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 ICU.

I worked 12 years doing 8 hour night shifts. When I was forced to work 12 hour night shifts, I lasted 15 months. Sure, you have 4 shifts off a week ... so you can rest up for the next set! How about when they string 6 of 'em in a row over Christmas? "Oh, but didn't you have the week before off?" Bah Humbug! Here's my resignation. :(

Specializes in PCCN.

I don't like 12's- they are he double hockeystick.At least I might get to eat something after an 8 hour shift. If its a 12, thats a long time to go without eating.

Obviously it depends on where you work. Sounds like some of you have some control over your scheduling.

I hate 12 hour shifts. It makes getting out of bed miserable because you know the only thing you get to do today is go to work, come home, and go to bed. There's no personal time after work, which makes me bitter because I can't count down for quitting time, since quoting time just means bed and work all over. I switched to a 9-5 nursing job briefly and loved it. Everyday I could go to the gym, go out for dinner, relax and watch my favorite shows, and I always had the weekends off to see my friends in "normal professions"

Specializes in Emergency Department; Neonatal ICU.

I would not want to give up my 12-hour shifts. I work two 12-hour shifts per week and would not want to have to go to work an extra day for the same amount of hours per week. Having said that however, they are tiring and I don't really see my family on the days I work. I definitely notice that unless I eat a snack at the 10 hour mark (this is even when I've had lunch), my performance level drops.

I'll be much happier with 8 hour shift... I'd like to be able to see my kids at the end of the day...

I think people forget that not everyone works at the bedside.

I can't really give my 2 cents, because I'm not a nurse yet, but is much rather work 3-12s and get it over with than 8s. I work at a window factory & we work 5 10s and it sucks!

Specializes in Palliative.

It depends. I've worked both and they both have their pluses and minuses. 12s however really have to be scheduled right to be advantageous--there have to be longer blocks of time off between them to recover (and have a life).

My current job has a drop down schedule where we go for 16 weeks straight with no week off--just two on three off two on two off two on etc ad infinitum (finally getting the long blocks once we make it to the end of the gauntlet). This is the worst line I've ever worked and I have now started PT for a year just to get away from it. I feel like I do nothing but work and recover from work, yet I still work an average of three days a week, exactly what I worked with my PT 8 hour job. However in that job I always worked the same days and had 5 days off in between most shift blocks.

Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

I worked 3 12's for almost two decades before I became disabled. I worked psych and my hours were 7pm --> 7am Wed., Thursday, and Friday. My husband taught from 6-9 pm every Wednesday evening, and by agreeing to work every Friday, I fulfilled my working weekends obligation, so the schedule worked well.

I'd stop on the way home and grocery shop, run any errands that had accumulated, go to the dentist, have lunch with my husband or a friend, keep any necessary vet appointments, etc. Once home, I'd unload the dishwasher, start a load of wash, walk the dogs, play with the dogs and cats, shower, and crash into bed. I'd get up about 5:00 pm, get dressed, pack a lunch, and head to work.

I had three very very very full and tiring days along with four completely free days to do with what I wanted. With that schedule, I was able to volunteer with the woman's center, the woman's shelter, be active in our church, the humane society, volunteer with the literacy program at the library, take one of the dogs and mentor a child by having read aloud to us, take our therapy dog to visit nursing homes, volunteer in the Learning Center at the University where my husband teaches, rock preemies... well, you get the idea.

I would have hated to give up my 3 12's schedule!

Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

I hate 12 hour shifts.

I would pick 8 hour shifts over a 10 or 12 any day. Twelve hours wipes me out and even if I have the next day off, it is really hard for me to get going. My favorite shift is 6 a.m. to 2:30 pm. I have a life with these hours. I can run a few errands, meet friends for diner, work-out, take a nap (and still have my entire evening), etc...These shifts are also easier for me to trade.

Specializes in Peds, Float, Ambulatory, Telemetry (new).

From working 5 days a week. 3-11, every Friday off and every other weekend off with the exception of working every other Sunday. Now THAT is having no life. I am TOO excited to finally have the 12 hour shift and the guaranteed 4 days off.

Just saying....

Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I adore 12 hour shifts. One of the reasons I left the corporate world to get back into medicine.

No, I don't have much time after my shift ends, and generally just eat, throw a load of laundry in, and sleep. But I get 4 days off - one is usually dedicated to recovery, one to cleaning, and the other 2 are for fun. Working 8's (9's really since lunch wasn't paid) with commute time meant I didn't have a whole lot more time in the evenings, but also meant I only had 2 days off - one to recover, one to clean - before I was back in the rat race. My particular schedule right now gives me 2 weekdays off for running errands, doc's appointments etc. when it's not crowded, and 2 weekend days to get together with friends or whatever.

But another thing I love about nursing is that there are lots of different specialties with different work shift arrangements. :)

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