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
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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).
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.
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.
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.
Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.
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.
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!!!!!
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.
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.
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
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.
I am 45 year old (almost 46) and I have worked most of my career in MICU. I work a 3/2 split shift that are 12 hour shifts. My longest stretch is 3 days in a row in which I am getting to the point that I feel I don't know how much longer I can keep doing it. Especially after a couple of busy busy days in a row. I will say for now that I prefer 12 hour shifts as I like having some week days off. I'm just hoping I can hold out another 3 years before I can retire. I know once I retire, I will have to keep working cause my kids are still fairly young. (I had them both in my 30s.) I have no clue what a swing shift is and honestly it doesn't sound like something I could do if it requires working on nights or beyond 12 hours!! If I were in my early 30s, maybe. 😂
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
Working night shift 12s at 60 years old.
Have done this for the last 15 years. Was OK until this last year. Starting to get tired now.
Not sure I'd be any less tired doing days or doing 8s. Think I'm just reaching that pre-retirement can't wait to finish phase. Nights has always suited me - you can either do them or you can't.
8s were OK when I was a CNS and had Monday to Friday 9 to 5. A normal life like everyone I knew who wasn't in health care! 8s in hospital doing a stretch of late, early, early, late etc. was horrible. The last last place I worked this we finished a late at 22h and could have to be back for 7h for an early the next day. Just 9 hours break to go home, wind down, sleep, get up and be back ready to run. Dangerous. Also the night shift had a very short night and if you were full time you were on more than you were off - a sure way to invert your cycle.
Days or nights I love 12s. Four days off a week is great. Wouldn't go back 8s with just 2 days rest. Never.
Hi David! I do NOT know how did all those wild shifts and especially the 22 hours with only 9 hours off to recharge!! I would be a zombie and a very dangerous nurse not to mention at the age of 60!! Wow! My hat is off to you!! I would have literally and accidentally hurt/killed someone's loved one. I believe my health issues are a lot to blame for my lack of energy these days. I have really bad iron deficiency anemia, low vitamin D level along with all my female hormones being low, in particular a super low testosterone level. I will say that I'm currently seeing my NP for most of these issues and soon will see my OB doctor and I'm hoping soon to resolve all which is zapping my energy levels. Once all that's fixed, then I plant to get my tired self back to exercising too. Hopefully then I will feel like these 12 hour shifts won't wipe me completely out like they do now. I definitely posted my previous posting after working two busy 12 hour shifts and I was definitely tired. I only have 1 day off, today, then back for 4 in a row. I picked up a little overtime and I'm already regretting it!! LOL
33-weeker
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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.