NHS 12.5hr shifts x 3 better than 7.5 hr crazy shifts?

[MrsKOBrien]

Hi,
I'm not a nurse but work in a department that is open 24/7.
I am struggling with the work=life balance tbh and they will not allow me to drop hours (yes, I've put in flexible working requests).
We work a mix of shifts like this:
8am-4pm
12pm-8pm
1945-0815 12.5 hr nightshifts (3 a months)
Lots of weekends now too! Usually 2 or 3 full weekends per month which is ridiculous for a working parent!

I feel like I am always at work and hate the late shifts 12-8. I get up early anyway and feel I'd be better working 8-8

Do you think working 3 x 12.5hr shifts would give me a better work-life balance (so I had 4 full days off a week)?

PS. we can do late shifts, early shifts and nights in the same week (sometimes working over 60 hrs a week if we have 3 nights and 4 x 7.5hr shifts in the same week.

Yes I do think 3 x 12.5 hours would give you more time to yourself. It saves on commuting and parking costs too. Hopefully they wouldn't expect you to do days and nights close together.

Is It the nhs. I would not work 4 day shifts and 3 nights in the same week, are you sure this is even allowed, maybe you should speak to h,r, and your union about the hours and working time directive. How much time do you get off after working over 60hrs a week. Long days do mean you are there less often but often work out 4 one week, 2 the next, not always three a week. Do they work out your shifts over a month, do you work 150 hrs a month.

Quite surprised at those shift patterns-most wards I've been on recently offer long days as standard rather than earlys/lates/nights

If they won't change your hours then switch to the bank instead-the upside of their being staff shortages is that you can kind of call the shots as they won't want to lose you

Wormery,

Yes, it's NHS and, yes, they do make us do 4 days and 3 nights in the same week sometimes (days first). Our time is given back to us after nights so we are either in bed or like a zombie (not quality time). HR are not doing anything, nor the union.

Yes, we work 150 hours a month (well, every 4 week rota).

Can't do bank work in our job

Ex-NHS here, I used to do prefer doing the long shifts for the reasons you state.
In my present job I do 3 x 12.5hr shifts a week and have 4 full days off to myself, it's the best of both worlds. Get the hours in, and have a good work/life balance and time for study as well.

The all dayers are physically and mentally draining but when I've had to do a six hour (cover - usually a 2-8 which I hate!) I feel exactly the same. Lots of our staff do 4-5 6 hour shifts due to childcare, preference etc but they only have 2 full days off, so I much prefer getting all my hours logged in the space of 3 days.

Thanks Stew! That is what I was thinking and glad I've had a reply from someone who works like this!

I think 12.5 hour shifts are more compatible with having a life outside of work. They are tiring though, especially when you get 3 in a row (having said that I worked in the bad old days where a 12 day stretch of lates and earlies wasn’t uncommon).

Time for teaching disappears with the loss of an extended handover period, but overall long shifts are better, especially if you have a commute on top.

Some people are more suited to the long 12.5hr day shifts than others. Nurses I know have raised concerns about other staff members 'pacing themselves' through the shift and basically certain tasks getting left undone.

Do you feel you could be as productive in one long day as you are over two days shifts?

Fleece,
Yes, definitely especially the day shifts. I have to get up early anyway so it annoys me that I have to hang around until 12pm to start work!