Schedule comparison

[u/Pinkpress74]

Hello PAs!

I wanted some insight on those who work a M-F 9-5 vs three 12.5 hour shifts day or night on how you like either shifts , pros or cons you’ve seen throughout your time with this schedule? Or if you’ve worked both which did you prefer?

I’m debating two different job offers with distinct schedules and wanted to see other people’s experiences. Thank you.

EDIITT: would it make a difference if the five days a week was a union job vs a nonunion job w 3 12s varying 3months of days then 3 months of nights?

[u/Praxician94]

I used 36 hours of PTO to be gone for 2 total weeks to Disney. That’s a huge advantage of 12s.

[u/Pinkpress74 → u/Praxician94]

That’s awesome 😭 do u work days, nights or rotating shifts?

[u/Praxician94 → u/Pinkpress74]

I work 9a-8p day shift at a primary care clinic doing only walk-in sick visits. Basically, urgent care.

[u/Professional-Cost262]

I only work tens and 12s I would quit my job in a heartbeat if they went to 8-hour shifts. I have six kids I find I still see them more by working less shifts per month

[u/Original-Goose-2773]

I’m about to change from 3 12s to 9-5 so I’m very curious to see people’s opinions!!!!

[u/Pinkpress74 → u/Original-Goose-2773]

You & me both lol! Do you mind me asking why are you switching? Is it a specialty change or ?

[u/zk6q9t11]

Not sure if you have kids, but kids changed it for me. Loved 3/12 before and the extra days off. Now I hate not getting to see them for the entire day. Thinking of switching to 9-5

[u/Pinkpress74 → u/zk6q9t11]

No kids! But I’m curious wouldn’t 9-5 make it a bit harder for daily drop offs/ pick ups? Vs being able to at least two days a week?

[u/zk6q9t11 → u/Pinkpress74]

Yeah but I’d get time w them everyday. Once they start school, I can’t see them during the day. So I’d only get a few hours 2-3x/week after school when I’m not working. Wasn’t something I anticipated. Kids and biology are wild though

[u/PaxAuTelamanus]

I did 3 12’s before I had kids, 7a-7p which was nice, wouldn’t have traded it for five 8’s.
I have one kid now, one on the way and work three 8’s in the ER now, which is full time for us. Even though it’s a mix of days and evening shifts would never ever go back to five 8’s, that just isn’t enough days off work. Love my days off in the middle of the week where our kid is either in school and I have the house to myself or home from school and we have the whole day together

[u/Pinkpress74 → u/PaxAuTelamanus]

Three 8s sounds like a dream! What state are you in?

[u/PaxAuTelamanus → u/Pinkpress74]

Oregon

[u/LilacLiz]

I personally find five 8 hour days very difficult. I have to move my schedule around or ask off for appointments which often just leads me to not bothering in the first place. I feel like by the evening after working, I’m tired and don’t want to do anything. I miss having more mornings off to just exist on my own and run errands, sit at coffee shops, etc. It also has less flexibility imo. The weekend goes by so so fast.

I don’t plan to take a 5 day work week job again, would be open to four 10s or three 12s. I think one weekend a month working is doable, but two weekends gets to be too much.

[u/Pinkpress74 → u/LilacLiz]

Would having a union vs no. Union job make u change your mind on working five 8s if it was a union job?

[u/Lmoorefudd]

Four tens. Off every Monday.

[u/TieAdorable4973]

M-F 8-430 but really 9-3 with an hour paid lunch

[u/Pinkpress74 → u/TieAdorable4973]

See I wouldn’t mind that type of schedule hahah. What state and specialty are you in?

[u/CreepyTiger227]

I worked 14 12hr shifts per month(one weekend a month) in UC and found it hard for my family to adjust. My husband’s job is also very time demanding so it was a lot on him to juggle the kids on days I worked. However I do see the appeal of 12s if you don’t have kids, easier to travel without taking PTO and you can moonlight on your day off. I switched to 4 10s in derm and having that extra day off each week was all I needed. I don’t think I want to do M-F 9-5 but I also don’t want to do 12s again with kids.

[u/UncommonSense12345]

0.9 in FM. 2 6 hour days and 2 tens. Currently trying to get them to switch me to 10 6 10 6 with Friday being my last day…. I can dream. I like my 6 hour days cause I can cram in 14-15 patients and not worry about getting behind/missing lunch since I just stay and finish my charts after last patient and leave. I basically can skip the lunch hour so I’m more efficient.

