LVN/LPN staffing costs 8hr vs 12 hr

[lorazepam]

Hello!

I work in an Inpatient Hospice facility that currently employs LVNs(2) who work 12 hour shifts (one works days, the other works nights). Our administrators have expressed that it's "less expensive" to staff 2 CNAs than to staff an LVN and CNA when the census increases. Unfortunately, it becomes difficult to manage the census when admissions, deaths, or symptom management occurs with only one license. PLUS! There is the concern that the full time LVN staff are not getting their hours. I'm trying to present different options to our administrators on how to support the census and staff. So my question is, is it more cost effective to employ 8hr shifts or 12 hr shifts for LVNs?

[BerryHappy]

Well, 12 hour shifts = 36 pay hours per week and 8 hour shifts = 40 hours of pay. Both are considered full time. So the two 12 hour nurses "save" the company 16 hours of pay between them. That's all I could think of!

[lorazepam]

I would think 12 hour is more expensive because of over time and the evening shift differential....

Anyone else's ideas?