8 hour shift vs. 12 hour shift - your opinion...

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello. I am a Columbia University student nurse. Some of my classmates and I are preseting a debate as to whether the 8 or 12 hour shift is better. We are hoping to hear it from you - the experts! Please let us know which shift you prefer and why. Tell us what you think are the pros and cons of either or both the 8 and 12 hour shift. Even if you prefer one to the other, and you think there may be something to say (be it good or bad) about the shift you don't prefer, please let us know! All information will be presented at the presentation. If you don't or do want your name disclosed, please specify. Thank you so much for participating. : ) Tova, CUNS

Originally posted by TovaFlynn:

Hello. I am a Columbia University student nurse. Some of my classmates and I are preseting a debate as to whether the 8 or 12 hour shift is better. We are hoping to hear it from you - the experts! Please let us know which shift you prefer and why. Tell us what you think are the pros and cons of either or both the 8 and 12 hour shift. Even if you prefer one to the other, and you think there may be something to say (be it good or bad) about the shift you don't prefer, please let us know! All information will be presented at the presentation. If you don't or do want your name disclosed, please specify. Thank you so much for participating. : ) Tova, CUNS

12-hr was too long for me-it can be very tiring when busy which can cut down on performance and allow errors--it also takes away from home--so my sced is 10h--it fits the needs of my area (pacu) & me--we even have 9hr shifs--our contract allows us to vote on various shifts that works best for each area. vjgrnrr

When I first started at my current job, my first opportunity to work 12 hour shifts, I opted for 8 hours. I felt they would allow me to be there more frequently and in shorter bursts to learn what I needed to to practice competently and get my self up to speed.

Now that I am comfortable here, I have gone to 12 hour shifts. I prefer them for 2 reasons:

1-I am there less often and have more time off

2-I am able to provide more patient teaching than I could in 8 hours.

It is definitely a personal prefrence. I like to be busy rather than slow as that makes even 8 hours drag on forever. I feel I make fewer mistakes because I feel less rushed. I don't feel any more tired after 12 hours although some times my feet hurt a bit more.

I definitly believe the improved quality of my care is more important than my feet.

And I no longer "waste" my days off by catching up on laundry and house work. Not to forget to mention that the occasoinal 8 hour days are almost like a vacation themselves as they go by so quickly.

I have worked 3-11 evenings as a clinical assistant while going to nursing school. I enjoyed working the 8 hours in the evening, however I have been doing my preceptorship as 12 hour days. I really enjoy that. I feel like I am with the patient longer and can offer optimal care. I was offered a 12hr position and I am thankful for that.

Good Luck to all.

I work 2 12's and 2 8's each week this leaves me time to have a life besides being a nurse. I can take a 3 12's week and 4 hours of PTO(paid time off) and that is what a lot of my co-workers do as they and myself have agency positions or per-diem positions at other facitities. 8 hours go really fast, 12 hours gives you more time to get your work done. I like the variety and having 3 days to do what I want.

Deanna

I PREFER THE 12 HOUR SHIFT. I WORK ON A BUSY TELE WARD AND DOU UNIT. WORKING 5 8 HOUR SHIFTS A WEEK, IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS ALWAYS AT WORK. BEING FULL TIME AND WORKING EVERY OTHER WEEKEND, IT WOULD TAKE TWO WEEKS TO GET 2 DAYS OFF. MY COWORKERS AND I WOULD CONSTANTLY GET PHONE CALLS TO COME IN TO WORK ON OUR DAYS OFF. I WAS BURNED OUT AND READY TO CHANGE JOBS WHEN OUR SUPERVISOR OFFERED US 12 HOUR SHIFTS. WE HAPPILY TOOK THE OFFER. NOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING ALONG BETTER, HAVE SOME DAYS OFF (IN A ROW) TO REST AND GET THINGS DONE AT HOME. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WE DO COME BACK TO WORK, WE HAVE HAD SOME TIME TO GET AWAY FROM THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE HOSPITAL AND HAVE A REFRESHED OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEK

Hi Tova. I work in south Florida where 12 hour shifts are all the hospitals offer. I work in ICU/CCU and after 8 or 9 hours I am exhausted. I prefer, wholeheartedly, to work 8 hour shifts. I am 46 years old and am raising my 10 year old. To be away from him for so many hours is not fair to him. I think it is deplorable that we nurses are forced to work 12 hour shifts and I am re-thinking my career choice.

I lived in Boston my entire career and have been in Miami for only 7 months. I am finding that nursing is very different here :smackingf. I love being an ICU nurse, but this is too difficult for my family.

Lots of good luck with your research. Di

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