Does 12 hr shifter work less than 8 hr shifter?

MunoRN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

If you're referring to three 12's per week vs five 8's per week, then yes, the person working 12 hour shifts works fewer hours per year assuming similar missed break and excess of shift times. (36 hours/week vs 40 hours/week).

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

Since it's a simple math equation (36 is less than 40, so 3 shifts are less hours than 5)......why are you really asking the question?

RNperdiem, RN · Sep 4, 2014

We commute a lot less too. When I worked 5 days a week, a half hour each way, there went a whole lot of time sitting in the car and walking the rest of the way.

anon456, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2014

The hours worked don't matter as much as the pay per hour. Nurses are still considered full time with a 36 hour a week job.

1. Don't forget to count lunch break, which is 30 minutes. So it's actually 37.5 hours if you were to clock out on the dot after 12.5 hours.

2. And then count all those times nurses stay a bit late to finish the charting so now you are working 39 hours if you stay 30 minutes to chart, or to stay a bit late to help out with some unexpected event like a poop blowout or code.

3. Don't forget to add those hours for staff meetings and continuing education, which you also get paid for. PALS takes all day every other year. Annual education takes about 1/2 day, and monthly staff meetings are 30-60 minutes. Those quarterly on-line modules also count for pay. It comes pretty close to 40 hours a week. Not quite, but pretty close.

klone, MSN, RN · Sep 4, 2014

Oh dear. Are you really asking this question?

3x12 = 36 hours

5x8 = 40 hours

That is why 5 8s is a 1.0 FTE and 3 12s is a 0.9.

RNKPCE · Sep 4, 2014

The hours worked don't matter as much as the pay per hour. Nurses are still considered full time with a 36 hour a week job.
1. Don't forget to count lunch break, which is 30 minutes. So it's actually 37.5 hours if you were to clock out on the dot after 12.5 hours.
2. And then count all those times nurses stay a bit late to finish the charting so now you are working 39 hours if you stay 30 minutes to chart, or to stay a bit late to help out with some unexpected event like a poop blowout or code.
3. Don't forget to add those hours for staff meetings and continuing education, which you also get paid for. PALS takes all day every other year. Annual education takes about 1/2 day, and monthly staff meetings are 30-60 minutes. Those quarterly on-line modules also count for pay. It comes pretty close to 40 hours a week. Not quite, but pretty close.

Lunch is not paid time in most jobs.

8 hour shift has the same potential for overtime as 12hours as state in #2

8 hour people have the same educational hours as 12 hr staff see #3

Yes most places of employment give you full benefits for .9

But 5 eight hour shifts is more hours.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2014

Just curious is someone who works three 12 hours actually work less hours in a year than someone who works five 8 hours?

The answer is yes. However, since I do not want to be at the workplace five days per week, I willingly work less hours and less days via the three 12 hour shifts per week.

loriangel14, RN · Sep 4, 2014

Where i work every other week you work an extra shift so it works out the same in the end.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 5, 2014

The hours worked don't matter as much as the pay per hour. Nurses are still considered full time with a 36 hour a week job.

Not all hospitals consider 36 hours a week to be full time. The last 24 years, I've been working 3 12s a week and it's considered 90%. I get 90% benefits.

Cricket183, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2014

Where I worked we were required to work seven 12 hour shifts in a two week period, which works out to a minimum of 84 hours/2 weeks.