2 x 6 hour or 1 x 12 hour clinical shifts

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 7, 2014

During my time in school, we usually did two 6 hour clinical shifts every week. One semester we had to switch briefly to doing one 12 hour clinical shift per week for a couple of rotations because we were going through a program change and that was the only way to make it all work. I actually enjoyed the glimpse of the clinical day as we got to both get and give report. However, it's a long day and you may not see as many patients per week as you might with doing two 6 hour clinical shifts.

There are pros and cons for each and as long as you maximize your experiences, both can be very good.

dorkypanda · Oct 7, 2014

I read somewhere that some preferred doing the one 12 hour shift versus the two 6 hour shifts. Think about if you'd rather prefer to get it all done in one day or not.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 7, 2014

I would suggest the 12 hour if you are going to work in a hospital setting so you can get the full effect. We did six hours for group clinical and 12 hour capstone. I liked learning the process from beginning of shift to end.

mrsboots87 · Oct 7, 2014

We did 8 hour shift in block one, and now in block two we do 12s. I like the 12s better from a learning and homework standpoint. First, we have to do care plans that start at 12 pages and end up about 20 or more once completed. Doing this twice a week would be terrible (albeit educational) due to how much time they take to complete. Plus, we will be moving to two patients after next clinical shift, so that would be 4 care plans a week if our shifts were split. Ugh.

As for learning and time, 13s are better too. You have pre and post clinical. Twice a week, that would eat into both 6 hour days. And lunches as well. Plus, in my hospital, the morning time had a lot of meds and few skill because the nurses have to get report, plan their day, do assessments and meds. And that takes up time. I have noticed more skill done in the afternoon(at my facility anyway, may not be like this at all of them). So having 2 six hour shift would either cut into the meds and report or the skills.

All around, id go with the 12's. Also, as a last consideration, think about tests. By having one clinical and one care plan (maybe two) you have more time for studying.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 7, 2014

I would suggest the 12 hour if you are going to work in a hospital setting so you can get the full effect. We did six hours for group clinical and 12 hour capstone. I liked learning the process from beginning of shift to end.

Aside from one rotation in one semester, we did 6 hour shifts. Once our regular clinical time was done, we progressed to a preceptorship and during that we worked whatever shifts our preceptors worked. Some did 8's and some did 12's, some did days, others did nights. Regardless, it was a full shift so we got the full effect at that point. Personally, I'm glad I was used to being on my feet all day.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Oct 8, 2014

We did 8 hour shift in block one, and now in block two we do 12s. I like the 12s better from a learning and homework standpoint. First, we have to do care plans that start at 12 pages and end up about 20 or more once completed. Doing this twice a week would be terrible (albeit educational) due to how much time they take to complete. Plus, we will be moving to two patients after next clinical shift, so that would be 4 care plans a week if our shifts were split. Ugh.
As for learning and time, 13s are better too. You have pre and post clinical. Twice a week, that would eat into both 6 hour days. And lunches as well. Plus, in my hospital, the morning time had a lot of meds and few skill because the nurses have to get report, plan their day, do assessments and meds. And that takes up time. I have noticed more skill done in the afternoon(at my facility anyway, may not be like this at all of them). So having 2 six hour shift would either cut into the meds and report or the skills.
All around, id go with the 12's. Also, as a last consideration, think about tests. By having one clinical and one care plan (maybe two) you have more time for studying.

This is kinda what I was thinking. Thanks!