Am I the only one who hates 12 hour shifts?

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!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I did a lot of research on this and you are correct!! Many like the 12 hr shift as they think of all the days off, however your are constantly recovering on that day off... Frankly after 10 hrs you are spent. It is hard to be pleasant for 12 hrs, especially with that demanding patient.... Also we are not thinking as critically at the end of 12 hrs. This is when things go wrong and at the end of your shift the work pace increases. Just not safe for you or the patient.

Speak for yourself. What _I_ need to recharge my batteries and come to work fresh and ready to work and think is multiple days off in a row where I get involved in something totally different that work.

Five 8 hour shift/week absolutely exhaust me , burn me out and make me unsafe.

As professionals we should understand our own limitations and strengthS and not resort to the lazy and ineffective one size fits all rules.

[johsonmichelle]

I have worked both 8 and 12 hours shifts. I personally prefer the 12 hours shifts, because I am able to have more time off. The 8 hour shifts usually ran longer and there was not enough staff so I would have to wait until they were able to find someone to relieve me. Because of short staffing, a lot of my co workers worked double shift, so they worked 16 hours shifts. 12 hour shifts are not easy, but even for the facility, it more preferable. A lot of places are barely staffing for their 12 hour shifts, 8 hour shifts would require more coverage that they don't have.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I think this preference comes down to energy level and personal preference.

I work 24 hours shifts as a medic and enjoy having those 5 days off, of course my job isn't nearly as constantly busy as a nurse. I am about to embark on a new nursing job which is full time 12 hour shifts, so I will then decide if I like 12s or hate them. My new job is in the city so driving there 4-5 days a week for an 8 hour shift would be out of the question, as you would most definitely catch the traffic coming in and leaving, no thanks to that.

Annie