Are 12 hour shifts safe?

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2008

Different opinion. I've been an RN for 21+ years (always full time). I could never tolerate 12 hour shifts. I felt like I had 8 good hours in me. The few times I was forced to work 12, I just felt that it took too heavy a toll.

I left hospital nursing when my last hospital eliminated 8 hour shifts. I can see how some people would like them especially part time/when you are younger. None of my age peers that I know (50+) enjoy them. I now do community health, 10 hour days but no patient care.

Just my opinion. Glad you are all happy.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2008

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?

Doing five 8 hr shifts exhausts me beyond belief.

Especially 8 hr nights.

I just left a job for that very reason. I am going back to 12 hr shifts so I can actually have a life and get some rest.

If the only choice were 8 hr shifts I'd have to have a desk/office job.

NurseCherlove · Feb 4, 2008

Like you, I would ideally love to work 3-11. These were the hours I worked at my first job out of nursing school. However, like the others have posted, I do find that there is too much to do to squeeze into 8 hours. But then again, I somehow have this knack for leaving late pretty often doing my 12 hour shifts!

I recently (as in late December) switched from days to nights - and to a different unit to boot. I think I like nights better, but the jury is still out.

Honestly, having CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), I do find 12 hours shifts kinda hard sometimes. Taking Provigil helps though.

The best set up I ever heard of was when I was still in nursing school. It was a renal unit that offered four 10 hour days and one of the shifts started at 1100. If I could find those kinds of hours on any kind of cardiac floor, I'd be all over that!!!!! (mainly b/c I'm not a morning person).

One thing I have always wondered....why is the ER the only one that offers the cool shifts like 11A-11P and 3P-3A? I'd jump on that too if it were offered on a cardiac floor!

psychnurse1998 · Feb 4, 2008

Different opinion. I've been an RN for 21+ years (always full time). I could never tolerate 12 hour shifts. I felt like I had 8 good hours in me. The few times I was forced to work 12, I just felt that it took too heavy a toll.
I left hospital nursing when my last hospital eliminated 8 hour shifts. I can see how some people would like them especially part time/when you are younger. None of my age peers that I know (50+) enjoy them. I now do community health, 10 hour days but no patient care.
Just my opinion. Glad you are all happy.

I wish, like Paul Harvey, could say.." and now you know the rest of the story". but I am sure there are more opinions out there, and I am glad for that. I am sure some young nurses are asking ,,,,,who in the heck was Paul Harvey? Hint..he wasnt a nurse theorist.

danissa, LPN, LVN · Feb 4, 2008

Sometimes we have four 12 hr shifts in a row, or times when we do three 12's, one day off, then back for another three 12's!

The absolute worst is doing three 12 hour nightshifts, having one day to sleep, then going back the next morning for three days on! Have done this often!

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2008

Sometimes we have four 12 hr shifts in a row, or times when we do three 12's, one day off, then back for another three 12's!
The absolute worst is doing three 12 hour nightshifts, having one day to sleep, then going back the next morning for three days on! Have done this often!

It's funny how different we all are.

I find three 12 hr nights totally doable, but five 8 hrs nights are just awful. Doing 5 eight hr nights, you truly only get one day off a week.

psychnurse1998 · Feb 4, 2008

It's funny how different we all are.
I find three 12 hr nights totally doable, but five 8 hrs nights are just awful. Doing 5 eight hr nights, you truly only get one day off a week.

I work one noc shift and I have to struggle to stay awake...than I need 4 days to let my body clock get its bearings. Being I can only do Pms shifts makes me less attractive to employers, so i have to deal with that.

I guess you need one day to rest when doing 8hr shifts and the other to enjoy, Than back to work. Hopefully your neighbor across the street didnt honk the horn or let his or her dog bark ..while you were trying to sleep.

I think studies have been done on night shift workers, and they found a lot of health issues that come up. I dont have a link to that..but I am sure some out there does.

NurseCherlove · Feb 4, 2008

Sometimes we have four 12 hr shifts in a row, or times when we do three 12's, one day off, then back for another three 12's!
The absolute worst is doing three 12 hour nightshifts, having one day to sleep, then going back the next morning for three days on! Have done this often!

OUCH!!

NurseCherlove · Feb 4, 2008

I think studies have been done on night shift workers, and they found a lot of health issues that come up. I dont have a link to that..but I am sure some out there does.

Yeah, I think there was one out fairly recently that basically said that noc workers were more likely to get CA!!!

I think I've also heard of other studies that noc workers just die earlier in general.

psychnurse1998 · Feb 4, 2008

Like you, I would ideally love to work 3-11. These were the hours I worked at my first job out of nursing school. However, like the others have posted, I do find that there is too much to do to squeeze into 8 hours. But then again, I somehow have this knack for leaving late pretty often doing my 12 hour shifts!
I recently (as in late December) switched from days to nights - and to a different unit to boot. I think I like nights better, but the jury is still out.
Honestly, having CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), I do find 12 hours shifts kinda hard sometimes. Taking Provigil helps though.
The best set up I ever heard of was when I was still in nursing school. It was a renal unit that offered four 10 hour days and one of the shifts started at 1100. If I could find those kinds of hours on any kind of cardiac floor, I'd be all over that!!!!! (mainly b/c I'm not a morning person).
One thing I have always wondered....why is the ER the only one that offers the cool shifts like 11A-11P and 3P-3A? I'd jump on that too if it were offered on a cardiac floor!

Great post..now..that is a cool shift.11am..to 11 pm...That would let someone sleep , and get some night sleep to boot. It seem to make more sense...

brainynurse · Feb 4, 2008

The hospital where I work has a Baylor program that is a 12 shift on Sat and Sun with full time benefits. 16 hours is a long time.

Midwest4me · Feb 4, 2008

"So my question is..are 12 hour shifts good for your health, and the well being of your patients?"

For me, the safety of the 12s depends on 1) whether it's a day or night and 2) how many 12s are being done in a row. I could manage several 6am-6pm in a row but only 2 of the 6pm-6am before becoming very fatigued and easily frustrated with all around me.