Are 12 hour shifts safe?

Nurses Safety

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It has been my experience that most of my medical errors have occurred towards the end of shift, when I am most fatigued, and this is with an 8 hr shift. I work with nurses that like to do doubles, and many times one has to help them because they are to tired, or one feels like one should help them. 12 hours shifts do not make sense to me from a health and safety point of view. As nurses we should realize our bodies need rest. We are health role models for other workers, so what kind of example are we giving them. I wonder if a study has been done comparing med errors by nurses that work 12 hr shifts versus 8 hr shift nurses. My guess is that is higher. So my question is..are 12 hour shifts good for your health, and the well being of your patients?

It has been my experience that most of my medical errors have occurred towards the end of shift, when I am most fatigued, and this is with an 8 hr shift. I work with nurses that like to do doubles, and many times one has to help them because they are to tired, or one feels like one should help them. 12 hours shifts do not make sense to me from a health and safety point of view. As nurses we should realize our bodies need rest. We are health role models for other workers, so what kind of example are we giving them. I wonder if a study has been done comparing med errors by nurses that work 12 hr shifts versus 8 hr shift nurses. My guess is that is higher. So my question is..are 12 hour shifts good for your health, and the well being of your patients?

i think that is determined by each individual- i do T think it is safe or healthy when it is the BOSS deciding it ( ie forced OT) - i used to work 12's and enjoyed em - had most of my week to do whatever and slept while kids were at school - was more difficuylt when kids werent in school - then it wasnt so safe cause i wasnt getting sleep during the day. as of now with my health even 8 hours can be pushing it - lol - so as i siad depends on person and situation and thier life.

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I have always worked 8 hour shifts and at the end of the shift I was pretty exhausted. My co-workers worked 12 hour shifts and then an 8 hour shift to equal 40 hours a week or 80 hours in a 2 week period. Some even did 16 hour shifts! I found that time and time again these nurses made a lot of mistakes and became grumpy and lazy as the end of the shift approached. The only thing I can say is that the nurses were given the choice of what shift to work, that part I liked. Also the hospital wanted to make sure you reached the full 40 hours a week. When I started another job that only had 12 hour shifts, I never felt so tired and emotional in my life! It was way under staffed and the PCA's were not much help. I also realized I felt ripped off. I was working my a*s off and not even reaching the 40 hours a week. The hospital was the one gaining from all of this. So needless to say I got out of there and will never do that again. Sounds great 36 hours a week but with no overtime and feeling like crap NO THANK YOU!:nuke:

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Specializes in psych..
I have always worked 8 hour shifts and at the end of the shift I was pretty exhausted. My co-workers worked 12 hour shifts and then an 8 hour shift to equal 40 hours a week or 80 hours in a 2 week period. Some even did 16 hour shifts! I found that time and time again these nurses made a lot of mistakes and became grumpy and lazy as the end of the shift approached. The only thing I can say is that the nurses were given the choice of what shift to work, that part I liked. Also the hospital wanted to make sure you reached the full 40 hours a week. When I started another job that only had 12 hour shifts, I never felt so tired and emotional in my life! It was way under staffed and the PCA's were not much help. I also realized I felt ripped off. I was working my a*s off and not even reaching the 40 hours a week. The hospital was the one gaining from all of this. So needless to say I got out of there and will never do that again. Sounds great 36 hours a week but with no overtime and feeling like crap NO THANK YOU!:nuke:

Sometimes what both employer and employee choose is not what is best for the patient./public...that can apply to nurses, truck drivers (that fall asleep at the wheel), of airline pilots...If we have bills gnawing at us..who do we think about first..the patient or the bill collector?...Or if we have college kids...begging us for tuition money, the list is endless, with the patient at the end of the list.

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The subject here is 12 hour shifts not just the patients but how we feel about the different shifts and what impact they have on us as nurses and the care the patient receives. As a RN I have always put the patient first but if the environment I'm working in is unsafe I will not tolerate it. I also make sure to complete the exit interview so that the hospital can see why I decided to resign. I have only quit one job recently for these reasons. In the past since 1998 when I first started practicing I never felt this way because everywhere I went was 8 hour shifts! If you are a nurse and don't put the patient first then why are you a nurse???? At work it's all about the patient but once I leave it's all about me and my responsibilites.:nuke:

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Specializes in psych..
The subject here is 12 hour shifts not just the patients but how we feel about the different shifts and what impact they have on us as nurses and the care the patient receives. As a RN I have always put the patient first but if the environment I'm working in is unsafe I will not tolerate it. I also make sure to complete the exit interview so that the hospital can see why I decided to resign. I have only quit one job recently for these reasons. In the past since 1998 when I first started practicing I never felt this way because everywhere I went was 8 hour shifts! If you are a nurse and don't put the patient first then why are you a nurse???? At work it's all about the patient but once I leave it's all about me and my responsibilites.:nuke:

I think one IMPACT is high burn out rate,....I think expecially as one get older...longer shifts become more taxing..If you are in olympic shape maybe you can still handle an olympic shift.

