Am I the only one who hates 12 hour shifts?

Nurses General Nursing Nursing Q/A

Based on some things I've read on this website, I know that I'm not, but I just cannot STAND how 12 hour work days consume my life! There is no time to do anything besides work on those days and prepare for the next work day. I would be so much happier if I could switch to 8s or 10s or even some combo of 8 and 12s... I need to be able to exercise and take care of myself in order to be happy at work!

Mostly I just needed to rant because I know I can't address this yet as a new grad, but has anyone else felt this way and taken action to get a better schedule? Better hours would make work a billion times better!

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I don't work 12 hour shifts. Well can't say I WOULD not for the right job, but I don't choose to work them, and I would definitely not work them FT. I have 3 kids in school (plus 2 younger ones) and have to be home in the evening.

Years ago I did work FT 12 hr noc's. Very quickly I got to where I couldn't enjoy my days off b/c I was so run down. But after work, I can't fall asleep right away, and then I'd get anxious about having to be to work in 7 hours...6 hours...5 hours... the anxiety would keep me awake. It was a vicious cycle.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Night shifters do not mind it near as much as day workers because they do not work near as hard. Not had to figure out.

Oh really? And how exactly do you know this???????

Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.
Night shifters do not mind it near as much as day workers because they do not work near as hard. Not had to figure out.

As someone who will refuse to work anything but an 8 hour shift I find your commentary about the work ethic of night shifters, who are more often than day shifters to endure higher ratios and shorter staffing, completely devoid of any credibility. Besides that I agree with you completely.

Night shifters do not mind it near as much as day workers because they do not work near as hard. Not had to figure out.

How long have you worked in this fantasy scenario?

On my nightshift there are three nurses who look after the same number of patients as TEN day shifters and six evening staff.

You seriously have no idea.

Night shifters do not mind it near as much as day workers because they do not work near as hard. Not had to figure out.

oh, come on. You're just trying to rock the boat, aren't you?

it is common knowledge by people who have worked all shifts.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
it is common knowledge by people who have worked all shifts.

I've worked all shifts, and it's not common knowledge to me. Perhaps you'd better check your evidence base there!

Specializes in ICU.
Let's see, I start work at 0700 and am finished at 1515. I have plenty of time to do what I need on the way home from work.

With 12's, you don't home home until nearly 20hr. Too bagged to do anything but grunt at the kids, make lunch for tomorrow, find clean scrubs and to bed you go.

Not every schedule bangs the three together. Some rotations have four one week, two the next. You turn into a zombie. The first day off is a lost cause.

12 work for management and the young and single. The mature and mothering, not so much. Try finding a daycare that will take a child for those shifts.

Oh, and let's not feed the animals that live under bridges who joined AN this month.

This! My roster this fortnight includes 2 day shifts, 2 days off, 2 night shifts, 3 days off (including sleep day), 2 day shifts, 2 days off. Great fun. Luckily I start 8s again soon.

Specializes in Critical Care.
I have never worked 8's but the thought of being at work 5 days a week makes me slightly ill. :barf02: I work three 12's a week and even that makes me ponder the need to be medicated! I've often thought that if the hospital would mist Valium through the air vents every night, nurses and patients alike would be much happier. :woot:

I agree with the valium mist, would be wonderful and calming for everyone involved! Problem is the nurses might start falling asleep at the station! lol

If I worked day 8s, I'd sit in about 30 more minutes of rush hour traffic each shift than working day 12s. Multiply that by 5, that's 2.5 hours I'd never get back. Add in the regular hour of commute for an extra 2 days, each way, that's another 4 hours.

Nights, heck, I've done 8s, I've done 12s. I'll never willingly go back to 8 hour nights.

I guarantee you'll find way more day nurses willing to do 8s than night nurses. And good luck finding all the nurses you'd need to work that evening shift. Until that's covered, day nurses will just have to suck it up, because management isn't going to fight to get shifts covered to give you even better hours when you've already got the coveted schedule in a 24 hour business.

Specializes in geriatrics.

In order to truly feel recovered and energized working 12's, I need at least 4 shifts off because that first is a sleep day. I rarely have 4 off in a row with my rotation and the staffing issues.

However, one of the drawbacks to 8 hour shifts is finding the additional coverage. We discussed working 8's but it never happened because we can't even staff for 12's. Depends where you work.

That four hours makes a difference though. If I pick up, I'll agree to come for 8 hours not the full shift sometimes. The time flies!

In parts of the country where it snows, it's nice to only have to brave the roads three times a week instead of five.

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