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?

[No Stars In My Eyes]

For me, night shift's a killer. When I worked 8's, I always did 3-11's. So, I could stay up late AND sleep late! Or get stuff done in the daytime and still work. Of course I was single, and that made it easier all the way around.

Since I was already used to working weekends and Holidays, when 12's became the thing (ie, no choice), I worked a deal where I would do 3/ 12's in a row, only day shift, every Sat, Sun, and Mon. Employers were so happy to have a permanent weekend employee who was reliable, and who voluntarily worked Holidays, I never got any grief from anyone.

Couldn't do it if I had kids though, which I don't. It also helps to have an understanding husband.

[MunoRN, RN]

I used to work 12 hour night shift and didn't like it. Near end of shift, I often had a headache because I was too tired. I'm feeling much better with 8 hour day shift now.

Liking 8 hour day shifts better than 12 hour night shifts probably has more to do with the day/night aspect than the 8/12 aspect.

[KeepinitrealCCRN]

i love 12s. if i had to work 8s (which would really be 9s) 5 days a week i would leave bedside nursing. i love having 3-4 days off a week.

[Kamilah Coney, ASN, BSN, RN]

I used to work three 12-hour nights (Thurs, Saturday and Sunday) but now I only working two 12-hour nights a week (Friday and Sunday). This is just until I graduate and pass the state board exam. After that I will, hopefully, be working three back-to-back 12-hour days. Oh how I miss working days!!!

[Cat365]

I like night and I like 12s, but my nights run 3pm-3:30 am. I live an hour away so I'm in bed by 5 am an up at 1pm. My days are also consecutive. I hate splitting them up because I feel like on my first day off I can't get anything done until after 5 pm then a lot is closing. Most nurses I work with prefer 2-3 days in a row (Some like 2 on 1 off then the third because they feel like poop on the third day). I wouldn't work 5 eight hour night shifts (days would be different). I wouldn't get anything done except work.

PS If I could persuade the rest of the world to be operational at night I'd be happy with 5 night shifts.

[itsybitsy]

Best thing since sliced bread. However, I do work days.

Honestly, I'd rather work two 18 hour days. THAT would be the life!

[gpsrn, MSN, RN]

I use to work 12 hour nights. They were killers until I got use to them. It took 2-3 months to get used to them. Then they were okay.

[anewsns]

It's not you, it's probably NOCs. I understand about switching from 8's to 12's though. For me it used to be work and life on the same day. Now it's work on some days, life on other days.

[purplegal]

I have been working 12 hour days for about a month now. When we are fully staffed, they haven't been too bad; they've actually allowed for some "down time" so I don't have to stay as late at the end of my shift to finish charting (for example, I can do some charting when residents are eating or when they are taking afternoon naps). However, when we are short-staffed, I don't always get that downtime because I either have an increased patient load, and/or need to help out the aide because the job is nearly impossible for one aide to do alone without the help of the nurse. My busy weeks, when I work 5 shifts (Monday and Tuesday, and then Friday through Sunday), do get long, but I also have 9 days off after that without using PTO. Then I work Wednesday and Thursday, and have 3 days off. Then it's back to my busy week. Doesn't seem to work too bad, but I'm not married and I don't have any children either.

[scooterscamp123]

Stacking shifts is key, like working a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, having off Sunday night, then a Monday, Tuesday and either Wednesday or Thursday (if you can tolerate working 3 in a row). It's tough but it will allow you to be a functional human on your days off. I feel your pain though. I'm trying to transition to days to improve my mental and physical health. You could try talking to your manager or scheduler too and give them your preferences on how you want to be scheduled. Hope everything works out!

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Liked them as a tech who watched monitors. Hate them as a nurse. I much prefer 8s. Presently I do both, but that will end when one of the units I work on goes to 12s. I would even rather do 16s. Because I am just as useless after a 12 hour shift as I am after 16 hrs.

[KarenMS]

12's when I was single were great. 12's married became a challenge. 12's with a family stink.

Childcare takes an act of congress. The day before I spend cooking for however many shifts I have to work in a row in advance. Plate out all the food. Pack all the lunches (I live 1 hour away). I also need to do all the food shopping.

Then there's the laundry and the cleaning. Gymnastics lessons. Homework. Working out can only be done on days off and if I don't I'm sore and go from slim to sloppy looking easily. Then I'm a zombie because I chose the gym over sleep.

Have the rest of the world work 12 hour shifts long term and see how envious they are then. I worked 8's. I loved 8's. I'd still be working full time if I had the 8 hour option.

Can I ask why you have to plate out all the food in advance???