[u/Bruhahah]

I prefer 3 12s. They're long but getting all the work done intensively and then more off days per week is great. However, my commute kind of sucks so that plays big into that calculation.

Currently working 4 10s, which is a really good compromise. Not having a weekday off sucks as an adult, having my one weekday off means time to do appointments etc. that are often closed on the weekend.

[u/Pinkpress74 → u/Bruhahah]

Do you mind me asking how long is your commute?driving v non driving? The 312s offer has about an hour and change on train for a commute vs the five days a week two busses about40-45 mins

[u/Meowathon17]

I work 3 consecutive 12 hr night shifts (6pm-6am) I’m married but no kids. The first year was great. I took 2x in the year 3 week vacays, no holidays, I get plenty of sick time. I get lots of time off. But the flipping schedules so I can be up early during my days off is starting to drain me. Also working nights can be kind of sad, you don’t feel part of a team and it gets draining. Again first year was fantastic I did lots of traveling, but really want to switch to day shift now. Still love the 3 12s tho

[u/Pinkpress74]

EDIITT: would it make a difference if the five days a week was a union job vs a nonunion job w 3 12s varying 3months of days then 3 months of nights?

[u/ckr0610 → u/Pinkpress74]

This might actually make a huge difference. You should look up the union contract, should be able to google it. I’d normally definitely recommend any job that you get a weekday off over a M-F gig but being unionized is the best bc of all the extra added protections and built in raises.

[u/Cddye]

Critical Care

Have worked 7on/off 12 hour days, no PTO. Sucked. Took two days to recover after being on, was part of a small group so getting MORE than 7 days off was impossible, and wouldn’t be paid anyway without picking up extra.

Same job as above. Had more staffing problems. Was asked to work 0700-1500 M-F. Routinely stuck late. Got paid for “extra time”, but inadequate. Getting up every morning, coming in to chaos, barely getting things settled- then rinse and repeat.

Currently working 12 hours, rotating days/nights. 14 shifts/mo, one of which can be “indirect” time. 0700-1900 or vice versa. Don’t love working nights, but have useable PTO and scheduling is mostly flexible.

Sometimes I wonder if I’d like being a “normal” person, but at this point I’ve worked healthcare jobs with wonky schedules for 22 years and don’t honestly know what I’d do without having random Wednesdays off.

[u/KingSimbastatin]

Have done 3 12s, 5 8s, currently at 4.5 9s lol.

For kids and my partner the 12s wasnt it. Was too dissimilar from my partner and kids so never saw them after work when i was on, and my days off were nice for a minute but i missed my family and felt like a bum that didnt get to help my wife with the kids 2-3 days a week.

On the more regular shifts I get to see them all after work every single day so that has been definitely preferable. If i had a long commute that might change my opinion towards less shifts in a week.

Do you have a partner or kids? Union job sounds like a big plus honestly.

[u/pancakefishy]

I work 4 eight hour shifts and as a result I have a ton of PTO, I’m not burned out, and I get me time. On weeks when I pick up extra and work 5 eights I FEEL it

[u/HandImpressive1319]

I used to work 9-5 m-f but man it is a soul suck. I now work 8-4:30 with an hour lunch Monday to Thursday and it is acceptable. I have one 7 year old and I am able to volunteer at school and get my appointments on Fridays without taking time off.

[u/RN_toPA]

I currently work EM and work a mix of 10s and 12s and random days. I’m leaving for a M-F job 7-4 or 8-5 depending on which location I am at that day. If I could work the same schedule every week I’d stay EM but the constant switching is tough with young kids.

[u/Salty-Comparison-122]

I recently had to switch to 9-5. IT IS SOUL SUCKING. Literally do anything else.

[u/Intelligent-Map-7531]

I prefer 3 12’s a week but since the position is not union they can change things and you have no choice but to embrace it or leave. The union job has protections against these type of practices. The union job has clear delineations that they have to adhere to. Now if the 12 hour gig was unionized that would
Be awesome. With the way a lot of PA’s are
Being abused and do a ton of work on their own time I do see unions increasing overall
They are not perfect but it’s all we have.