8 hr shifts vs. 12 hr shift

I have done a few 12 hour shifts precepting and I would rather do 3/12 then 5/8 at any given time. Sure your tired at the end of the day, but it is only 3 days. Then you have 4 days to recover. I am graduating in May and look forward to the 12 hour shifts.

I prefer 12 hour shifts but the day shift 12's can be very tiring.My employer has a better chance in seeing overtime from me if I only have to be there a few days a week rather than 5 days a week.Which helps them and me with the nursing shortage and my paycheck,lol.I am currently about to go back to 8's though ,so we will see how it works ,looking forward to being off every other weekend

Love them, it's one of the reasons I got into nursing. Working 3 days a week, having 4 off, 24 hr scheduling, days nights, different days all the time. Love it, the first 8 hrs goes by really fast, I don't think I'd have time to get everything done.

In fact, I wish we had an option for 2 16 hr shifts, I'd be even happier doing that, then I'd have 5 days off.

My ultimate goal is to work 2 12 hr shifts a week, I've done it before and I feel like I'm hardly ever there. I mean, five days off! If you work 3 12's and schedule them together, you can have 8 consecutive days off! And if you only work 2 12's, you can have ten days off in a row! Without taking ANY vacation time! And during that time you can take family vacation times, work per diem elsewhere if you get bored, pick up an extra shift, go out of town to a seminar or taking continuing education (which work also pays for). What could be better than that???

I always hated the traditional 9-5 Monday - Friday thing, did it for years and it's just a endless treadmill, each week just like the next, in a rush to get everything done on the weekend you didn't get done during the week, commuting when everyone else is going to work too, off work when everyone else is off work, driving home when everyone else is coming home, traffic, rushing through dinner, see the kids, husband, TV, bed, get up and do it all over again. Not for me! But I understand why some other people might like it.

I work 3- 12's in a row now( thur, fri, sat nights 7p-7a).
I have worked an 8 and 2-12's for 5 years (always in a row) and 2 months ago my hosp went to all 12's. I really do luv the 4 days off, and the shift diff. This works for me 'cause I'm divorced and my kids go to their dad's every w/e. My kids hardly know I work. I am home all week with them for school, field trips, homework, dinner at home at the dinner table every day! Also, since my kids aren't home all w/e all I HAVE to do is eat & sleep.
My routine is:
on Thurs a.m. i go right back to sleep after the kids get on the bus at 7am. I can sleep 'til noon or even 2pm...enough to get thru the 1st night!
At the end of "my work week" on sunday i sleep 8am 'til noon so i can get enough sleep to make it thru a laid back 1st day off...usually just do some laundry or food shop.
Because the recent change to all 12's I have been so much more tired come sunday. I have just decided put in to take 1 saturday night off per month to have w/e time with my hubby or a girls night out.

I prefer 12hr shifts to 8hr's. Just for me, I feel too rushed when I do work an eight. I work days so I'm wondering if that makes a difference too. Plus, 12hr shifts mean more days off during the week. More time for workin' on my dance moves !

I hate 12 hour shifts. I never had more than 2 days off in a roww and one of them was spent physically recuperating.

I am not doing part-time 8 hour shifts and i love it. I have more energy and I feel like I am getting more work done. The only thing I do not like is that if I ever do it full-time I do not want to work 5 days a week.

I hate 12's . I am over 50 and we just started doing 12s on our weekends. The only good thing is we have to work a weekend only every 4th. I usually work 3-11 and love that shift. if we had to do 12 it is a lot easier for our PM crew to do 3-3 but the day shift nixed that. Having to go backand work a 12 ( 7p-7a )after trying to sleep during the day when you aren't used to it just kills me. That second 12 just can't get over soon enough.

I hate 12's . I am over 50 and we just started doing 12s on our weekends. The only good thing is we have to work a weekend only every 4th. I usually work 3-11 and love that shift. if we had to do 12 it is a lot easier for our PM crew to do 3-3 but the day shift nixed that. Having to go backand work a 12 ( 7p-7a )after trying to sleep during the day when you aren't used to it just kills me. That second 12 just can't get over soon enough.

I love the 12-hour shifts...they can be LONG while you're there, but I figure I'm already there 8 hours, so why not stay a few more and get the extra days off? Plus, as one person said, I always felt rushed in 8-hour shifts...having the 12 hours to complete my shift gives me a little more time to do more stuff. I work 2 days, off 2 days...so on and so forth...and on my weekends off, I have 4 days off...I love it!

I Like 12's as well, but I will be damned if I will work over 8 hours for straight time. I work 12 only when I FEEL LIKE IT. And I get time and a half to do it.