What is the typical hospital schedule?

[ssalulu]

When working 12 hour shifts, what does your schedule usually look like? Do you work 3 12s in a row? How many days off between? 2, 3, 4?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I do 2 twelve hour days, 2 twelve hour nights, and five off.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

11-11. Basic pattern is work 2, off 2, work 2, off 3, repeat.

[firstinfamily, RN]

Who ever recommended 12 hour shifts for healthcare was just looking at saving some dollars and scheduling headaches due to difficulty keeping 3-11 shift staffed. Multiple research articles have shown that 12 hours the pt does not recieve the same level of care as with shorter shifts. The one thing that was pushed on us was the "pt continuity", that is not the case if the same group of nurses are not taking the same assignments. And, it actually takes more staff to staff 12 hours than it does 8 or 10. Yes, I am not looking forward to returning to 12 hour shifts at all.

[duskyjewel]

I love 12 hour shifts. I like my job but I love not having to do it five days a week. I have a work-life balance that would be impossible with 8 hour shifts.