NHS Shift Pattern

[Didyeaye]

Is anyone able to help with what a shift pattern described as ‘rotational days/ nights and 7.5hr and 11.55 hr shift patterns‘ looks like in reality? I’m considering applying for a support position but trying to work out if I’d be able to work out childcare.

It’s NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde if that makes any difference.

It's impossible to know really, could be rotating to nights on a fortnightly basis or once in a blue moon.

Some places have you doing days and nights in the same week!

I do the roster for my NHS ward and most people do nights one week out of 6. Some more frequently because they prefer nights.

Awful I used to be a nurse and a single parent and couldn't cope with it so I went and trained to be a podiatrist instead.
Have you considered being a podiatry assistant, full training and you'll work 9-5 with weekends off.

I’d expect the 7.5 hour shifts to be 7.30-3.30 and12-8pm (30minute break)
The 11.5 hour shifts will be 7.30am- 8pm or 7.30pm-8am (1hour break)
Frequency of rotation from days to nights could be anything from 3 months every year to 1 week a month.

doyouthink I actually wanted to fixed nightshift but don’t think that was an option!

madcat thanks, I’m considering a career change but before going to uni etc I was thinking of applying for a support role just to see how it goes. It’s a specific area of care but thanks for the suggestion!

If you need more information, ring the ward and ask!

Thanks howmany that’s the bit that’s making it difficult to work out the reality! Meh. Maybe I should just forget about it til the wee ones are much bigger

Call and ask - there's usually a number on the job advert that you can call for more information or call NHS HR Department, they don't bite.

Thanks, I’ve been in touch with the recruiting manager but haven’t heard back. It’s just an email address on the ad

Impossible to say. Some places switch between days and night every other week. Others it’s 6 weeks of days / 2 weeks of nights. Some might do 8 weeks of days / 4 weeks of nights

Most places refuse to do fixed night shifts.

Call the ward (any ward at that hospital) and ask whoever answers. They’ll know!

@Howmanysleepsnow but it often varies by ward

I also think that only the ward/ department will be able to answer this for you. My shifts are 7.30am-8.30pm and 8-8night shift, short shifts are 7.30am-3.30pm and 12.30-8.30pm. It is not unusual to do days and nights in the same week most weeks. It is very hard to organise childcare around the shifts. You need someone to be available early in the morning, late at night, overnight, weekends, bank holidays, Christmas Day etc etc. I can only do my job because DH has a flexible job that allows him to sometimes drop off/ pick up at school, take holiday at short notice such as when the school announces at 8am that it is closed that day and doesn't reopen for 3 days.

My son is training to be an ODP

This is a day job... right?

When I worked on the wards there was no 'pattern'. Everyone was just slotted into the off duty with no set shifts.

We’ll not necessarily because emergency theatres operate overnight.

That was to @Dowser

It’s impossible to know OP. I haven’t worked in a trust that’s done fixed nights for many years now.

ODPs will be needed at night. If you had a car crash at 11pm they wouldn't wait until day staff came on at 9am to have emergency surgery would they?

Shifts vary in my hospital.

We have 0800-1800 with 1800-1200 twilights and on calls 2000-0800.

Early shift 0730-1500 Late 1430-2030 and night 2000-0800. Most opt for long days 0730-2030 now. I think the 14 hour shifts have been done away with. Some of the wards have 1400-2200 lates too.

Dowser ODPs work days and nights, often on stand by or on call over night. It’s a 24/7 365 days a year job like Nursing and Midwifery.

Thanks everyone. I had no idea it was so variable! I think it’s unlikely that would work for me just now. Which is a shame but that’s life!

I work for the NHS, best bet is to call or email the ward, speak to the manager,
Be up front and say I need to think about childcare, but I'm really interested, and ask for more info on the shifts, and that you prefer nights, due to childcare, Could this be considered?

I've just changed job and did the same, emailed the manager saying I was Interested, already did 2 set days, could I keep the set days, and do one extra day flexible.
She said yes!

I'm newly qualified, at the moment work bank shifts which means I can pick and choose the days and wards I work on.

I start my official position in a ward that self rosters. I'm rather looking forward to that and apart from living the area I'm going too, I love the self rostering

Bryan how the hell dors self rostering work? I do the roster for my ward and I just can't imaging people being fair bou

Try again.

Bryan how the hell does self rostering work. I do the roster for my ward and I really can't see people being fair about their shift pattern. It would be Iike the Christmas roster every month with people wanting it off every year and no one ever wanting a late shift😩🤣

@doyouthink it works surprisingly well. Anything that isn't picked up goes out to bank. It's a very large unit and I can't imagine not self rostering. It's a selling point.

I was there as a student nurse and spoke to lots of staff about it. They sold it to me. My husband works on a set rota so anything else wouldn't work for us.

I know of several areas in my trust that offers self roster as well.

I never understood how professionals don't get a choice and I think it's amazing that we can care for very ill people but can't choose our own shift?

Self rostering sounds fab. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work as some people prefer an early and some a back shift. Others like nights. Sounds ideal to me.
Our shift patterns are 7.30-3.30 for earlies and 1-9pm back shift and 7-7.30 for “11.5” shifts. NHS in Scotland but not where you are OP.
Bank shifts are more flexible though- and can be shorter etc.