[2bTraumaRN2008]

What are your hours per week, 36 or 40? How many nurses do you have on your unit and how many beds do you have?

We have 30 nurses with 40 beds and are told we have to work 40 hours b/c of coverage issues. We also utilize float pool and agency nurses if needed. We want to work 36 hours (3-12's) but mgmt. doesn't seem to think it's feasible. We are also hiring.

I seem to think nurses don't stay b/c of the hours, most want 3-12's, but who knows. Some actually said they are leaving for that reason, and I'm sure more will follow. They dont seem to stay very long on our floor and it's not b/c of the people/staff. It's a great floor to work on but the hours SUCK!!

Any ideas or feedback on how to get mgmt to look into a 36 hour work week would be great.

[TX_ICU_RN]

What length are the shifts you work? I know some hospitals do 3 12 hour shifts one week and then 4 the next. Some hospitals do 5 8's a week and some do 3 12's one week and then 3 12's and 1 8 the next week.

I would start by trying to get the topic on the agenda for the next unit meeting. When management really sits down and takes a look at how much agency/travelers are costing them, they usually realize how much more beneficial it is to keep their regular staff happy. Also, I would find out if this is the norm in your area or if your hospital does it differently than others in your area. If others are doing 36 hour weeks, it might be easier to facilitate change.

[RealNurseWitch]

We do 12's and I do strongly prefer it that way. If I were a M-F day shifter, I probably would not mind 8's, but otherwise....

The last place I worked, everyone did 8's and it did suck. No one was allowed to work 12's, also due to coverage issues/staffing issues/people calling in too much issues. It's one of the reasons why I finally left there.

The place where I worked before THAT... some people did 8's, some people did 12's, all on the same unit even. It was nice, but made shift changes rather chaotic/confusing for the 12 hour shifters.

[Suesquatch]

37.5

I worked a nursing home that had 12's and 8's but most places seem to prefer 8's. Frankly, I didn't feel that I was giving my best when I did 12's. I was shot the last few hours.

[bagladyrn]

If your unit uses travelers you may want to point out that it is generally easier to find travelers if you offer 12's. Most travel nurses don't want 8's as it leaves no time to see a new area. I've turned down contracts in places I really wanted to go - including Hawaii - because it required 8 hour shifts.

[Aimee03]

I work 5- 8 hour shifts. (more like 50 hour weeks) I work at a doctor's office though. I have worked 3- 12's, but I personally HATED it. I love being home at night. I also love not working weekends or holidays.

[ranaazha]

I love our coverage when the acuity is evenly distributed.

There are 4 med/surg units, each with 36 beds (split into 3 pods: A, B, and C). The RNatient ratio is 1:6 & CNAt is 1:12, so there are 2 RNs (or, sometimes, 1 LPN) and 1 CNA per pod (on days; on nights, there 1 is CNA for all 3 pods). We work 3-12's, so that's 36 hrs/wk.

I think there's actually a ban on OT right now, but I don't want to work any (doing HH per diem), so I'm not too worried about it anyway. If we stay late to chart or whatever (such as education hours), though, we get those hours counted too.

[kizzykatlove]

work 36 get paid for 40... baylor program... love it

[traumahawk99]

i much prefer to work 72 hours a week and then at the end of a contract, take a few weeks off. you make a lot more that way, and you've got *weeks* off. 36 to 40 hours a week all year would be no money and too much work.

[cc_nurse]

We work 3 weeks of 3 12-hr shifts with the 4th week being 48. I personally don't know if I could work full time if I had to work straight 8's...