"Older" nurses and 12 hour shifts

[MQ Edna]

A recent medscape article "oldies are goodies" talks about the value of "older" nurses (age 45 and up) and how to best retain them. the article suggests that

Quote

Twelve hour shifts are difficult for 30 year olds; it is necessary to offer numerous choices of days and shifts for older workers.

According to this article, I'm an older nurse (age 45). Personally, I like working twelves and having a 3 day full time work week. I wonder how many of you 45 and over still work twelves and how many do not? If you are working twelves do you wish you could be offered other choices (such as 10's or 8's)?

I think one of the things managers should keep in mind with "older" nurses is insisting they work swinging shifts. This was the case at the job I just left, and it is the reason why I left. Many of the big metro hospitals (at least in my area) insist that everyone work swinging shifts and only a select few (those who have been with the system 15-20 years) get out of this requirement. I worked with several "older" excellent nurses at my past job who where really struggling with the swinging shifts and even compromising their health because of it (sleep deprivation when on nights).

[33-weeker]

i'm 40. i work 12's. i recently had to return to night shift due to childcare issues. i have figured out that i like working on-3, off-1, on-3, off-7. this keeps me from feeling like crap from nickle & diming myself here and there, never knowing what my body is doing from one day to the next. also, the 1 off let's me catch up on my rest if the unit is unusually busy, or if i have had my sleep disturbed.

i usually work wed-thurs-fri, sun-mon-tues. that way i don't have too many days in one week/pay period.

i like 12's. i'll keep working them as long as i can.

[nan1993]

I have worked twelve hour shifts since our hopitals changed in the eighties. I like twelve hours with self scheduling compared to eight hours. I will admit I am tired more often than when I was in my twenties.

[Retired R.N.]

Instituting mandatory 12-hour shifts seems like one very simple way for a hospital or LTC to "clean house" and get rid of all the "older" nurses without running the risk of a lawsuit based on age discrimination. Mandatory swing shifts is another scheme that has been used for many years.

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

I am almost 50, I work 12's and 8's, I often schedule a string of 6 days through my weekend to work and then I have 5 days off through my next weekend. Many times that involves 2 or 3 12's in a row plus the other 8 hour shifts attached to them. I still do fine with that. Maybe retention is better served by offering a variety of options versus, older nurses need to work daylight or lesser hours per shift.

I was hired for 12's and 8's daylight and evenings, we have self scheduling and are open to switching days if last minute needs arise. We have rare call-offs and are a very busy telemetry unit. Right now we are pretty well staffed so having more than the 'grid' patient load doesn't happen more than once a week and usually does not involve more than 4 hours.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i'm 51, and i've been working 12 hour shifts since 1983. i wouldn't want to work 8s for anything.

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

I am an "oldie" but prefer 12 hr shifts, as I have a one hour one way commute, and sure as heck don't want to do it more than I have to. That said, I can't do three 12's in a row anymore. I do two, have a day off or two, then pick up the third one. Used to work six in a row when younger. Not any more!!!!!

[oldiebutgoodie, RN]

I'm 5, and have been a nurse for over a year. I really like 12 hour shifts, but am changing units to work 2 12's rather than 12's (since the 12 ends up being 13 anyway). That way, I am flexible and can pick up another shift if I want.

I think that the key to retaining nurses in general is to find ways to accomodate their health/sleep styles, etc. Forcing schedules onto nurses is a sure way to make them find other jobs.

Hospitals should just get rid of rotating schedules, because everyone hates them, and the research shows that it's unhealthy, besides.

Weekender programs where nurses are paid extra for the weekend duty is a great idea, too.

Oldiebutgoodie

[law3576]

my mother is 53 and works the 7p to 7a shift 4-5 days every week. She is an ER nurse and seems to be doing fine. She is exhausted though by the end of her week and feels that she only has one day off because the first day off she spends sleeping. I think it's just the energy level. I know for myself that I could never do that and I am only 27.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

I used to pull allnighters and doubles all the time when I was younger, but since I now have pulmonary hypertension, and numerous other ailments, I'm now on the receiving end and hate it. There isn't 6 hours that goes by where I'm out of pain. Bleah.