Different Shift Hours

In my NICU unit they just do 12 hour shifts 7-7, but I know our neighboring NICU does 3am-3pm, weird!

We had all kinds of crazy 12 hour shifts but have transitioned to 7a/7p and straight 8 hour shifts if

people want those.

We did 7-7 when I was a nurse, rationale being that there are less people to hand off to, i.e. less things to fall through the cracks. We got paid an ICU differential to make up for the fact that we only worked 36 hours a week.

Our NICU offers both 12 and 8 hour shifts: 7-7, 7-3, 3-11 and 11-7. A while back they tried to make everyone go to 12's but that did not last.

In our NICU, new hires work 12-hour shifts (7-7), but there are still some day shift and evening shift nurses grandfathered in to eight-hour shifts.

Having a mix of 8's and 12's makes staffing an unbelievable nightmare.

I agree! Everybody always dreads when the eight-hour person goes home at 3 pm, especially when it's a crazy hectic day, as the other people have to pick up their babies on top of their own assignments.

Ours is a good mix and we rarely have lopsided numbers.

Ours is only 8s (7-3, 3-11, 11-7). We had a meeting about going to 12s recently, but that was shot down. For us, staffing is so tight (we staff our transports) and we have very little in the way of contingent or per diem staff, that when census is high, transports (or multiple transports) are called, or there are sick calls, we are already staying over our shift or coming in early to cover holes.

All new hires work 12-hour shifts and that started before I was hired 14 years ago. We still have some 8-hour people and it makes staffing extremely difficult, especially at 1500. Lots of call shifts from 1500-1900. It is ridiculous and management won't make the switch to all 12s. That means we have to move babies around, which upsets parents, change assignments, absorb assignments, call in the 5 people who are on call and all sorts of other things just to be legal. A waste of time, energy and resources.

Not in the nicu. But Ccu and do 3-3. It's awesome!I work 3a-3p, it's nice to be with your pts early plan out your day, no one bothering you till 6 ish, rounds start at 9. Really get a good sense of what you want and how your pt is doing. Best of all you leave work and it's sunny.

We have 12s and 8s, mostly 7-7 but a couple do 3-3. No new hires have the option of doing 8 hour shifts, but there are still plenty of nurses that are grandfathered into them. I agree it is a total nightmare having a mix, but it is nice to be able to pick up an extra 8 hour shift rather than a full 12 when overtime is available.