What's up with the 8 hour shifts and 32 hours/wk?

[SunDazed]

I have been watching the job market in northern California for the last couple of years. I am finally free to apply for jobs and to plan for my relocation. I have acute care experience in med/surg, so no new grad woes.

I am happy to see that there are more than just per diem positions available, but what is the thinking with all the part time jobs? It looks like there are more 8 hour x 4 shifts a week than I recall seeing before the economy tanked. Are more hospitals moving back to 8 hour shifts? Is it to avoid overtime? Are nurses actually picking up a 5th shift every other week or so anyway?

What I fear with 8 hour shifts is being asked to stay over and ending up working 16 hours. In an emergency it's one thing, to have it asked of staff regularly defeats the whole idea of 8 hours is safer than 12.

[AloeBlox]

32 hrs has been common... down here in socal some community hospitals have those 8hr shifts....

[sd-ace]

The hospital I work for is trying to phase out the 8 hr employee. Very few are left over from an older union contract. Most shifts are 12 hrs. I have to say that 8 hour shifts in my opinion are less safe for the patient when you are combining these shifts with 12 hours. Under my contract any work past 12 hours a day is considered overtime as most hospitals in so. cal operate this way. The work week is then 36 hours total with 3 shifts.