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I am in by the way the in "OLYMPIC SHAPE" but when I give 110% of myself it is only normal to get tired even if it's an 8 or 9 hour shift. When you go all out for your patients you will be tired even if you are in shape! 5ft5" 110lbs, you can't tell me that's not in shape with eating correctly/nutritiously and exercising at a gym regularly, can you?

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Specializes in psych..
I am in by the way the in "OLYMPIC SHAPE" but when I give 110% of myself it is only normal to get tired even if it's an 8 or 9 hour shift. When you go all out for your patients you will be tired even if you are in shape! 5ft5" 110lbs, you can't tell me that's not in shape with eating correctly/nutritiously and exercising at a gym regularly, can you?

Very good point...I have worked with health workers that can "work" for double shifts, but even in physics for work to take place there has to be motion, If i remember correctly. Some health workers are very adept at avoiding work...

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What ever you are describing does not belong to me. I work med/surg not psych like you where sitting on your a*s all day and taking blood pressures and handing out pills is a common routine. I've been in psych many times and observed the nsg staff. I'm not impressed. My med/surg floor requires multiple skills and I use them on a daily basis. It may be a CBI that needs flushing to a NGT to low intermittent suction etc. Face it psych is not as fast paced as a medical/surgical unit. I know because first I have seen it and secondly I've had friends that work on psych and they have said they love it because it doesn't require that much energy. Maybe from security at times but that's about it. I don't know what you are trying to prove but it's not working. :nono:

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Specializes in psych..
What ever you are describing does not belong to me. I work med/surg not psych like you where sitting on your a*s all day and taking blood pressures and handing out pills is a common routine. I've been in psych many times and observed the nsg staff. I'm not impressed. My med/surg floor requires multiple skills and I use them on a daily basis. It may be a CBI that needs flushing to a NGT to low intermittent suction etc. Face it psych is not as fast paced as a medical/surgical unit. I know because first I have seen it and secondly I've had friends that work on psych and they have said they love it because it doesn't require that much energy. Maybe from security at times but that's about it. I don't know what you are trying to prove but it's not working. :nono:

I wasnt expecting my post to elicit an attack on me or on psych nurses. If it is true there are no med surg nurses that sit on their behind, thats great, that is news for me. I think a good nurse will alway find something to do, regardles what area of nursing one works. There are days, that I am lucking to have 15 minutes for a lunch break. Psych isnt just passing out pills in all facilities. We have to do admissions, assesements, calls to doctors when conditions changes, talk to patients relatives for 15 to 20 minutes,.I will agree overall acute care nurses, have a more constantly heavier work load, and probably burn out even faster than psych nurses for that reason. Next time I wished you quoted my post so other could judge for themselves if your attack is warranted.

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I wasnt expecting my post to elicit an attack on me or on psych nurses. If it is true there are no med surg nurses that sit on their behind, thats great, that is news for me. I think a good nurse will alway find something to do, regardles what area of nursing one works. There are days, that I am lucking to have 15 minutes for a lunch break. Psych isnt just passing out pills in all facilities. We have to do admissions, assesements, calls to doctors when conditions changes, talk to patients relatives for 15 to 20 minutes,.I will agree overall acute care nurses, have a more constantly heavier work load, and probably burn out even faster than psych nurses for that reason. Next time I wished you quoted my post so other could judge for themselves if your attack is warranted.

i disagree - you do not have to admit anyone will burnout quicker to make someone maybe fel better. - anyone who has worked psyc will know that the psycological aspect will wear you out just as quick as the physical - doesnt matter what area you work- you will always have those who sit in thier butt even in acute care - and like you said you will always have those who find something to do even in a less physical area of nursing. many blessings

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Specializes in Almost--.

your point is well taken but for me, i prefferred 12hr shift. i know my bodys capacity and it says i can take the tasks to work for 12hrs non-stop. it too give me more time for my family coz i only work 3days a week instead of 5days.

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I work 2 12hour shifts a week. There is no option where I work but I like the 12 hours. I think it provides a better chance for continuity of care, being with pt most of the day during testing or procedures helps the nurse, the patient and the family. And I am 50+ and find going in only two days a week is a blessing.

you're right about continuity of care, but i think it will be better if they make it 3 shifts to avoid or at least to reduce the number of med errors....:)

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