Long shifts = Higher levels of burnout

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You may experience burnout sometime in your career. Recognizing the symptoms of burnout is the key to recovering. Please share any experience, tips, or articles on how you prevent and treat burnout.

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I prefer longer shifts too. I can't imagine having to go into work 5 days vs 3! I know the shifts are longer but in all honesty the extra four hours aren't that bad.

I just switched to part time because the 12 hour shifts have been very hard on my body and mind. I work nights so I was tired of spending half my life either sleeping or feeling like a zombie. Even if I had switched to 3 days a week, I would have left before kids woke up, come home about the time they were in bed, and still missed half their lives.

A lot of nurses I know are leaving for 8 hour jobs after a year or two.

Specializes in geriatrics.

Depends which area you work and individual preference. I'm certain that if I had to work 5 x 8 hour shifts, I would be exhausted much faster.When I worked OR we did 8's and while the hours are nice, in the end, that's worse because you're always there. You work, run a few errands, eat, sleep. I'd much rather work 12s and be off for a stretch.

I wish people would just move to the shift that suits them rather than making these generalizations. For me, a 12-hour shift means 4 days off from work every week. I've been doing it for 12 years and there's no way I can imagine having to be there 5 days per week. The first day off would just be a recovery day, and the next day off would be spent dreading the upcoming days. And that's assuming the two days off would even be together! 8 hours a day of nursing is just as draining as 12!

Facilities are moving away from the 12-hr shift, and it terrifies me. I want to go to work, bust my rear and give excellent care, then have enough time to fully recover and live my life.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I wish people would just move to the shift that suits them rather than making these generalizations. For me, a 12-hour shift means 4 days off from work every week. I've been doing it for 12 years and there's no way I can imagine having to be there 5 days per week. The first day off would just be a recovery day, and the next day off would be spent dreading the upcoming days. And that's assuming the two days off would even be together! 8 hours a day of nursing is just as draining as 12!

Facilities are moving away from the 12-hr shift, and it terrifies me. I want to go to work, bust my rear and give excellent care, then have enough time to fully recover and live my life.

^AMEN!!!

I CANNOT, WON'T eeeeeveeerr work 8 hours!!!!

I will absolutely run away screaming from any hospital, facility, and agency if they told me that they switch or only staff 8 hr shifts, lol!

I HATED it when I was a tech many moons ago. I had to pick up two 8s and one or two 10s when I went to school for two years straight. I love having 4 days off. I like having a life!!!!

Less generalizations, more rooting for the shift preference! :yes:

Now back to the thread, and the cartoon...it's funny, because I love yoga...it helped me through two nursing programs, and it helps me now....if I don't do at least the breathing exercises, I feel out of balance. I have an app on my iPhone that works on breathing exercises and biofeedback, and have reminders to "check in" serves as a great reminder! :)

I'm also looking into cardio kickboxing or a rowing class to get the stress out...releasing any pent up energy is a must, as well as maintaining a center balance.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
^AMEN!!!

I CANNOT, WON'T eeeeeveeerr work 8 hours!!!!

I will absolutely run away screaming from any hospital, facility, and agency if they told me that they switch or only staff 8 hr shifts, lol!

I HATED it when I was a tech many moons ago. I had to pick up two 8s and one or two 10s when I went to school for two years straight. I love having 4 days off. I like having a life!!!!

Less generalizations, more rooting for the shift preference! :yes:

*** Right! Do away with 12 hour shifts and I will immediatly leave bedside nursing. The same is true for many of my friends and co-workers. I understand that 12's aren't for everyone. Any decent hospital should be able to give 12's to those who need them and 8's to those who prefer them. One size fits all and a refusal to be flexable for employees is a sign of a bad place to work, or a Magnet hospital.

Specializes in geriatrics.

Once in a while, I'll work an 8 hour night, but that's a picked up shift, not my regular rotation. That's nice for a change, but like others, I would leave bedside nursing if 8's were the only option.

There should be room for your preferences. Our unit was surveyed: 8 or 12's. Overwhelmingly, people voted for 12s. I figure I'm already at work, so I may as well work. While it might be nice to leave four hours earlier, you're still tired at the end and there's no time to recover.

