Eight or Twelve Hour Shifts

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. Eight or twelve hour Shifts

    • 41
      I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have no experience
    • 81
      I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have no experience
    • 54
      I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have less than 5 years experience
    • 186
      I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have less than 5 years experience
    • 49
      I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have 5 - 10 years experience
    • 78
      I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have more than 5 - 10 years experience
    • 43
      I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have 10 - 20 years experience
    • 90
      I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have 10 - 20 years experience
    • 100
      I prefer 8 hour shifts and I have more than 20 years experience
    • 90
      I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have more than 20 years experience

812 members have participated

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

I WORK 12 HR. SHIFTS IN LTC, WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.
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I am still a student but I prefer the 8 hour shift....

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I'm 52 years old and have been a nurse for a bit over a year. I no longer work the floor now because I couldn't hack the 12 hour shifts--too long. Maybe it was just the hospital where I work, they have both 8 and 12 hour shifts. I worked the 12's because I too liked the days off, but it never failed at 3 pm, those nurses working 12 hours would have to pick up the patients of those who worked 8 hours, and then ED would always unload their patients between 5 and 7 pm so we would have to deal with most of the admissions. Perhaps it's just my age or just the organization of the hospital I work at, but twelve hours is too long. Plus, being a single mom, it's hard to get much family time those evenings you work and come home pooped.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, Long Term,Ortho.
I'm 52 years old and have been a nurse for a bit over a year. I no longer work the floor now because I couldn't hack the 12 hour shifts--too long. Maybe it was just the hospital where I work, they have both 8 and 12 hour shifts. I worked the 12's because I too liked the days off, but it never failed at 3 pm, those nurses working 12 hours would have to pick up the patients of those who worked 8 hours, and then ED would always unload their patients between 5 and 7 pm so we would have to deal with most of the admissions. Perhaps it's just my age or just the organization of the hospital I work at, but twelve hours is too long. Plus, being a single mom, it's hard to get much family time those evenings you work and come home pooped.

Your story sounded like my last job that is one of the reasons I left. The ER would send the admissions up back to back between 5p-7p when u r trying to get 5p meds out and wrap things up. What a nightmare. That's why we couldn't get off on time and the night shift assignment kept changing causing further delay. 12 hours burned me out after 3.5 years.

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Specializes in geriatrics, pediatrics.

Being a single mom, I enjoyed the 8 hrs shifts so that I could be there for my kids. Now that they are older and on their own, 12 hr shifts are great

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Specializes in Research, ED, Critical Care.

Initially it seems that younger nurses (meaning less experienced - this poll is not age focused) prefer 12s and more experienced (older, yes due to the years of experience) prefer 8s or 12s equally. I will investigate the demographics of nurses who utilize the internet next. Thanks for all your imputs!!

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I have only worked EMS in the last few years and have never gone into nursing, but that is about to change. I think I would much prefer shorter shifts but I'm also used to the long hours so I dont know that in the end it would matter.

I guess as long as you are busy shorer or longer shifts doesnt matter.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

I prefer 12 hour shifts and I have 10 - 20 years experience

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I work 8 hr shifts M-F. I am old and have been a nurse for 25 yrs. I will leave the 12hrs to the young nurses. I just don't know what I will do if they mandate 12 hr shifts?:scrying:

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I will be very interested to see the results...I have been a nurse for 27 years...was part-time 3 eights...last month our ER went to mandatory 12 hour shifts because they say it we are way over budget. There were only eight people in a >100 person department doing eights or a combination of 2 12's and 2 8's. so I don't think we were the budget problem. Of the eight one left immediately and 5 others are currently looking. These were some of our most experienced nurses. I think it will back fire. I had 18 years in the ER and another nurse had 21 years in theER. The other six had between 5-15 years. Our turnover is very high...even interns we have supported through nursing school rarely stay after their 2 year committment is up. We need experienced nurses because we are the 2nd busiest trauma center in our state. I think expences for recruitment and orientation will eat up any money they might save by eliminating 8 hour shifts as an option. In addition many older nurses don't want 12's and even younger nurses starting families find 12 hours is too long away from their children...not having the option of eight's may make our ER less attractive as almost everyone will face a situation at some time where thay cannot do 12 hour shifts(caring for parents, children, after surgery,etc. ) If forced to do 12's, I am planning to find another job but before I leave willo talk with our VP of Nursing, VP of Human resources and our CEO to see if some compromise can be found.

outcomesfirst

Initially it seems that younger nurses (meaning less experienced - this poll is not age focused) prefer 12s and more experienced (older, yes due to the years of experience) prefer 8s or 12s equally. I will investigate the demographics of nurses who utilize the internet next. Thanks for all your imputs!!

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Specializes in CCU.

I love working 12hrs, 4 days off it is great for continuing education. However, it is nice to work an 11-7 occasionally, time really goes by quickly.

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Specializes in Psych, substance abuse, MR-DD.

I have had experience doing 12's and 8's as a NA, but just 12's as a SN.

When I start my RN job I am hired for a 40 hr position and I am going to try to get 2 8's and 2 12's

I like 8's because it goes by fast and I still have time for my life on days that I work. and 12 hours is a LOOONG time when you're having a bad day

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