One of the biggest complaints I heard when working at place with 8 hr shifts was that there they almost never got more than one day off at a time.
Many people like 12 hr shifts because off the block time off they can get.
If a place if understaffed and one is running around all shift and staying late and is totally wiped out, why not just work 12s and get it over with? However, if the shifts aren't total chaos and don't totally drain a person physically and mentally, then 8 hour shifts where you can have a life before or after your shift seems more palatable.
I personally prefer working several days in a row and getting as many of the same patients as possible but 3 12s in a row in most settings just slowly kills me - though I'd like the block time off just as well the next person.
In my ideal world there'd be four well-staffed 10-hours shifts/wk with substantial shift overlap for change of shift including a walking report to each patient bedside.
The hospital I work at schedules the staff very well. Very very rarel do nurses work three 12 hour shifts in a row. It's usually one 12 hour on, one day off, two 12 hours on, and 3 days off. I find this kind of schedule working really well for me.
I prefer 12 hour days, continuity for one reason (pt care), but the main reason is more recoupe time and time for family!
Interesting. With the turbulence of todays patient turnover, I wonder how perception of 'continuity of care' is (ever was) relevant to shift work? Does it matter? I appreciate the insight and thinking the statement stimulates.
Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, Long Term,Ortho.
Did 12 hour shifts for 3 years 7a-7p on tele unit burned me out. After working 12 I needed a day to recover. My son hated when I worked that shift. U miss family gatherings and if you working the holiday forget about it. Would not work 12's again.
FYI--pending 2008 JCAHO National Patient Safety Goals are going to address fatiqued workers. Go to JCAHO website for information. This could affect 12 hour shifts
If you are a nurse (RN/LPN/NA) currently employed in an acute care environment, please participate by selecting one answer that describes you best:
I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have no nursing experience
I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have no nursing experience
I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have 5 or less years experience
I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have 5 or less years experience
I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have at least 5 - 10 years experience
I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have at least 5 - 10 years experience
I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have 10 - 20 years experience
I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have 10 - 20 years experience
I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have more than 20 years experience
I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have more than 20 years experience
Specializes in ICU, Haemodialysis, acute medicine and s.
i prefer 12 hour shifts, I always find that once you at work staying an extra 4 hours is nothing and I'd much rather do that than have to come out to work another day. I also find that although i am doing the same amount of hours i feel like i am working a lot less.
FYI--pending 2008 JCAHO National Patient Safety Goals are going to address fatiqued workers. Go to JCAHO website for information. This could affect 12 hour shifts
I work straight nights-8s during the week and 12s every 3rd weekend. I prefer this because
1. I'm home for my girls when they get off the bus.
2. Evening are too hectic for supper, homework, reading, play, baths and I hate having to hurry everyone so I can get out.
3. I hate 12s when we aren't busy in the NICU because then we get floated out. I don't mind going to Peds/OB or helping out in the hospital, but I HATE taking an assignment (7-11pm can be so busy) and then going back to take another one. I'd rather just stay where I am. I like to get all my work thoroughly done and 4 hours doesn't allow enough time when you have to add in charting.
4. I also like that we can still attend an event if it falls during the week.
5. Also 12s take me longer to recover from and I get more accomplished with 8s.
I prefer eights because I have 2 kids under age 3 and 12 hours is tooo long for me to be away from my babes. When I was pumping, 12 hours meant another pumping session too. I also like that there are three pairs of eyes on a pt during the day instead of two. Lets face it, some nurses are just not going to pick up on some things and some are just plain lazy. I cringe when I have to follow a lazy 12 hour person..thats an awful lot of stuff dumped onto you!
Having worked both 8 and 12hr shifts and now I work a mixture of both. I definately prefer a mixture of 8 and 12 hour shifts, but this wasn't an option in the survey. Perhaps hospitals in USA aren't as flexi as in NZ.
I also like that there are three pairs of eyes on a pt during the day instead of two. Lets face it, some nurses are just not going to pick up on some things and some are just plain lazy. I cringe when I have to follow a lazy 12 hour person..thats an awful lot of stuff dumped onto you!
WOLFE, BSN, RN
131 Posts
love 12 hrs...and with it the extra days off.