Sorry if this topic has been brought up before. I just want to get some fresh opinions on how nurses feel about the length of their shift, and how it affects pt care, and family life.
Twelve hrs seems like such a long shift, especially for the fast paced (to put it nicely) type of work that is required of nurses. But it seems that almost no hospital offers 8 hr shifts anymore. It seemes to me that especially if you had to work a few shifts in a row, you'd be pretty burned out by the last day. I have been wondering how I'm going to cope with a 12 hr shift when I get out of school and have to perform nursing duties. Is a 12 hour shift better from a nursing standpoint because of the extra time to get assessments and charting done? Or do you really get "extra" time in that 12 hrs?
Now that I have a toddler, I'm also wondering how I'm going to arrange for daycare since my husband also works 12 hour shifts and has to commute almost an hour to work, so he can't help with picking up our son from daycare, or dropping him off. The only daycare around here that has extended hours is the hospital daycare which right now has a 2 year wait list. (Can't get on the list until you're actually an employee) What do nurses do for child care?
Which do you feel is better, 8 or 12 hour shifts? Do you feel that 12 hour shifts might compromise pt care due to fatigue, or does the shift just fly by?
I remember what it was like working 12 hr night shifts as a CNA, and I am trying to imagine what it will be like as a nurse. I get exhausted just thinking about it!
