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

[tirednhser]

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?

So with a 1 hour and 20 minute unpaid break every shift, I'd work out that you've actually worked 160 hours this month, as 20 hours are unpaid breaks.

@AlrightTreacle

So with a 1 hour and 20 minute unpaid break every shift, I'd work out that you've actually worked 160 hours this month, as 20 hours are unpaid breaks.

You're still stuck at work though, I would say it's accurate to say you've been at work x hours as a fairer indicator.

@Tallybo

I meant that out of 180 hours, only 160 "count" to the rota system. It's a shit system.

I’m surprised you get that long, what hours do you actually work? Our trust does 7-8 with two 30 minute (unpaid ) breaks.

If your contract is 37.5hrs pw that's 150hrs a month, are you working 10 hours too many.

I'm glad you are looking out for your Mum.

I'm a widow and I believe that the estate agents I used weren't discreet about my personal circumstances and buyers were under the impression that I'd be 'grateful' for their ridiculously low offers. I still feel angry that in the end I had to settle for so much less, they were just out to get their commission as quickly as possible.

I don’t understand why you aren’t requesting your shifts? Are you a nurse? Can you drop down to 33 hours which is exactly three shifts a week? This week I’ve done Mond, Tues and Saturday and have no complaints. Why are yours squeezed together like that?

Apologies OP I've posted on the wrong thread, thanks to the person who wrote to me.

Shifts are usually 12.25 or 12.5 hrs long, and either a 45 minute break or an hour break to bring shift time to 11.55.
11.55*13= 150hrs

On your pattern you are working 14 a month, and you’ve said you get 1hr 20 break. So then 12- 1.3= 10.7
10.7*14= 150 hrs.

So my suggestion op would be to look for another job somewhere that you have less breaks, having to do one extra shift a month would be deal breaker for me.

When I was full time the 4 day week was a killer for me. It’s amazing how one extra shift can have such a negative effect.

Do you get your 1hr 20 break daily? If not I would be contacting your union.

Possibly looking for a job where you only do 13 shifts as full time, and then reducing your hours to 34.5hrs. You won’t notice anything much in your take home pay, although it will affect your pension.

You generally do get used to shift patterns after a few months, how long has it been? My friend works 72 hours on 6 days off (obviously they have bunks available but don't always get to use them) whereas my dd will be working 6 hours on 6 hours off (military) soon.

I think we are clearly seeing another reason why the NHS is haemorrhaging staff.

It is interesting to note those who baled in their mid 30s due to finding it too exhausting!

Another aspect of these shifts that so suit management is the inability for everyone to be in the same place at the same time. In my area, any sense of 'team' has completely gone. I don't see some of my colleagues from one month to the next, and if we ever hold a staff meeting (these are frowned upon by management), you'll be lucky if 20% of the staff turn up. But this will be a combination of being on shift, and having no sense of investment.

Of course, the lack of any sense of bond between staff isn't objectively measurable, so the managers don't care, except when issues of under-skilling arise because all of the invested, caring, UK-standard trained, involved staff have gone 'stuff this' and left, to be replaced by yet more often dubiously qualified overseas trained staff who will work three 13 hour night shifts in a row, then do four 12 hour agency shifts elsewhere, on repeat.

I think we are clearly seeing another reason why the NHS is haemorrhaging staff.

It is interesting to note those who baled in their mid 30s due to finding it too exhausting!

Another aspect of these shifts that so suit management is the inability for everyone to be in the same place at the same time. In my area, any sense of 'team' has completely gone. I don't see some of my colleagues from one month to the next, and if we ever hold a staff meeting (these are frowned upon by management), you'll be lucky if 20% of the staff turn up. But this will be a combination of being on shift, and having no sense of investment.

Of course, the lack of any sense of bond between staff isn't objectively measurable, so the managers don't care, except when issues of under-skilling arise because all of the invested, caring, UK-standard trained, involved staff have gone 'stuff this' and left, to be replaced by yet more often dubiously qualified overseas trained staff who will work three 13 hour night shifts in a row, then do four 12 hour agency shifts elsewhere, on repeat.

Back at work tomorrow morning. I've really struggled on my days off this week as after two lots of 3x night shifts my sleep pattern is being stubborn and won't reverse back to days. My days off have been spent feeling too sleep deprived to do anything whilst at night I toss and turn until I eventually fall asleep at 5-6am.

There are no options to change shift pattern as the whole department is on the same schedule so it would completely throw everything off on the rota. Being able to do this shift pattern was part of the job requirement when I applied but I underestimated how difficult it would be.

@ThePontiacBandit I know, I was surprised by how many breaks I get. I'm really bad at taking them though but now I know they are unpaid I will make sure I take them. I work 7-7.

When you come off nights next, my suggestion would be go to bed as soon as you get in. Sleep till about 1230 set multiple alarms and really force yourself to get up. Then bed around normal time that night. Getting up around normal time the next morning.
It feels so much like you have to plan your sleep, and manage it. Hopefully you will find a way. I’m not surprised you feel tired and exhausted.