Scheduling: 7on/7off, extended hrs, 9-5, weekends

[coKinetic]

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I'm in my last year of pharmacy school and just wanted to find out some of the different opinions about schedules. I've worked mainly in retail/hospital anywhere from 8 am to 10 PM, weekdays, weekends. I know of several positions that involve 7 on/off, but I haven't been able to talk to many pharmacists about their feelings on the schedules.

So...what do you think? Love your schedule? Hate it? Why?



Thanks in advance from a pharmacy student trying to figure out what to do.

 

[sdn1977]

I'm not sure how often you'll get a choice of schedules...you'll get what's offered since you'll be the new guy.

But, I've worked many, many schedules over the years. I don't really have a favorite, but I know I'd hate 7 on & 7 off. That's just too much of each - time on & time off. I think you'd find that mostly in hospital work...they, at least in my state, get exemptions sometimes from the ot rule - the greater than 40hr = OT which is costly for the hospital.

However, I'd just get burned out. Yeah...you get to see the pts all the way thru to rehab, usually, unless really sick. But...its hard, particularly with a family Altho...I think medical personnel & families have a hard time anyway - we're often called back or work long hours. We have to have understanding spouses & our children know that sometimes we can be there & sometimes we can't.

I like working 10 hrs, but I don't like 12 hrs - I get burned out & can't keep my focus. I make more mistakes in those last 2 hours than I do all week long.

I spent about 5 years working M-F...it was ok, but I actually liked getting back to weekends since I had activities when my kids were young I wanted to be involved in. So....I've never minded working every other weekend - it gives my SO some time to himself & the work is quieter.

Good luck - try out lots if you have the opportunity.

 

[coKinetic]

Thanks for the great response.

I'm definitely a night person and really like to travel, so the 7 on/off thing is really appealing to me. It also seems like nobody wants that schedule, and it might give me a good mix of distribution/clinical experience.

Good luck - try out lots if you have the opportunity.

Good idea!

 

[pharmboy30]

I currently work 7-on 7 off overnights in a hosptial pharmacy - have for about 8 months. I liked it at first, but now I am starting to hate it.
It is very hard (for me at least) to make the switch from trying to have a normal life during my week on (ie girlfriend, sleeping at night) to working and trying to sleep during the day.

Lately I have had problems sleeping, let me tell you it makes the nights DRAG and I am grumpy and lose my patience very easily. it's slowly transforming me into a jerk.
I don't really get a break, since I have to be here in case something happens.

The 7 days off sound good, but it doesn't feel like 7 days. The morning I get off, I have to make the choice if I want to sleep or try and stay up to sleep at night. Usually I am falling asleep by 6pm if I try to stay up, and end up waking up around 2-3 am. Sleeping for a couple hours makes me feel like ****. If I sleep like usual, I am up all night.

The things I like - I like always knowing what is going on, knowing what needs to be done, etc. I have a REALLY good tech, so it makes my job easier. Playing whatever music I want. Some nights are slower than others, so I try and practice guitar or read if I am not too tired.
Get paid more.

what i don't like - sleep adjustment. getting really burned out, especially if you don't get enough rest on your week off - went to Las Vegas last week and had a good time. feel out of the loop with other people, information, new policies. I like it when I am busy and thinking, but when it is slow, the nights seem VERY long. don't really get a break at all. 😴

It pisses me off when people who have NEVER worked the shift are like "but you get a week off". I tell them work this shift for a couple months and get back to me. haha

I agree with the above poster - its hard to have a life, and you get really burned out.
there are times when my mind gets sooo tired of being in front of the computer, I can feel my body falling asleep. Very easy to make mistakes.
I am trying to get back on to second shift.

 

[ZpackSux]

I currently work 7-on 7 off overnights in a hosptial pharmacy - have for about 8 months. I liked it at first, but now I am starting to hate it.
It is very hard (for me at least) to make the switch from trying to have a normal life during my week on (ie girlfriend, sleeping at night) to working and trying to sleep during the day.

Lately I have had problems sleeping, let me tell you it makes the nights DRAG and I am grumpy and lose my patience very easily. it's slowly transforming me into a jerk.
I don't really get a break, since I have to be here in case something happens.

The 7 days off sound good, but it doesn't feel like 7 days. The morning I get off, I have to make the choice if I want to sleep or try and stay up to sleep at night. Usually I am falling asleep by 6pm if I try to stay up, and end up waking up around 2-3 am. Sleeping for a couple hours makes me feel like ****. If I sleep like usual, I am up all night.

The things I like - I like always knowing what is going on, knowing what needs to be done, etc. I have a REALLY good tech, so it makes my job easier. Playing whatever music I want. Some nights are slower than others, so I try and practice guitar or read if I am not too tired.
Get paid more.

what i don't like - sleep adjustment. getting really burned out, especially if you don't get enough rest on your week off - went to Las Vegas last week and had a good time. feel out of the loop with other people, information, new policies. I like it when I am busy and thinking, but when it is slow, the nights seem VERY long. don't really get a break at all. 😴

It pisses me off when people who have NEVER worked the shift are like "but you get a week off". I tell them work this shift for a couple months and get back to me. haha

I agree with the above poster - its hard to have a life, and you get really burned out.
there are times when my mind gets sooo tired of being in front of the computer, I can feel my body falling asleep. Very easy to make mistakes.
I am trying to get back on to second shift.

Dood,

As a pharmacist who employ 2 graveyard pharmacists, I salute you and grateful you do what you do! Keep going sir!👍

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Dood,

As a pharmacist who employ 2 graveyard pharmacists, I salute you and grateful you do what you do! Keep going sir!👍

...cause that means he doesn't have to do it.....

 

[pharmboy30]

haha

like i said, sometimes I like it, sometimes I hate it.

I think some of the frustration is with our management, or lack thereof.
I have asked 10 times for them to purchase the geriatric certification materials and they never do (I guess I will have to buy it on my own.)

I applied last night for a cancer center position at another hospital.
I am hoping its clinical and not dispensing at an outpatient clinic.
I have always been interested in oncology. 😳

 

[ZpackSux]

haha

like i said, sometimes I like it, sometimes I hate it.

I think some of the frustration is with our management, or lack thereof.
I have asked 10 times for them to purchase the geriatric certification materials and they never do (I guess I will have to buy it on my own.)

I applied last night for a cancer center position at another hospital.
I am hoping its clinical and not dispensing at an outpatient clinic.
I have always been interested in oncology. 😳

Good Luck!👍

You're gonna break your Director's heart!😎