Does your facility have 12 hour shifts or 8 hour shifts?

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I was just wondering. I know 12 hour shifts are mostly in hospitals, but I have a friend who works in another facility and she does 12 hour shifts. Mine only has 8 hour shifts.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

There are a few of us that work 12 hour shifts, which I love and won't go back to 8's unless I have to. The problem with scheduling 12 hr shifts in a LTC is covering for vacations and call offs. If the nurse working your opposite 12 isn't there guess who is stuck for the full 16? Covering those 4 hours mid shift is almost impossible. This is probably why my DON only asked the nurses that are not known to have call in issues if they were interested in trying the 12 hour shifts.

For scheduling needs the plus side is if a facility can get at least a few nurses interested in 12 hour shifts it can essentially eliminate some positions depending on how many nurses commit to 12's

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

WE work 8 hour shifts. I worked as a CNA in another facility and one unit was 8 hours and the other unit was 12 hours for the nurses.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, Home Care, DON of AL.

I have interview at a LTC community with the position of 7am-7pm Monday-Wednesday-Friday, off every weekend, would love to know everyone's thoughts on that shift. Currently I work from home doing a sales position stuck in front of a desk 45 hours week. I work till 9pm every monday, tuesday 8-4, wednesday 10-6pm, thursday, 8-4 and friday 10-6pm and every other sunday 8am-1pm. will be taking a pay cut taking the 12 hour shift job but would love to have more time off. THOUGHTS??

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Our hospital does 12 hour shifts. However, if desperately short staffed, they will let you come in for 8 hour shifts. Management works 8 hour shifts.

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I have interview at a LTC community with the position of 7am-7pm Monday-Wednesday-Friday, off every weekend, would love to know everyone's thoughts on that shift. Currently I work from home doing a sales position stuck in front of a desk 45 hours week. I work till 9pm every monday, tuesday 8-4, wednesday 10-6pm, thursday, 8-4 and friday 10-6pm and every other sunday 8am-1pm. will be taking a pay cut taking the 12 hour shift job but would love to have more time off. THOUGHTS??

I personally love 12 hour shifts. I can't imagine having a 5 day a week job. Even if it is a pay cut for you, it will probably be worth it just to have more days off.

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Specializes in ED.

Going from 12's to 8's can be a 10% pay raise. 40 vs 36 hours per week also a facility can staff with fewer employees by using a 5 X 8hrs schedule. Think in terms of FTEs, one week equals 168 hrs, divide that by 40, and now try 168/36, an employer can staff with 10% less workers.

My nursing colleagues would take me out to the parking lot and beat me to a pulp if I proposed 8 hour shifts, even with a 10% increase in take home pay. I may help them beat the crud out me.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Going from 12's to 8's can be a 10% pay raise. 40 vs 36 hours per week also a facility can staff with fewer employees by using a 5 X 8hrs schedule.

In theory yes. But they set themselves up for retention problems since fewer are willing to work 8's.

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Specializes in ED.
In theory yes. But they set themselves up for retention problems since fewer are willing to work 8's.

Which would explain my being beat into a bloody pulp in the parking lot.

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Specializes in LTC.

My facility is all 8 hour shifts. I sometimes long for the many days off I would have with 12s but working 6-2 works best for my family. I am able to get off work in time to ferry 2 busy kids to sports and other activities and go to games without having to ask for time off or arrange for rides. I am a single (widowed) parent.

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My facility only offers 8 hour shifts, except we are currently short a full time noc nurse, so to ensure proper coverage there are a few PM nurses and a few of us Day nurses that split the noc shifts and do 12 hours. 3a-3p/3p-3a. Some of us have requested that 12 hour shifts be made available but it hasn't happened mainly because the two noc shift nurses who are full time have said "NO!". So for now I'll work the 12 hours that are available and make the extra cash..

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I have 8 hour shifts and the only reason I don't like them is that means more days worth of being at my job. I wouldn't mind going back to 12 hours but for now that's where my hours go.

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I think it is helpful to have a mix of 8 & 12 hr shifts. It can help cover some of the gaps that occur due to staffing shortages/call offs. Most of the facilites here just have 8 hr shifts.

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