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Original poster

Working 12hr shifts 3 days on, 3 days off - advice needed please

89 replies

tirednhser · 09/04/2021 21:27

I work in the NHS and do 12 hour shifts, 3 days on followed by 3 days off then 3 more days on. I thought having 3 days off would be great after working Mon-Fri 9-5 before this job but I'm actually finding this shift pattern very hard to adjust to. I do night shifts and day shifts, alternating between the two every month.

My job is very active and you can't just pop out for some water or the loo so I often leave work tired and dehydrated. As the months go by I find I don't do much on my days off. I feel like as soon as I've recovered from my work days and feel ready to do something with my time off I'm back at work. I feel like I spend my work days in a complete daze. There is no time in the evening to relax with a glass of wine, go for a walk or watch some TV, it's home, dinner and then straight to bed. Texts go unanswered, missed calls not returned; I feel like I'm in a complete work bubble for those three days.

Colleagues say they feel the same. I feel like I need to build better habits into my day to make this easier as I think it's not a bad shift pattern at all, I'm just struggling in knowing how to plan my time better.

Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 09/04/2021 21:31

Not really, DP used to work this shift pattern and it's impossible to keep adapting to you. It's a killer, literally, there are studies on its effect on health.

Get a different job is my only, probably not helpful, advice.

Lolalovesroses · 09/04/2021 21:36

You can only do this shift pattern for on average,5 years and only when young ( below 30) without it taking a toll on your physical and mental health.As previous poster has stated, it is a killer. Studies show it takes 12 years off your life expectancy, can lead to excessive drinking ( as you are too tired to do anything else) and disordered eating. Humans aren't supposed to sleep in the day and be up all night. Go back to the 9-5 if you can, and prevent " burn out".

Atla · 09/04/2021 21:42

I (nurse) don't work long days now, but 3 in a row is a killer and I couldn't do it as a permanent shift-pattern (not at my age anyway - its a bit more manageable when you are young).

I don't think there is a way to get used to it - you'll just be knackered.

When I worked in ED I used to do 2 long days (or 2 nights) then a couple of days off then the remaining shift, couple of days off and so on - is breaking the shifts up, or working shorter shifts over more days an option for you?

Original poster
tirednhser · 09/04/2021 21:58

Oh I'm surprised by your answers as I expected to be told to get a grip! This shift pattern is so common in the NHS I presumed I was being weak and feeble struggling with it.

I'm in my 20s as well so I expected my body to be able to tolerate it well but after speaking to other colleagues, also around my age, they are also struggling.

I'm due back at work tomorrow and I could just cry. I feel so drained and exhausted.

OP posts:
dobidobidooo · 09/04/2021 22:08

Do you think you would be as tired if you just did days OP? I ask because my dh is looking at a job that is 4 days (12hours) on and 4 days off. Do you think it's the night shift that's making you tired or is it just the endless Rota.

Atla · 09/04/2021 22:17

Are you a junior doctor? If so, its probably a question of powering through as you know you wont be working that shift pattern forever.

General tips - take a water bottle and stay hydrated and don't expect anything else of yourself on work days - go to work, go to bed. Rest and potter about on your first day off and have an early night. Risk of burnout is very real!

Atla · 09/04/2021 22:21

Shifting from days to nights is exhausting as well - i think its easier by far to do a longer stretch of nights than it is to be swapping back and forth every couple of weeks.

Invisimamma · 09/04/2021 22:21

My dp works a shift pattern similar to this is the nhs. I can't adjust to it and I'm not even the one having to work it.

It's a nightmare to organise childcare around too as we need all days covered but he won't be at work for all of them so we pay for a lot of care we don't need or use to save the space.

TooStressyTooMessy · 09/04/2021 22:21

I left and got a different job. The hours weren’t the main reason but they certainly didn’t help. Sorry OP.

On a more practical note, ensure you have a bottle of water as PP have said and that way if you do have the chance to have a drink you can. Or at least have some water at the end of your shift. Some advice I was given very early on... whenever you can at work, you drink and go for a wee.

Rupertpenrysmistress · 09/04/2021 22:23

It is tough, in theory it sounds great, in reality it is horrible. As a student nurse I didn't really see a problem with the relentless day to night but now as a 40 something ward nurse I hate it.

I do get a good run of nice shifts sometimes but too soon it's back to 2 on 1 off etc. Can you ask your manager about just doing days or nights? we have some staff that do that. Although, they will look at you as young and, I am guessing childless? (Sorry if I am wrong) and you will likely get stuck on any shift. The only other way is to reduce hours but that affects your finances.

If you can look after yourself (exercise/diet) it helps! I don't as I just crave being lazy on my days off.

AnyFucker · 09/04/2021 22:27

I was redeployed to a similar shift pattern during the COVID 1st wave. 2 days on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off etc

I swear it ruined my health completely. My sleep patterns have never recovered, my resilience is shot and my hair is falling out. Mind you, I am mid 50‘s so not young and I think this along with having COVID myself (caught at work) and not being able to do the things that would normally relieve my stress on days off was the nail in my coping coffin

Justgivemesomepeace · 09/04/2021 22:29

We trialled a few shift patterns at my last place of work. 1 was 3 x 12 hour shifts, 4x 10 hrs and 5 x 8 hours. Loads of people opted for the 3 days of 12 hours. The sickness rate was the highest on that shift. People just couldnt hack it.

