Working 5 12's for the 1st year as a new grad..is this a good idea?

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Hi guys future nurse here. When I graduate from nursing school I plan to work 5 12hr shifts a week for at least the 1st year to gain experience and hone my skills so that I can become a better confident competent nurse. I know that it takes many years of experience to fully feel and become competent as nurse and that as medical providers we will never stop learning and will never be omniscient. But being that it is the 1st year which is the hardest. I'm thinking that working 5 12's instead of 3 12's would better help in transitioning from student to the actual role of being a nurse and really adapt to what it's really like to be working as a nurse in the real world and in the process really hone my skills and learn new things everyday.

I know 5 12hr shifts are going to b exhausting and that it will vary upon the type of specialty that I'm working in but I don't mind doing that for the 1st 2yrs or so. After that I plan on working 3 12's.

I'll have to see if my place of employment allows nurses to work overtime and to what extent if not than I'll work the 3 12's. I'm not going to limit myself and get picky especially in these tough times.

** Has anybody done this? or plan to? Is this a good idea? Thanks!

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
A couple of my friends work (3) 12 hour shifts at the hospital then they have (2) more 12 hour shifts at care centers or home health. they don't have kids or spouse and they are putting 100% of the extra shift salary towards their student loans. They are only going to do it for a year. I will say they tell me they have no life, but paying off the student loans is worth it. Fatigue is scary when it comes to health care, but they make doctor residents and interns work 100+ hours a week.

I would not assume that you can work at your hospital for the extra hours, but if you can deal with not having a life, I say go for it.

Residents and interns are no longer allowed to work those types of schedules.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Have you thought about using your days off to research and learn more about the things you come in contact with at your job. I have to go home and look something up after almost every shift. And I've been a nurse for over 10 years.

Of course you don't get paid for at home learning. But it will make you a way smarter and safer nurse.

^Agree. :yes:

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Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I know that most likely I wouldn't be able to have the 5 12's starting out as a new nurse and mostly likely will end up with 3 12's or even less which I am perfectly fine with. I just thought it would help in honing my skills at a better pace since I would be exposed to different situations and at the same time give me the opportunity to learn more as well on a more daily basis.

But yeah I definitely can and should use my days off to look things up and learn that way. To be honest I don't like the idea of doing 5 12's I guess I have some fear of what is to come and just thought that doing 5 12's would make it easier for me to be more confident and competent as a nurse.

But I'll burn myself out and most definitely wouldn't want that for myself or my patients as I wouldn't be giving the best care for them or myself.

Plus time off is very important to me!! I'm actually one of those people that prioritizes time to myself to enjoy life over working so much unless I need to. As I always say life is not all about work!

I'm a little fearful of what's to come but who isn't starting out? I guess I just need to learn to take things little by little and things will fall into place little by little before I know it!

Thanks again guys!

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Specializes in ICU.

Good luck with that. I wouldnt recomend it just because of pure exaustion and burnout. Even as an experienced RN who "has my crap together" so to speak- meaning Ive got my workflow down and am not really overly stressed out at work, working 3 days a week is perfect. I usually do 4 days a week for the money but I can feel it. 5 days a week? When im really trying to save for something I might do 3 extra shifts in a pay period but not for a long time. It sucks. You need that time to recuperate. After I work 3-4 days I always sleep in my first day off because I just need that catch up. So I would say 4 days a week is doable, 5 is likely not especially for a long period of time. You will figure it out when the time comes. In your head it sounds goo, "think of all the experience ill get, and all the overtime too!" ha, good luck with that. Even when my extra shifts come up, I still call and ask "so do you reallllly need me?"

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I know that most likely I wouldn't be able to have the 5 12's starting out as a new nurse and mostly likely will end up with 3 12's or even less which I am perfectly fine with. I just thought it would help in honing my skills at a better pace since I would be exposed to different situations and at the same time give me the opportunity to learn more as well on a more daily basis.

But yeah I definitely can and should use my days off to look things up and learn that way. To be honest I don't like the idea of doing 5 12's I guess I have some fear of what is to come and just thought that doing 5 12's would make it easier for me to be more confident and competent as a nurse.

But I'll burn myself out and most definitely wouldn't want that for myself or my patients as I wouldn't be giving the best care for them or myself.

