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Switch to 12-hour Shifts



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Oct 27, 2009 01:33 AM

Switch to 12-hour Shifts


I'm a charge nurse on an adolescent psych unit at our facility and we're talking about switching from 8-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts. I was just wantung to get some opinions of how this works. Also, those of you who work 12-hour psych shifts-does everyone on staff do 12's or do some people still do 8's. This will be very new for us so just wanting some examples. Thanks in advance for your help and advice!

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5 Comments
No. 1
from heavymetalrn
Old Oct 29, 2009, 11:21 AM

Default Re: Switch to 12-hour Shifts
i work as an agency nurse in psych /detox unit ...it is 12 hours for agency and regular staff ie everyone except the unit secretary...( shift starts at 7p-7a or 7a to 7p ).....i like it but as an agency nurse end up doing all the work (7p-7a) because the regular staff is coming from their other job..take x4 hour break and i ended doing the paper work/ do phone triage etc/orient and precept new grad who is going to be charge nurse on nights...because the regular staff is snoring loudly/ asleep in the nurses station by 9 pm.....
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No. 2
from Jules A
Old Oct 29, 2009, 12:22 PM

Default Re: Switch to 12-hour Shifts
We have people that do 8s and people that do 12s. We love it although I would guess it makes scheduling more difficult.
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No. 3
from fawnsternurse
Old Oct 31, 2009, 09:41 AM

Default Re: Switch to 12-hour Shifts
I love working the 12 hr shifts to such a point that I will not even interview for jobs that are 8 hrs.
Give me my three 12 hrs . I have more days off and if I want to do OT I can but if I need to rest more that week or have other plans I can do that. I need my "down time" so I can give more back when I am at work. Working 5 days a week , 8 hr shifts make me feel that All I do is live, breathe, eat , sleep and work.
Yuck!
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No. 4
from elkpark
Old Oct 31, 2009, 09:48 AM

Default Re: Switch to 12-hour Shifts
Years ago, I was involved in pushing for a switch to 12-hour shifts on the psych unit where I worked. Turned out that all we ("pro-12" people) had to do was draw up a hypothetical schedule that showed how many more days off you would have working 12s, and the others who were skeptical were ready to sign up!

The place I work now has people who work 12s and people who work 8s, but that is becoming more and more of a scheduling problem and administration is pushing for the "8-hour people" to switch to 12s.
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No. 5
from Bowgod's Lady
Old Nov 01, 2009, 09:50 PM

Default Re: Switch to 12-hour Shifts
We work with both 8 and 12 hour shift staff. This has pros and cons. Well staff may have more days off, it seems the teams made of 8 hours staff were a good consistent team work . Able to work together and predict each others reactions due to close interactions 5 days a week. The 12 hour staff only working 3 days a week don't get the solid team consistency. Though only working 3 days a week is better for decreased burn out.
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