Are 12 hour shifts terribly long?

Nurses General Nursing

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Im a nursing student and Im just wondering if the 12 hour shifts go by fast or if they just drag on. I know working previous jobs 8 hours seems way too long, but maybe since you are always doing something in nursing it helps?

Specializes in LTC, med-surg, critial care.

I'm gonna say it depends A LOT on how busy your unit is. I worked in LTC when I first graduated (eight, tweleve and sixteen hour shifts depending on who called in!) and even a double shift flew by.

Then I moved to a large hospitals' subacute unit and the 12 hour shifts drag because the unit is so dang slow. I look at the clock and think "it's only 10PM?!" I am always dying to find something to do. I've gone around and cut the nails of everyone in the facility that needed it!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I simply have a strong preference for the 12-hour or 16-hour shifts because I tend to have more days off per week. I find the compressed work schedules to be quite enjoyable. It is an absolute myth that people who work 12-hour or 16-hour shifts need their extra days off to recover. All I need for recovery is to sleep a few extra hours on Monday morning since I work 16-hours daily on Saturday and Sunday.

Having done both 8 hour shifts, and 12 hour shifts during my last semester as a nursing student, I found that I enjoyed the 12 hour shifts more. When the eight hour shift is up, it seems like you are racing to get all your documentation done, as well as giving report about all that has occured during the shift. With the 12 hour shifts, I did not feel as rushed. I felt like this gave me the opportunity to be better prepared and get everything that I needed to get done. Another added benefit is, it seems like you have so much more time off, to relax, spend time with family, or just di things that you enjoy.

Specializes in PACU.
I love the 12 hour shifts. It is a lot easier to stay for an extra 4 hours then think about coming into work for 4 or 5 straight days. Plus when you do have to work an 8 hour shift, it flies by and seems like a 1/2 day. Good luck!

ABSOLUTELY!!!

I love my 12 hour days -- where else can you be full time and work only 3 days per week

I am a senior in nursing school, and I work at a local hospital. Most of my shifts are 12 hrs... some days it goes by fast... others it is slower.... on those days however you are just glad not to be moving nonstop.

Realistically, they are not even going to be just 12 hrs... prob 13.... reason why you must get all your stuff entered into the computer, give report to the oncoming nurse, do all last duties.... I work on an ortho-neuro floor and stay really busy most of the time.

good luck

I love, love my 12 hours shifts. I am planning a trip to disney and to get 10 days off I only use 3 vacation days!!!! And like the prior post: working 3 days a week getting full time benefits. How could you not!!!!!!!! The down side is holidays and the weekends are long, but I luv, luv them!!!!!!!!! Like this weekend is my weekend off and we get our birthday paid off, so I have four days off I dont go back until WED. (today is sat) I work wednesday off AGAIN on thurs and friday!!!!!!!!! work next weekend off the holiday (monday) work tuesday and I dont go back for 6 days. How could I complain.

Specializes in L&D.
Im a nursing student and Im just wondering if the 12 hour shifts go by fast or if they just drag on. I know working previous jobs 8 hours seems way too long, but maybe since you are always doing something in nursing it helps?

I don't think so. I loved my 12 hour shifts. They went by so fast. I liked my 3 day week much better than my 5 days a week.

Specializes in ED, MS, CC.

I work 12 hour shifts and I love them, you don't have time to think about how long they are because if you're doing your job correctly you ALWAYS have something to do!

Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

chiming in to say I love 12s. Just think, you only go in to work 15 days per month. And since I am in ER I never get stuck with the same patients. They are always changing. Time flies. And if it doesn't you learn to love the down time.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology.

I used to work 12's and I loved them. I switched jobs, and my current director does not really like 12's so I'm back to 5 eights. She is set to retire in the next year, hopefully her replacement likes 12's!

Specializes in PACU.
I love, love my 12 hours shifts. I am planning a trip to disney and to get 10 days off I only use 3 vacation days!!!! And like the prior post: working 3 days a week getting full time benefits. How could you not!!!!!!!! The down side is holidays and the weekends are long, but I luv, luv them!!!!!!!!! Like this weekend is my weekend off and we get our birthday paid off, so I have four days off I dont go back until WED. (today is sat) I work wednesday off AGAIN on thurs and friday!!!!!!!!! work next weekend off the holiday (monday) work tuesday and I dont go back for 6 days. How could I complain.

yup -- every other week, out of 7 days, I work 1! It is great! The weekend is long since I work Fri, Sat and Sunday -- but hey, I still love the 12 hour shifts and would do nothing else. I used to do 8 hours and felt like I lived at the hospital. Now I feel like I live my life.

Wow, 12 hr shifts sound great! I think I'll look for those when i get through school.

In my current (non-healthcare) job, they tried a compressed workweek for a few years before doing away with it. We would work 4 ten hr days and get 3 off. However, we own our files, so if something happened and you had to devote extra time to a case, you wound up working on a day off anyway. In nursing, you don't bring your pts home with you, so it must be nice to "leave it at the office", so to speak, and have 4 days off per week.

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