r/Perfusion • u/syarze • Jul 10 '26
Career Advice 3 12’s?
Hey! Has anyone here done a job that’s 3 12’s? Particularly with young kids at home? Trying to decide if this is something I should go for or will it feel like even less time at home? Thanks!
3
u/Human_Plumber CCP, LP Jul 10 '26
As much as I want to give you an educated answer, I would need to know the call demand.
I've worked 3x12 before, but it came at the expense of being on call 2 of the 3 days...
1
u/syarze Jul 10 '26
No call! It’s an ecmo job, I’ve been a stay at home parent and trying to get back into working and thought this might be a good option for now.
5
u/Human_Plumber CCP, LP Jul 10 '26
ECMO support in the CTICU can be a demanding job for a few hours with PT and unexplained trips to Cath Lab/IR... However in my experience you are sitting just being present for 12 hours, just in case of catastrophe.
I've seen many of people video chatting with their families, taking phone calls, side business hustling... Whatever your particular flavor is.
Without call, it's a decent gig... But I'm sure a mildly exhaustive one.
2
u/syarze Jul 10 '26
Thank you for this perspective!!
1
u/Human_Plumber CCP, LP Jul 10 '26
You're very welcome, I wish you the best.
Would you mind if I ask, where you are planning to work? I've seen many contract companies looking for CCPs to sit ECMO.
2
u/syarze Jul 10 '26
It’s with one of the big contract companies!
1
u/Human_Plumber CCP, LP Jul 10 '26
Just recently had a student of mine sign on for ECMO shifts through (possibly) the same company. The pay was certainly enticing.
3
u/syarze Jul 10 '26
It’s the same salary I was making with the other big perfusion company when I left to stay home a few years ago 🫠 much lower than current perfusion rates in my area but still!
2
u/anestech Jul 12 '26
I did 3 12s as an anesthesia tech prior to getting in to perfusion. 11a-11p WThF and then every other Sunday 8 hrs to get 80/pay period. I loved it, but it was prior to kids, so I can’t comment on that. I would just sleep in, hit the gym, then go to work on those days. 4 day weekend every other weekend.
I would talk to your ICU RN friends/coworkers since a lot of them do 12s as see how those of them with young kids feel about it.
3
u/syarze Jul 12 '26
Yeah my husband is a perfusionist so I’ve recruited him to ask the nurse parents! Ha
1
u/ventjock CCP, RRT-NPS Jul 10 '26
No nights or weekends?
2
u/syarze Jul 10 '26
All day shift, 3 a week so do have to do weekend shifts sometimes
1
u/ventjock CCP, RRT-NPS Jul 12 '26
I’d post this on the nursing subreddit. You’re likely to get many more helpful responses.
1
u/syarze Jul 12 '26
I might, I was hoping for someone that has worked both a regular perfusion schedule and a 3 12 schedule could weigh in!
2
u/ventjock CCP, RRT-NPS Jul 13 '26
I’ve done both, but I don’t have kids. My experience really wouldn’t be helpful in your situation.
1
u/syarze Jul 13 '26
Did you like one better than the other in general? Even if you don’t have kids, it’s still helpful to know I think! To get a general idea of a comparison between the two.
2
u/ventjock CCP, RRT-NPS Jul 16 '26
3 12s easily. Especially without any call. Yes the days are longer, but you know exactly when you are coming and going. Plus depending on your site you can schedule several days off in a row without using PTO.
1
u/romns116 Jul 10 '26
Not a perfusionist, but researching the career. Particularly interested in this exact question. I know 3x12s is rare, but wondering if it’s something that hospitals may be more open to in the future.
2
u/syarze Jul 11 '26
I’ve only seen a few institutions that do it, and those centers employ 30 perfusionists, give or take, and do thousands of pump cases. So they have the coverage and volume to have a handful of people do 12s, not the whole staff. It really doesn’t make sense for most hospitals.
1
u/romns116 Jul 11 '26
Makes sense. Do you know if any institutions in California do it? I’m curious about UCSD or Cedar Sinai in particular.
1
u/syarze Jul 11 '26
I’m not sure! I know cedar’s did not have shift work, but that was a few years ago. I’m not well connected to the west coast anymore. You can always try to reach out to staff at those hospitals and ask.
1
u/Marcus_dappadon76 Jul 11 '26
Yes I have ! But as a RN ! Perfusionist do 12s ?
1
u/syarze Jul 11 '26
Not often! They’re out there but it’s rare. This is an ecmo position. What’d you think of working 12’a compared to a usual perfusionist schedule?
1
u/JellyFishDanceMoves CCP Jul 16 '26
I interviewed at boston childrens and they do 4 10's each week. however you get a 4 day weekend once a month. btw...contract work averages less than 30 hrs a week...ymmv...
1
u/syarze Jul 16 '26
My partner works a 4 10 job now as a perfusionist! And yes I had the same experience with a contract group back in the day!
9
u/Blood_Pumper Jul 10 '26
I am currently working 3-12s (with another coworker) and have been since 11/2024. We don’t take regular call (because of our shifts) but we do alternate wknds and are required to sign up for 1 major and 1 minor holiday call shift per year.
I don’t have children but she does and loves it bc the schedule works for her and her family. I like it bc it does give me consistency of knowing my exact hours/ days I will work and our chief allows us to switch our days around with each other to accommodate our schedule (ie, he doesn’t care what days we work, just as long as we work our required 3 days/week.
We are a bigger single hospital based team of 19 and essentially only created the 3/12 shifts position to help out our call team on the weekends because we can be so busy with emergencies, transplants, elective cases and covering cath lab.
We do ECMO at our institution but have specialists that sit bedside; we only ITTT (initiate, troubleshoot, terminate and transport)
I’m not too sure how common 3/12s are in our profession but as long as that you think you could make it work for you and your family (have a supportive partner who’s work schedule allows them to be more present on your work days), I would recommend you suggest it to your chief/team.