What do you think of 12 hour shifts

[RNattie]

So many people are envious of nurses working 12 hours shifts and having 3 to 4 days off but I truly dislike this shift. I work nights and often only get 1 or 2 days off in a row. That often results in me sleeping through the first day and running around completing errands on my second day. I have no balance in my life and feel like the job is consuming me. Previously to becoming a nurse, I worked 8 hour shifts and found I had a more balance life: work, family, friends. Does anyone else feel the same way about 12 hour shifts? What are your opinions on 12 hour shifts?

[labrat2nurse]

I used to hate them, now I like them. I had a hard time being on the go for 12 hours, but once I learn to pace myself, I was able to do it easier. Now I appreciate the time off during the week. Great for getting errands done with little traffic around!

[blackmamba123]

I love/hate them. I too work nights. I basically spend my life mean, moody, sleep deprived and grouchy, in a dark and dirty house, not knowing one day from the next. But only on three days a week.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

So many people are envious of nurses working 12 hours shifts and having 3 to 4 days off but I truly dislike this shift. I work nights and often only get 1 or 2 days off in a row. That often results in me sleeping through the first day and running around completing errands on my second day. I have no balance in my life and feel like the job is consuming me. Previously to becoming a nurse, I worked 8 hour shifts and found I had a more balance life: work, family, friends. Does anyone else feel the same way about 12 hour shifts? What are your opinions on 12 hour shifts?

When I started nursing, everyone worked eight hour shifts. I HATED it. I felt as though I was at work ALL of the time, and the requirement for working every other weekend meant that I got two days off in a row only every other week. I was part of a pilot study on 12 hour shifts in 1982 -- and I've worked 12s since. I'd never go back. NEVER!

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I personally like 12 hour shifts. 12 hour night shifts present a different challenge. We used to call that first day off a "fake day off" as you basically slept through the whole day. The trick of working nights (I think) is to lump all your work days together so you are not constantly rearranging your sleep cycle as that makes it fell like you have no days off at all

[Everline]

I used to like 12 hour shifts when I didn't like my job. The thought of being at the hospital more than 3 days a week was awful. I wouldn't ever have given up 12 hour shifts as a floor nurse even working night shift. I now work 8 hour shifts and I have nights, weekends and holidays off. It was an adjustment going from a three day work week to a 5 day work week. But now I like it just fine. If I could have four 10 hours shifts and still have my nights, weekends and holidays off, I think that would be perfect.

[cleback]

If I have to work nights, I would much rather work 12s.

If I had to work 8 hour nights, I would run away screaming.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

It's not the 12 hour shifts or the nights. It's how you adjust to the shift.

I used to work Tuesday 9a-9p and Thurs, Friday 6p-6a. EVERY WEEK One day shift and two night shifts. I loved it! I would nap on Thursday afternoon, work my night shift, sleep most of Friday day, work my night shift. Sleep til 2 or so on Saturday afternoon then be a day person til Thursday afternoon.

I had an hour commute and my wife had a home business so I had to make extra effort to block out light, noise and vibrations to sleep during the day.

Most night people have at least two of their shifts together if not all three. If your manager can't do any better than an every other night shift schedule your entire night crew will go insane.

To answer your question, though, I love 12 hour shifts. Not so much the shifts themselves but the flexibility I have with my days off. I have a .6 FTE position working 2 12 hour shifts a week. Sweet, I know!!!

[LovingLife123]

I simply hated night shift. Your "first day off" is not really a day off as you worked 8 hours of the day. Then it's spent sleeping. If I was off the next day it was my only true day off, as by the third I had to make sure I slept during the day to prepare for being up all night that night. I had to do 3 in a row on night shift. It was the only way to have a life.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I love my 12 hour shifts. I have almost an hour drive to work. I work Fri Sat Sun. I get M-Th with my family. 4-10s would be great too. I used to work 3-11 5 days and I never saw the kids i seemed but that is my best time to be awake. I'm good with what I have right now. I don't like nights period. 3

[BedsideNurse]

I used to like 12 shifts but now that I'm older they wear me out and prefer 8's, but only if not full time. 5 days a week is too many days at the hospital!

[BedsideNurse]

So funny!! Only three days a week! hahaha

I love/hate them. I too work nights. I basically spend my life mean, moody, sleep deprived and grouchy, in a dark and dirty house, not knowing one day from the next. But only on three days a week.

[Davey Do]

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