Are 12 hour shifts terribly long?

Nurses General Nursing

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Im a nursing student and Im just wondering if the 12 hour shifts go by fast or if they just drag on. I know working previous jobs 8 hours seems way too long, but maybe since you are always doing something in nursing it helps?

Well...they are just a tad more than an 11 hr shift...and just shy of a 13 hr shift:clown:

(sorry--I need to get to bed. I am slap-happy:smackingf )

Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

I like my 12's. I'm there for 2 twelves and I'm done. I do a lot of catching up from the other shifts. I try to organize things, often get yelled at about it. But I can't stand a messy area. That takes a lot of my down time. My feet sure are tired though by the end of the 12. If you work 8's you have to work more days a week. I prefer to be with my family.

In her book Nursing Against the Odds, Suzanne Gordon argues against 12-hour shifts for a variety of reasons. She says that most nurses like them because the job is so heinous they want to get their workweek over with...

12's go by quick too. I'd rather care for my patient's another 4 hours...than to have to work 5 days a week

Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
Im a nursing student and Im just wondering if the 12 hour shifts go by fast or if they just drag on. I know working previous jobs 8 hours seems way too long, but maybe since you are always doing something in nursing it helps?

I graduated from nursing school in May. I remember during my clinicals (which were 8 hours) thinking, "gosh, this sure is a long day...sure am glad I'm not here for 12 hrs because I'd be bored". Boy, was I ever wrong. Some days I look up at the clock and 8 hours have passed before I've even had a chance to sit down and document, pee, take a drink or anything else.

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

I work a variety of shifts but I find that the 12-hr day shifts are busier(and pass faster) than the 12-hr night shifts. Also because oftentimes my 12s are not always all together but may be separated by a day, I don't feel so exhausted.

I love the 12 hour shifts. It is a lot easier to stay for an extra 4 hours then think about coming into work for 4 or 5 straight days. Plus when you do have to work an 8 hour shift, it flies by and seems like a 1/2 day. Good luck!

Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
12's go by quick too. I'd rather care for my patient's another 4 hours...than to have to work 5 days a week

:yeahthat:

What she said.

I love 12's. I found out after doing 8 hour shifts for a long time that my feet don't hurt anymore after a 12 than they do after an 8. Also, I'm no more tired. Plus, you only have to work 3 days a week.

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
In her book Nursing Against the Odds, Suzanne Gordon argues against 12-hour shifts for a variety of reasons. She says that most nurses like them because the job is so heinous they want to get their workweek over with...

I love my stupid job, but I love my home and my time off, too. Three twelves seems like a nice balance between having some disposable income and the time to dispose of it properly. But I do nights, so that does tend to screw up one of my days off, a bit.

If I work 11-7, it sometimes goes a bit slow, but if I work 7-7, I'm usually so far behind by 11 that I need to rest of the night to get caught up.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Dreadfully long. It goes by fast if your busy. Slow if your not. It's worth it to me to have four days off a week.

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