WetJan · 09/04/2021 22:29

Three in a row is a killer. I work three long days a week but can be any mix apart from mon/weds when I am home with DD. It works well for me, but is only doable as DH works 9-5 min-fri and DD is in nursery three days a week.
I'm fatigued after two, and that's with only doing days.

MeadowHay · 09/04/2021 22:35

I am wondering whether the nights is the biggest issue here, alternating between days and nights must be awful. DH used to work 4 on 4 off in a physically demanding NHS job in his early twenties. He was shattered by the end of it and the first of his days off was always a write off to rest, but he was fine the next three days and ultimately he really liked that shift pattern. However he didn't work nights at all, so I'm wondering if that's actually your main issue. Would there be a way not to work nights for a good long while - say 6 months - to see? Could you speak to occupational health?

MyGoMargot · 09/04/2021 22:42

NHS here too.

Nights are the bastard part, IME. It’s like being jet lagged.

I used to do 12hr shifts, I didn’t mind them but I only did days. 3 in a row is hard - I found doing 2 at a time better, is this an option for you?

I’m now on earlys and lates, which I quite like - an early feels like a short day in comparison

Toddlerteaplease · 09/04/2021 22:43

I'm a nurse. We aren't allowed to do three in a row. Unless you specifically want too. But my ward is very good at accommodating people's preferences. So it's not a huge issue. I worked Monday - Friday 9-5, when I was non clinical for health reasons and hated it! Give me the flexibility of shifts any day!

Original poster
tirednhser · 09/04/2021 22:43

@dobidobidooo

Do you think you would be as tired if you just did days OP? I ask because my dh is looking at a job that is 4 days (12hours) on and 4 days off. Do you think it's the night shift that's making you tired or is it just the endless Rota.
I think it's not so much the night shifts that make me tired but rather only having 3 days off to completely reverse my sleep schedule.

I think I would find 4 days on/4 days off easier. I find that 3 days off isn't long enough. It feels like by the time I have relaxed, switched my sleep schedule back and caught up with everything I neglect on work days I'm back at work. It feels relentless.

OP posts:
Original poster
tirednhser · 09/04/2021 22:45

@Atla

Shifting from days to nights is exhausting as well - i think its easier by far to do a longer stretch of nights than it is to be swapping back and forth every couple of weeks.
Yes, I think it's the switching of my sleep schedule that I'm struggling with. However, even when I have a couple of weeks of night shifts on my days off I don't want to maintain that sleep schedule as otherwise I would just sleep my days off away.
OP posts:
Shehasadiamondinthesky · 09/04/2021 22:45

This is why I left nursing and do podiatry now. I can't do it any more.
When I started nursing it was 7.5 hour shifts which was perfect, earlies and lates. I don't know why they were changed.

tiredmum2468 · 09/04/2021 22:48

I'm NHS in an admin role tho but I have set hours but a lot of ward admin roles also do 3 x 12hr shifts
Our NHS trust tho seems to work On a rota from Monday to Sunday
And it's 3 x 12hr days within that 7 with no less than 2 days off together
A lot of staff have fixed shifts so they can plan round them too they're very flexible

ThePontiacBandit · 09/04/2021 22:48

I did long days/ for a long time. I just came to think I was permanently tired with chronic lower back pain. When I had DD, I went back two shifts a week alternating days and nights over a fortnight, I did that for about 3 years. I used to feel like I spent my 5 days off recovering from my shifts.
I left and started doing different hours (no nights) and I felt loads better. I honestly now say if I had to chose between going back on a ward or quitting nursing, I’d quit. It took a real toll.

tiredmum2468 · 09/04/2021 22:49

Another solution is to just sign on with the bank and only do bank shifts the times and days you want them
Lots do that here and it helps with childcare and you don't have to work Christmas or new year if you don't want to either

willowtree66 · 09/04/2021 22:52

Ambulance service here. 12 hour shifts. Rota starts with 4 nights (Thurs-Sun), 3 days (Wed-Fri), 3 nights (Mon-Wed, finishing with 4 days (Sat-Tues). Then either 8 or 15 rest days. So 14 shifts over 3 weeks. It's only manageable because of the decent rest days but I still feel knackered most of the time. I make sure I get out into fresh air every day, little or no alcohol between shifts, and eat well. Dread to think I've got to do this till I'm 67!

Original poster
tirednhser · 09/04/2021 22:54

Unfortunately there is no flexibility in my department, they switched us to this shift pattern a few months ago and we are all on the same shift pattern. In one way it's good because everyone is in the same boat, even senior staff. However, everyone seems to be finding it difficult so I'm wondering how sustainable it will be in the long run to have everyone on this pattern.

Initially when they said we would be working 3 days a week I thought it sounded great as we would then get 4 days off every week. However the way the hours work out spread over the weeks it has ended up being 3 on then 3 off.

Friends and family don't understand when I say 3 days off isn't enough as they all only get two days off per week. However, they also get their evenings to unwind and relax, fit in hobbies, etc.

OP posts:
Oldraver · 09/04/2021 22:57

My OH does 4 on 4 off 12 hour shifts. For many years it was nights and it was very tough on him. He moved to days and it had eased though I know it's not good on his body