You're working HOW MANY shifts?!

[HisTreasure]

I'm an agency nurse full time. I also work part time on a private duty case. I'm overall happy with my choice of a career track because as a mother of four and a full time student in a dual major program I need flexibility. (And the increased pay isn't bad either!) While at a facility the other night I was on break and was going over my schedule with my husband over the phone so we could coordinate child care. I mentioned that I my next day off was Friday, September 8th and during this 10 day stretch I was working one twelve hour shift and the rest were eights. Then I have the 8th off and go back to work on Saturday the 9th for an evening/night double. The nurse in the break room asked me when I got off the phone: "You're working HOW MANY shifts?!" like I had said something unheard of. I was contemplating explaining that I only had 5 hours overtime with the agency and the rest was private duty but thought otherwise. One of the reason I like agency is the lack of personal attachments (and detachments). It's funny. I've heard of nurses working full time for a facility and then picking up nearly fourty hours with the agency on top of that. So my question for you is; How many shifts have you worked in one stretch without a day off?

[weirdRN, RN]

I can NOT even begin to imagine working for weeks or months on end with out a day off.

Right now the longest I work is nine days. 7-3.