8 hr. shift vs. 12 hr. shift

Nursing Students General Students

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Which shift do you plan on working once you graduate?

I have two local hospitals that I am considering signing agreements with to work for in exchange for paying for my nursing courses. The hospital that pays extremely well and has excellent benefits seems to have mainly 12 hours shifts. The only departments that have 8 hour shifts are ER, Maternity and some Med-Surg, everything else is 12 hour. The other hospital pays pretty well and has decent benefits and they have a mixture of 8 hour and 12 hour shifts. 12 hours seems like an awful long day, especially if your working nights and you lose 4 hours of pay per week. Which in one of the hospitals would mean $5800/yr. (and thats for the day shift) I'm just curious to see how everyone else feels about it.

Nicky

The hospital I work at now mainly does 8hr shifts, but some people "buddy" up and do the 12hr shifts.. They will let you work 12s as long as you have someone to cover the other 12...

There are pros and cons to both... 12hr shift = less days you have to work.. But the days you do work are shot...

8hr shifts = more days, but depending on the shift, you can still have a life on those days.. :)hehe

I will probably work 8s

I work 12 hour shifts and wouldn't go back to 8's for anything.I prefer the least amount of days at work. We throw in a 8 hour shift in the pay period so there is no loss of hours.

Specializes in Behavioral Health.

...12's for me! That's all we have done in the last semester of school and it's great! Especially now that I'm doing my preceptorship...and I do 2-3 a week, sometimes in a row. My body has adjusted well and I have 4 days off!!

Everyone is different, you have to decide what works for you! Another thing to consider is distance. It's nice that my commute is only 3 days/week vs. 5....

All the best:D

I have always worked 12 hr days. If you have 8 patients and most of them are bad and or needy, you need the extra 4 hrs, just to do the paperwork. If you only work 8 hrs, I can't believe you could get done within the 8 hrs

I definitely want to work 8 hr. shifts....after finishing up my A.S. degree....I want to start on my BSN......and I don't think I'll be able to work a 12 hr. shift, take care of my family and go to school at the same time.

Hugs,

Fatima

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I plan on working 12 hour night shifts. I'd rather work 3 days a week than 5, plus with night shifts you get paid more per hour and I am a night owl.

I think its something to really think about though and not take lightly. Some people just never adjust to nights (my dad never did) and some people do better (like me!). Another reason Im interested in working nights is less docs, less administration, and more pay.

Marilyn

I'm with Marilynmom total night owl. Work nocs now as a cna. Changing my schedule when school starts to part time on 3-11. Would love to work 12 hour days when school ends or even do the weekend baylor gig 2 16 hour shifts....

I just find it easier for me on a physical level to keep going for those extra four or eight hours than to come in four days in a row. My fourth night on is like torture for me. Luckily tonight we were way overstaffed. 70 residents 14 aides. I was the only one who agreed to "call off". Lightened work load and holiday double time pay kept everyone else firmly entrenched.

I work 12 hrs and we also do one 8 hr shift in a pay period to make up the hours.

I prefer the longer days which equals more days off!

As a FORMER student nurse (RN for 15 yrs) I've done my share of both. I would almost KILL for 5-8's a week. Only problem with the 12s is that even though you get more days off, if you've worked, say, 3-4 12's in a row then your days off are spent recovering and catching up from your days on. Not much of a life. Especially if you have a family to be concerned about.

Anyhow, good luck to you, whatever you choose!

Barb

12 hour shifts are AWESOME...I worked MON - FRI days 8 hrs. and it wasn't for me.

Also, WHAT PROFESSION ARE YOU IN? Nursing has been shifts and a variety for years. We never did have BANKERS HOURS.

Shift work can be difficult but if you can balance yourself in your time/sleep/etc..it can be done and you'd most likely enjoy it.

Good luck

I would like to work 4/12hr shifts a week,at night.But that is still along ways away.:eek:

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