In the past year we've gone from mostly 8 hour to mostly 12 hour shifts.
I only work 8 hours. I find after 8 hours I get too tired, let alone working 12 hours per shift.
I used to work 12 hours on midnight....I was so tired after 12 hours and my feet ached badly.
What I've found on our unit is that 12 hour shift "pick" their patients. Our shifts go from 7 to 7. At 3 P.M. the day shift 12 hour nurse's pick which patients they want.
One day I arrived early to the unit...the charge day nurse was asking what patient the 12 hour nurse's would like to pick up. After the 12 hour nurse's picked which team they wanted....I jokely said, "Can I pick my team....I want all my patients to only have heplocks." The nurse's started laughing.
What I've found is after the 1st 8 hours majority of our nurses are at the desk for the last 4 hours. Though a handful work very busy to the end. I'm not trying to make this thread a 12 vs. 8 hour thread. I think more than likely the nurses are tired. I remember when I'd come in at 7 P.M. I'd have an "easier" group of patients than if I came in at 11 P.M. and only worked 8 hours.
I'm just curious how your unit functions? Mostly 12 or 8 hours? Do 12 hour nurses pick their patients for the last 4 hours? Do you think 12 or 8 hour shift are best? Thanks!!!
What a great concept MHN presents. Wish we could look at some sort of shift overlap to help out on med surg units so patient care doesn't get LOST at shift change times. In my hospital most of the nurses are 12 hours. The remaining 8 hour nurses are a decided minority and work mostly in clinic type areas.
How would patient care, nursing retention, quality of care delivery play out against the increased monetary costs associated with this?
We have 4-8-12 hour shifts. If you work 3-11 your don't give up your assignment just because a 12 hour had it last night. I like 3-12 shifts. I usually work M-Th-F. Don't work much w/e because of seniority and enough staff...Yes, our floor is actually staffed (one of 2 floors in our hospital that is) we still argue though that as sick as our patients are that our ratio could be higher at times. The ones that work every other w/e have 4-5 days off. Our week starts on Sunday, so they work Sun off Mon work Tue, Wed, and then not till next Wed if they schedule it that way.
DougD1
17 Posts
What a great concept MHN presents. Wish we could look at some sort of shift overlap to help out on med surg units so patient care doesn't get LOST at shift change times. In my hospital most of the nurses are 12 hours. The remaining 8 hour nurses are a decided minority and work mostly in clinic type areas.
How would patient care, nursing retention, quality of care delivery play out against the increased monetary costs associated with this?