Do you all work 12 hour shifts?

The hospital that I'm at ONLY works 12 hour shifts, which is one of the reasons I'm excited to go into a LTC facility where they work 8's. 12's are NOT for me... My day starts at 6:30 and usually isn't done until 8:00. By the time I get home, there's no time to even read the mail before I eat, shower, get in bed and get ready to do it all the next day. Although I commute too, I don't want to do 12's again.

Most alll Rn's at my facility that work as staff on units work 12 hour shifts. Some LPN's do,, but all CNA's only work 8's. I would approach a few of your co-workers and see what their feeling on that change would be. Remembering you will need to have at least an even number of people to change to 12 hour shifts to make it work.

It doesnt mean all have to, but if there are 4 that do,, those 4 will work opposite shifts on the same days. It is doable to work into with 8 hour shifts. If there is enough that would like to do 12's, go to your nursing administrator and suggest it. See if they would be willing to let some of you do that.

Just to let you know though, they may want to make differences in benefit practices with 12 hour comittments than 8. 12 hour people usually dont get overtime until after 40 hours in a week, like 8 hour people getting OT after their 8 hours. If you have a slow down at work, you may have to take 8 hours off, and work the remaining 4 of your shift. A lot of things will still surround an 8 hour schedule, and you have to be willing to adjust with that.

When I was interviewing for the job I'm presently at, I was given the options of 3 twelves, 5 eights, or 2 twelves and 2 eights. I choose the 3 twelves. No harm Night owl in discussing this with all three: the DON, Clinical director, and the Director ofAdministration.

Only one question, is there enough people that want to work 12 hour shifts? That could make a difference in the willingness of administration to make scheduling changes.

Actually we have plenty who would love to do 12 hrs. We've done so much OT that 12's would be really nice and would be very doable. I tossed around the idea to one of the supervisors the other night who happened to be the chairwoman to the energy conservation something or other and she thought it was a great idea. So at this point they're working on it, but alas in the government things like this take forever to get approved. So by the time they approve it, gas prices will probably have dropped some. But that's ok. I'm usually still there after work maybe an extra hour or so finishing up my notes. So what's a few more hours? I imagine though three 12's in a row will wipe you out plenty. Can they stagger them I wonder? Like one 12 every other night? That would be great.

I, personally, prefer the 8 hour shifts I have. I will work 12 if I have to (someone sick), but I like my eights. I just wanna come home and collapse at times.