How did nursing ever "buy into" 12-hr shifts??? - page 2

1. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: RN, Elderly Mental health Joined: Jun '01; Posts: 3,115; Likes: 51

   8's are the norm in the UK, 12's are seen as an anachronism, dating back to Victorian working conditions. I don't see how you can function effectively or safely after 12 0r 16! hours. Wow!
   12's do make the manager's job simpler.
2. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: Enterprise Application Systems Analyst Specialty: 27 year(s) of experience in Everything except surgery ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 5,601; Likes: 174

   I LUV working 12hr shifts!!! I have worked 8's, and hate having to work 5 days/nites a week!!! If the assignment is for 8's...I don't even consider it! I went to work last nite, and the first 4hrs flew by so fast...I felt like I had just got there! The only time I don't like 12hrs is when the unit is slow....and the time drags on forever! But as we all know...on a busy med-surg unit...that is rarely the case. And give me 16hrs day/nite where all I have to do is work two 16hrs, and one 8!!! Perfect IMHO..! Many times I have had a schedule that allowed me to take off 5 or even 6 days together...which feels like mini vacations!! Having only two days/nites off each week..is a drag!
   
   I guess that is why I rarely feel the need to take off...a day/nite...to get some mental health time in..
3. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: RN, Inpatient Hospice Specialty: 17 year(s) of experience in Hospice, Critical Care ; From: US ; Joined: Oct '00; Posts: 1,664; Likes: 177

   Brownie, I completely agree!
   
   I LOVE 12-hour shifts!! I did five 8 hours shifts a day for seven months and HATED it! Hated it! I wouldn't consider five 8-hour days again and I'd probably LEAVE nursing if I had to!! Work 3 days and be off 4 days---how can that be bad?! And I'm in the "over-40 crowd" with children at home. Yeah, my legs hurt and my feet hurt but heck, I can recover on my 4 days off! Most of the staff at my facility seem to feel the same way; I know we'd lose a bulk of our nurses in ICU if they tried to make us go back to working five 8 hour days. During the rough times, many of my co-workers said they only thing that kept them there WAS the 12-hour shifts. And it does carry full benefits.
   
   12-hour shifts...best thing that ever happened to me.
4. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: Tele Unit RN Joined: Aug '02; Posts: 49

   I can barely get through 8 hrs - forget 12's. I don't think I could physically get through 1- 12 hr shift, let alone 3 a week. I've been in nursing for 30+ years and I'm tired! By-the-by, have you ever tried to find staffing to cover a 12 hr nurse's call-off? Especially on a weekend? That is not fun.
5. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Joined: Jul '00; Posts: 11,351; Likes: 387

   I prefer 12 hours and will never work at a facility that requires staff to work 8s. 2 days off is not enough to recoup from M-F!
6. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: Nurse Educator Specialty: 16 year(s) of experience in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds ; From: US ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 12,037; Likes: 6,467

   I think everyone ought to be given their individual CHOICE. It makes for a scheduling headache for management (a LOT of those troublesome 4-hour "holes") but the nurses are sure a lot happier and tend to stick around. Heck, a lot of nurses are doing this anyway--going agency--which gives THEM their CHOICE of hours, shifts, etc.
7. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: Nurse Consultant Specialty: 24 year(s) of experience in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych ; Joined: Jun '02; Posts: 3,105; Likes: 49

   Another vote for 12's here. I can't imagine going back to 8's. It is so nice to have a life!
8. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: RN Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 2,065; Likes: 48

   l'm 45.....l work 12's in a busy ER....8 hrs seems like a walk in the park now.....l like being off...more time away...LR
9. 
   Aug 17, '02

   Occupation: Retired Specialty: 38 year(s) of experience in Women's health & post-partum ; From: OR, US ; Joined: Aug '02; Posts: 567; Likes: 176

   I personally would enjoy the freedom of 12-hour days, but as one of the "over forty" crowd, I know I couldn't keep up the pace in today's tight staffing.
   
   By the way, has anyone seen the article in the Aug 12 issue of Nurseweek entitled "Changing Tides", subtitled "Nurses are buoyed by new evidence that shows more RN vigilance, knowledge and training play an important part of saving lives--and hospital costs." It goes on to cite research that proves what we always knew about staffing and patient outcome.
10. 
    Aug 17, '02

    Occupation: RN Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 2,065; Likes: 48

    James, l missed that...but then we've always known.....problem is imho, that hospitals don't care as much about pt outcomes as much as the bottom line....LR
11. 
    Aug 17, '02

    Occupation: LPN Joined: Jun '02; Posts: 33; Likes: 2

    I like my 12's just don't like more than 3 in a row. I do love it when the 8-5's bring up that I seem crabby on mondays after working 3 12's and at our facility you are the housekeeper, maintaince man, plumber, security guard, tour guide, info desk, and oh yeah a NURSE! Weekends are the worst to work 3 in a row. But I do enjoy my days off during the week and my weekends off everyother. I get a lot of things done and can enjoy my time off without the stress of being at work 5 days a week. JMHO Nurse Hag
12. 
    Aug 17, '02

    Occupation: Director of a psychiatric facility Joined: Aug '02; Posts: 168; Likes: 7

    I'm an over 40 nurse and I had to return to 8 hour shifts 5 days a week when I got a new job after years of working 3 12's a week.
    This 5 day a week crap is killing me!!!!!! I feel like I am always working!!!!!! I'd give anything to be able to work 3 12 hour shifts a week again!!! It's the only way to go!!!!!
13. 
    Aug 18, '02

    Joined: Dec '01; Posts: 2,865; Likes: 15

    LOVE those 12's!
    more days off
    I'd take 12's over 8's anyday!
    working 5 days a week sucks I like my 12 hour rotations , off every other weekend, sweet!

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