NICU Shifts how long?

[skysurfer]

Cheers everybody,

i am a NICU Nurse from Switzerland and i am planning to work in the USA.

In Switzerland we have 9 hour shifts, whereas in germany where i worked befor i moved to switzerland, we had shifts that lasted 7.45 hours.

I am wondering how long a NICU shift in the USA is?

I heard about shifts that would last up to 12 hours:uhoh3: .....isn´t that tough on a busy NICU? How can you stay Focussed and concentrated about such a long period of time? Isn´t that related to more incidents and errors?

Sky

[sissyboo]

I'm not a nurse--but I have done some job shadowing in NICUs. The ones I have visited use 12hr shifts for nurses. I'm not sure what their incident rates are--but..I do know they use 12s.

[hikernurse]

12 hour shifts here :)

[anniesong]

It depends on your particular hospital and/or unit. My unit offers both 12 and 8 hours shifts, or a mix of both. Our Special care unit offers only 12-hour shifts.

It is a good idea to ask during your interview what type of scheduling options each facility offers, so that you can make a choice that best fits with your life.

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

We only have 12 hour shifts in our busy level III NICU.

I prefer 12 hour shifts over 8 hour shifts, just because you only have to work 3 days, rather than 5.

We're a busy unit, but we're usually pretty well staffed. If we're in the unit, we have 2 level III babies. If we're in the intermediate nursery we usually have 3 feeder/growers. That's the norm, it obviously has to change if we're understaffed (sometimes we'll have 3 stable, less critical level III kids and maybe 4 in the intermediate nurseries ..... but that's not the norm and only happens once in a blue moon).

So I say all that just to explain that even if we're busy ..... we have 2 level III babies or 3 intermediate babies and the night flows pretty well. Each of our babies are rounded every 3, 4, or 6 hours .... and between rounds you have downtime to chart, stock your drawers, etc. 12 hours can sometimes seem like a long time, but more often than not my nights go by pretty quick and it's over before I know it.

I actually think the incidents and errors would be LESS with 12 hour shifts because you have more continuity of care. Instead of having 3 or 4 different nurses a day, the babies only have 2 nurses (day shift nurse and night shift nurse).

[medchick]

12 hour shifts at our unit.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Same here, and everywhere I've ever interviewed/worked... 12 hour shifts...7a-7p, 7p-7a. As far as I'm concerned, once I'm at work, what's an extra 4 hours if I can have 4 days off a week. I don't find myself more tired or prone to mistakes until I get HOME, and fall asleep on the couch....

[mom to a PRINCESS]

HI,

We do 8's and 12's where I work. Working 12 hours is not bad and I have no problem staying focused (sometimes it is a bit harder staying focused if I am working nights vs. days). I know in some other countries the nurse is responsible for everything, for example, there are no RT's (respiratory therapist) or pharmacists, so the nurse is responsible for mixing meds in addition to the RT's job. The ratios may also be different than here in the USA, and I could see having a problem staying focused after 8 hours if I had to do 3 people's job. Also, when we work 12 hours, we only work 3 days a week, not 5 days a week and we actually work less hours- 36/week instead of 40/week when you work 8's. Many employers will give full benefits package to those who work 36 hours per week, which is considered full time.

[nicumom]

Hi

I am in a level III and we do 8's and 12's. I work 2 8's and 2 12's (40 hrs a week) and I have to tell you I like 12's so much more. I feel like it is much easier to care for a baby for longer periods becuase you get into a "groove". Also, when you are on 12's and comming back the next day you usually get the same baby which I think is MUCH safer becuase you are familar with the history

I hope to switch to 3 12's soon