Should Exchanges in Shifts be Limited?

In the early years of our nursing career, we have been trained to adapt to different schedules to suit our mainstream academic schedules to our hospital exposure as part of the curriculum. It is a standard to follow the 8 hours shifting schedules; morning (7-3), afternoon (3-11) or graveyard (11-7). Today, becoming a professional nurse, it still practiced to have a rotating schedules to ensure that services are offered 24/7 and to see to it that nurses are in tip-top condition to work as its life that we are dealing with.

As practiced in our institution, nurses are bound on a fixed number of duty days especially for contractual wherein they will work for 22 days in a month or 176 hours in other words, a total of 8 days Off per month. However, the number of working days can be lessened and the number of day off can be increased provided that you will work in a particular day for 16 hous when another party agrees to defer his work for that day and he will also agree to work in 16hours on the following selected dates. This scenario is called “Exchange in Duties”. 

The main reasons for shift exchanges are personal matters, attending an affair, not feeling well or to extend holiday or off days. For example, my Off days is 3 days but I felt its not enough so I look for a subsitute who can work for me in behalf the following day. 

However, many supervisors and seniors impose to limit the number of shift exchanges. They argue that its unfavorable because a 16 hours of duty can be so tiresome and in long run might affect the general health. Yes, it can be very tiring sometimes especially when that day will be jumpacked with volume of patients. In addition, some say that having off days more than 3 is a violation of Civil Service rules and regulations thats why limitations of exchanges should be strictly implemented.

Others, on the contrary ,think otherwise, they believe that shift exchanges should not be limited because aside from working there are other important activities that must be fulfilled. For example, a vacation with the family, attending an important family affairs or other social activities that the persons presence is required.  They argue that there’s more to life than work. Eventhough work is very important to sustain daily provisions in life one must also enjoy life to its fullest; to relax, to recoup and take a breather from work. In fact, work can become a stressor sometimes. 

Overall, on a more personal note, I believe that exchange in shift should not be limited. One must not be deprived of the things that means value to him in life not just work but spending quality times with peers outside working environment. So much to say, I am just a mere employee, still I have to follow the rules set upon.