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!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
SummitRN said:
Seriously, how many of you who want 8s and currently work daytime 12s would be willing to work the 3PM-11PM shift 5 days a week or work rotating days/evening and nights? If the industry went to 8s, then 1/3 of the 7a-7p RNs would have to switch to evening shift to cover staffing needs... simple math. That means 1/3 of the current day shifters go from having dinner with family 4 days a week to dinner with family 2 days a week. The only alternative is everyone rotates days/evenings/nights.

I used to work the 3-11 shift five days a week and couldn't stand it, so I wrote an article about it a few months ago: https://allnurses.com/that-dreaded-shift-t460427/

Many members responded that they loved it. To each his/her own.

Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

As a bedside nurse, I simply do not want to see needy patients or their demanding family members five days per week. I do not want to see the faces of my managers or coworkers five days per week. I simply do not want to be at the workplace five days per week.

Aaaah this is the situation I'm in! I feel like I'm always at work!

Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
TheCommuter said:
I used to work the 3-11 shift five days a week and couldn't stand it, so I wrote an article about it a few months ago: https://allnurses.com/that-dreaded-shift-t460427/

Many members responded that they loved it. To each his/her own.

There is a minority that does like the 3-11, but not 1/3 of the day shift RNs. As you pointed out in your article, hospitals went to 12s because they had trouble staffing 3-11 (and noct).

For those wanting to see their family every day, some hospitals adopted the 4a-4p and 4p-4a 12 hour shifts noting easier child care and family life for the 4a-4p versus 7a-7p and better retention on the 4p-4a versus 7p-7a.

I used to hate 12-hour shifts when I worked in the surgical ICU. The only thing I liked about them was that if I schedule it back to back, I open up several days off of work. That's something I miss now that I'm 8-5 as a nurse liaison. Still like the 8-5 much better, but there are days I'd like to go back to 3 12s and just get the week over with..

I would be much happier with 8-hour shifts. Imagine being able to go out to eat, make a dentist appointment, grocery shop or *gasp* SEE YOU FAMILY and work- on the same day!

Imagine being able to go out to eat, make a dentist appointment, grocery shop or *gasp* see your family and work- on the same NIGHT!

Yeah, I can't imagine it either.

Specializes in Intermediate Care.

I used to work rotating day/night 12 hour shifts in southern California. When I moved back home to northern California working part time (3- 8 hour shifts per week) I thought I would be much happier. Now I find myself scrambling to find a job at a 12 hour shift hospital because I need the extra $$ and the thought of spending 5 days a week at my current job literally makes me sick :yuck:!!

Specializes in Intermediate Care.

When I know I have to work that night I finding myself dreading it all day and not able to truly enjoy. Plus in order to make through the night without passing out during my shift I have to be home early and take a nap before going into work... but maybe its just me??

I hate working 12 hours and not being able to do anything else on those days, but mostly I just hate working nights. I would put myself on the list to switch to days, but I need the extra money.

All that said, I would hate working 5 days a week even more. I would only look for an 8 hour shift job if I had family responsibilities and I could get days shift. Actually, if I was married I would be looking for day shift.

I heard of a PCT who had some 1100 to 2300 shifts - sounds like the perfect rotation to me!

For those wanting to see their family every day, some hospitals adopted the 4a-4p and 4p-4a 12 hour shifts noting easier child care and family life for the 4a-4p versus 7a-7p and better retention on the 4p-4a versus 7p-7a.

Now that sounds like something I could get behind xD. I'd take a 4p-4a in a heartbeat. You can go home and sleep and still be up in enough time to have plenty of daylight and not feel like a vampire.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Biffbradford said:
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. :(

6 of 'em in a row?? When I looked at that week's schedule, it would have been an 'understood' staff minus one!

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
I heard of a PCT who had some 1100 to 2300 shifts - sounds like the perfect rotation to me!

Funny. Just a couple of minutes ago, my coworker and I were talking and she said that she thinks 1100-2300 are perfect.

I agree. I am looking forward to having only three shifts a week. Yeah, twelve hour-shifts are long, but I am tired after an eight-hour shift as well, so I might as well just get it over with. Ideally, I would either schedule three twelves in a row (ex: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) and then the next week, work Thursday, Friday and Saturday (basically having a whole week off to do whatever). Or I would work two twelves, off one day, and then another twelve (ex: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) with the "off" day being used to recover.

There aren't many professionals who can boast that they only work three days a week! You could do so much in four days, like having a mini getaway without having to use PTO or vacation days.

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