Do you prefer five eight hour shifts or three 12 hour shifts a week?

[NightNurse714]

Which do you prefer?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Which do you prefer?

Without a doubt, the 12s. I refuse to work 8s -- you don't get two days off in a row more than twice a month!

[NightNurse714]

I would imagine the same, i works 8s right now. Do 12s get you extremely tired/ fatigued?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I would imagine the same, i works 8s right now. Do 12s get you extremely tired/ fatigued?

12s get you tired and fatigued. But so do 8s. In fact, one of my graduate school instructors told of a study done on the merchant marine. Their average voyage was 12 days (I'm making this part up because I don't remember exactly what the length of the voyage was), but accidents and errors started increasing on the 9th day. So the company decreased the voyage length to 8 days, thinking that the reason for the bump in accidents and errors was the length of the voyage. Surprisingly, on the 8 day voyage, accidents and errors took a significant bump on the 6th day onward. It wasn't that there was anything magic about 8 days or 12 days -- accidents and errors -- or fatigue -- bumped significantly for the last 1/4 of the voyage.

In 1983, hospitals were researching 12 hour shifts and many studies were done -- I was part of one of those studies. Hospitals like the 12 hour shifts because it eliminates the need for 3 reports in a 12 hour period. Report is one place where many errors occur. Things don't get passed on or get passed on incorrectly. Eliminate one report, and one nurse from the mix and there are fewer errors made. Nurses like the 12 hour shifts because we don't have to come to work five times a week -- we get more days off and get more days off in a row. That's a win/win as far as I'm concerned.

Now you hear about studies stating that people are more prone to errors and fatigue after eight hours. I'm pretty sure that six hours into an eight hour shift, the same occurs.

[Heylove, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

12 hour shifts

[Yoga RN]

I find a better work/life balance with 8 hour shifts.

[Just.Blessed.RN, BSN, RN]

I've only recently started working 8 hour shifts. There are pros and cons, I like seeing the sun and being able to spend more time with hubby since he's a teacher and has a set 7-3 schedule. But I sometimes your psych patients make you regret having to see them 5x a week!!!

Trying to decide if I should go back to my old psych job and be happy with the 12s. Seems like I can schedule like a little bit better when I know I'm off 4 days a week.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Having done 12s and 8s, I strongly prefer 8s. Four days off isn't worth it when you need one of those days to recover from work. Neverminding that on the three days you do work, it's pretty much only work and sleep, with little time to do much else.

[needlesmcgeeRN, ASN, RN]

Recently started 12 h nights and I LOVE it so far. I was worried, because I worked 12 h nights in a SNF, which I DID NOT love. I was muuuuuuch busier in a SNF, but time seemed to drag on and on.

[B52, BSN, MSN, RN]

12s are good if spaced appropriately. Four 12s in a row are really tiring if you get stuck working Saturday one week and Sunday, Monday, Tuesday the next week. Fatigue and no OT. I would love to have a 7-3 job.

[kingvonnBSN2017, BSN]

I definitely prefer 12s. The position I am currently in only offers 8 hour shifts.. I can't see myself working 5 days a week so I had to make a schedule where I am working 2 16 hour shifts a week. I can't do the 5 days a week thing.

[justsaiyanRN]

I'm working 8s now. Didn't think I would miss the 12s but I do.