Specializes in ED, LTC, SNF, Med/Surg.

Lot's of people seem to be fond of 12 hour shifts, I am not one, because let's call it what it really is, a 13+ hour shift, with inadequate breaks. Add a commute to this and your looking at a 14-16+ hour day in a heartbeat. Numerous studies have shown that productivity declines over time, particularly after 8 hours. For me, and my commute, a 12 hour shift, is literally an entire day. I am either sleeping, driving, or working during that 24 hour period. It can be broken up, but for those of us who work full-time (40 hours+), there's really never enough of a break in a week time to recover ESPECIALLY those of us who work night shift. I've always said, even back in the factory days, that on third shift, you need at least two days off at a time, to actually get your day off. With 12's, you just don't get that.

Lot's of people seem to be fond of 12 hour shifts, I am not one, because let's call it what it really is, a 13+ hour shift, with inadequate breaks. Add a commute to this and your looking at a 14-16+ hour day in a heartbeat. Numerous studies have shown that productivity declines over time, particularly after 8 hours. For me, and my commute, a 12 hour shift, is literally an entire day. I am either sleeping, driving, or working during that 24 hour period. It can be broken up, but for those of us who work full-time (40 hours+), there's really never enough of a break in a week time to recover ESPECIALLY those of us who work night shift. I've always said, even back in the factory days, that on third shift, you need at least two days off at a time, to actually get your day off. With 12's, you just don't get that.

Yes, a 12-hour shift requires a commitment of your whole day and the mental fortitude to remain alert and productive the whole time. I'm willing to do that, because the extra personal time and scheduling flexibility is worth it to me. For people who can't handle the extra four hours, they should absolutely seek out an 8-hour shift.

It boils down to the old "work to live, or live to work" conundrum.

Specializes in geriatrics.

Agreed. The day is long, but knowing that I can periodically have a week, sometimes two weeks off if I trade a shift or two is worth it for me.

Again, it depends on your lifestyle and preferences.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

*** Right! Do away with 12 hour shifts and I will immediatly leave bedside nursing. The same is true for many of my friends and co-workers. I understand that 12's aren't for everyone. Any decent hospital should be able to give 12's to those who need them and 8's to those who prefer them. One size fits all and a refusal to be flexable for employees is a sign of a bad place to work, or a Magnet hospital.

^LOL...unless said Magnet has a union in...different and more positive atmosphere, IMHO...

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Lot's of people seem to be fond of 12 hour shifts I am not one, because let's call it what it really is, a 13+ hour shift, with inadequate breaks. Add a commute to this and your looking at a 14-16+ hour day in a heartbeat. Numerous studies have shown that productivity declines over time, particularly after 8 hours. For me, and my commute, a 12 hour shift, is literally an entire day. I am either sleeping, driving, or working during that 24 hour period. It can be broken up, but for those of us who work full-time (40 hours+), there's really never enough of a break in a week time to recover ESPECIALLY those of us who work night shift. I've always said, even back in the factory days, that on third shift, you need at least two days off at a time, to actually get your day off. With 12's, you just don't get that.[/quote']

^Again, it depends on the person. Most people are awake for 16 hours a day, so to say "recovery" time is relative. I don't martyr myself. My shifts are NOT 13 hours, unless a pt may be getting ready for an procedure, I report off and GO. the charge nurse is there if the oncoming nurse has an issue; I answer the questions, guide as best as I can, and also put a bug in the charge nurse's ear. I have time to a lunch break, go to the bathroom at least every 4 hours, and I buddy up with nurses to make sure they are able to have the opportunity to do so...it's called time management, clustering care, and taking care of Maslow's needs. Nursing care is 24 hrs/day...some days I am more efficient than others, 90% of the time it works...the 10% I am delegating more trivial things that are not short term immediate interventions; still my teaching, resourcing, etc get done. The strategy for interventions has been mapped out as soon as I have made safety checks and assess the pt. that includes problem and risk interventions with the patient.

Those numerous studies you speak of have been examined on AN in other threads, and it did not speak of decline after 8 hours/ day; more of the OVERALL amount of hours worked; thus, working beyond 36 hours/week could be seen as the minimum amount of hours worked....AGAIN relative to the individual...

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