stressing on that now.

meh. i do nights, usually do 3 in a row but that third day is just exhausting, mentally as well as physically!! you dont get much veg time, cause it's go to work, go home, eat, sleep, eat, spend hour or so with family(which includes packing lunch, etc), kiss family goodbye, go to work, go home, eat, sleep... i can veg alittle but a half hour show is it or i dont get enough sleep! i did 4 in a row a month ago due to a family emergency and i thought i was going to lose my mind, its such a high stress job that i need some mental chillout...sometimes on my days off i have no desire to do housework or anything.. i love 12s but i cannot do 3 in a row for the next 20 years that's for sure, whether days or nights....

mebe i need a maid..

Specializes in Psych Charge RN/ Med Surg/Float Nurse.

heh, I do 7 12s in a row. But I'm on nights in psych so it's usually pretty low key. Although we do have our wild nights. No way I could do it on med surg though.

Specializes in Postpartum, L&D, Mother-Baby.

3?! That would be nice!!! I currently do 4-5, and every blue moon, 6 in a row......very taxing on the body and especially the mind!!!!! :uhoh3:

Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

The answer to your question depends on you.

When I was younger and in good health, I would work 3 12s, off one, work 3 more 12's and have a week off. I enjoyed it and knew the one week I would be tired as heck, but the next one was free and clear.

As I have gotten older, and had episodes of poor health, I could only work 2 12s in a row and had to have at least one day off maybe two before working my 3rd one.

Your strength, health, stamina and other time demands (spouse/kids/pets/ailing parents/social groups) will determine for you if its ok.

I have worked 12s on nights and preferred to do them in a row....It's too hard breaking up my sleep, and if they are not in a row it feels like you never get a day off.....I am now working 8s on days M-F and I had so much more time before....really thought this would be a good mommy job but hindsight is 20/20.....I'm sure I'll be changing jobs before too long....you are right, in that, after a little time on your unit then you will know what works for you.....each person has their own preference.....good luck

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