What do you all think? Are twelve hour shifts too long? I did 12's for my precepting and liked that I only had to work 3 days a week, but I felt really worn down at the end of the shift. Is this a common phenomina and what to do? I got hired on about a month ago for three 12's nights and I am definately excited for the job. It will be hard to go to night shift work. Oh Well.
Dkelly4972
Graduate in 1 day and 19 hours. But who's counting!
I work 8 hour shifts. I also only work part time, so I do get the four days off every week. You see I work weekends. That's it. Just weekend pms. Then I'm off for the rest of the week.
Earlier this year, I was in the hospital with a ankle fx. (trimaliolar fracture of the right ankle) had to have surgery. I really got a look at nursing from the other side of the fence. I have to say that I really don't want to have the nurse that is on her 10th hour of a 12 hour shift. And this was in a nationally very well known hospital. I did get to know the nurses a lot better, but I also knew when their shifts were going to change.
12s can be great for the nurse, but I really have to think what is best for the pt. In my case it is 8s. I know myself well enough to know that 12s just aren't for me.
Specializes in Trauma acute surgery, surgical ICU, PACU.
In my city, I find nurses who work 8's are MUCH more likely to get stuck working a "double", when the next shift is short. We do 12's in most of my hospital, and mgmt requesting us to do OT is rare.
I find I am just as tired after 8 hours as I am after 12. In 12 hours, I get to know my pt's REALLY well, and follow up on their issues - u/o, ambulation, labs, etc...
Like others said, it's tough, but worth it for the four days off a week. If it wasn't for 12-hour shifts, I wouldn't be in school going RN to BSN right now.
I work 8 hour shifts. I also only work part time, so I do get the four days off every week. You see I work weekends. That's it. Just weekend pms. Then I'm off for the rest of the week.
Earlier this year, I was in the hospital with a ankle fx. (trimaliolar fracture of the right ankle) had to have surgery. I really got a look at nursing from the other side of the fence. I have to say that I really don't want to have the nurse that is on her 10th hour of a 12 hour shift. And this was in a nationally very well known hospital. I did get to know the nurses a lot better, but I also knew when their shifts were going to change.
12s can be great for the nurse, but I really have to think what is best for the pt. In my case it is 8s. I know myself well enough to know that 12s just aren't for me.
Anna
I'd love to see the studies comparing the 2 (8 hr and 12 hr shifts) and mistakes. I can say that when I get my 4th or 5th 8 hr shift, I'm pretty much out of it. The same was not true when I did my three 12 hr shifts--more time away from work means more time to recover. To me that is better for the nurse (as you said as well), which ultimately translates to being better for the patient. I do agree, though that 12 hr shifts can take their toll as well.
If I could survive with just doing two or three 8 hr. shifts (and I could still get my Perkins loan cancelled), I'd do that in a heartbeat and find a second job as a bartender or something else I'd enjoy doing--just so I could have a change of pace. Unfortunately such is not the case, so I just pray when I move back to TX that I can get a 12 hr job.
I've been working 12 hour night shifts since last June and when I start my orientation this June, I will be doing the same shifts. I like the 12 hour shifts, especially since my work is about 30 miles away. My contract does specify that I will have to work an extra shift each month, so I will do a 3-3-3-4. I love nights and don't EVER, EVER plan on working during the day. I'm a night owl by nature and maybe that will change when I get older (I'm almost 32), but I don't think so. Even on the night before I had to get up at 4:30am for school clinicals, I would be up until 12 or 1am. I just CAN'T go to bed early and wake up early. It's torture....LOL!!!
RNAnna
57 Posts
Hi all,
I work 8 hour shifts. I also only work part time, so I do get the four days off every week. You see I work weekends. That's it. Just weekend pms. Then I'm off for the rest of the week.
Earlier this year, I was in the hospital with a ankle fx. (trimaliolar fracture of the right ankle) had to have surgery. I really got a look at nursing from the other side of the fence. I have to say that I really don't want to have the nurse that is on her 10th hour of a 12 hour shift. And this was in a nationally very well known hospital. I did get to know the nurses a lot better, but I also knew when their shifts were going to change.
12s can be great for the nurse, but I really have to think what is best for the pt. In my case it is 8s. I know myself well enough to know that 12s just aren't for me.
Anna