Plus time off is very important to me!! I'm actually one of those people that prioritizes time to myself to enjoy life over working so much unless I need to. As I always say life is not all about work!

I'm a little fearful of what's to come but who isn't starting out? I guess I just need to learn to take things little by little and things will fall into place little by little before I know it!

Thanks again guys!

Ok....while your intentions are admirable.....and it's possible (not probable) 5 12 hour shifts are EXTREMELY hard.....especially if you work nights.

The is no nursing shortage right now.....that is urban legend. You will fortunate to find work that will offer you benefits let alone over time. IN the pursuit of better working conditions, AND patient safety, nurses have lobbied to get overtime legislation with required time off. As s new grad the emotional/mental strain is tough....the first year is the toughest that I don't believe that you will have the mental reserve/fortitude to be a safe provider working 5 12 hour shifts for a year.

Have I worked several 12 hour shifts in a row for the cash in the past? Yes.....for a specific short period of time measured in days (like one week a month) not months in a row.

I don't think cramming skills down your throat through exhaustion will help your skills as you will be able to retain very little.....and your chances are high of making a fatal mistake either while driving....or God forbid...your patient. Then everything you have worked for is gone in a flash of an instant. In light of your medical history....I'm afraid that fatigue will be a factor for you which makes your plan that more dangerous.

Most hospitals will not allow new hires have overtime.....they want to be sure you can handle yourself independently before counting on your to bail out a floor working short and not add to the burden.Hospitals do NOT have abundant overtime and if they do in this job climate my advice is...BEWARE! something is wrong at that facility. Either the refuse to hire adequate staff or the conditions are unbearable/unsafe that no one will apply/stay...in that case RUN!!!!!! away!!!!!! for your own good.

Focus on getting accepted to a nursing program.....then focus on graduating and passing boards....then focus on getting a position that will give you experience and training. Remember you had to learn to walk before you could run.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

I keep hearing that are not any jobs. My previous hospital currently ha 17 FT RN positions open and that's after two local programs have graduated RN classes. It all depends on where you want to live and if you will move. A lot of people want to stay local and that is just not necessarily going to happen. I heard CRNA jobs were harder to find too, but I turned down jobs and interviews with places that wanted me. Am I staying in my hometown? No. An I going back to Texas where I moved from for school? No. I have what I hope is a nice town and a good job but I will wait and see how it goes.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Yes it is very much depending on where you live....and there is a present trends to hire only BSN new grads. California has a 47% unemployment rate of new grads.....as well as parts of New York, Boston.

Jobs are posted but are the actually filling them with new grads. The market is tight in several markets but like anything else there will ALWAYS BE THAT EXCEPTION.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

I agree. I have just dealt with many people saying that there aren't any jobs and they refuse to move. I had an underclass student tell me she would not move if there is not a CRNA position locally and would work as a RN until something opened up. Thought that was crazy. I mean if it has been 6 months and a new graduate applies and someone who graduated 6 months prior also wants the job, I would be betting that the new graduate has the skills to be up to par quicker than the person who hasn't touched an anesthesia pt in 6 months.

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Where are you from morificeko?

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
Where are you from morificeko?

PA. Worked in Texas as RN. Going to North Carolina in a month.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Not only is working 60 hrs a week as a new grad not a good idea, it's completely impractical. That's twenty hours of overtime per week that your employer has to pay you time and a half for. It's all about the money and that just isn't going to happen. You'll spend a good deal of your first year on orientation and I don't know of anywhere that will give overtime to someone on orientation. After that, you're at the bottom of the totem pole and won't necessarily be working ANY 12 hours shifts. When I worked in the hospital, 12 hour shifts went to people with the most seniority first and new grads could easily be worked a mix of 8's, 12's and some 4's and working days, nights and evenings all in the same week. With the job market the way it is now, many new grads cannot find ANY jobs or can only find part-time work... going into nursing expecting to work 60 hrs a week is not realistic.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

First, they won't let me work any extra as a new grad and second, I just finished 3 nights (12s) in a row and I am one whipped puppy. After I get off orientation, if I could get one extra shift a pay period, I could use the money, but I don't think you learn more working more hours. It is just plain experience that "hones" your skills. Believe me, 3 12s will be PLENTY

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