Handling 12 hour shifts!

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Hi all! I have my first 12 hour shift this Wednesday and another one on Friday. 8am-8pm. How do you guys handle them? Any tips?

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I start my first 12 hr shift this week also! 7a-7p. I also have the same exact questions.

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Good luck!! I hope someone responds :D

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All I can say is to pace yourself. 12 hours is really not that long if youre busy.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I've worked 12s before. Like I said, they're really not that bad as long as you keep busy. The time flies by before you know it.. I think it is a lot harder on a night shift than a day shift, though. Working 12-hr long night shifts, I would find that I grew very tired the last few hours and my brain would start to slow down.

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I've worked 12 hours before. Make your days off count!! Get some good rest on your days off and make sure you have comfortable shoes. It might do some good to bring in an extra pair of socks to change into because of such a long shift.

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I work 12 hour nights either 6p to 6a or 10p to 10a. My best advice is just don't think about the time too much just know when you have to do stuff and pace yourself. It will fly by and you will be headed home before you know it.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Extra socks lol? What the heck for? :)

If you're busy time will fly by, so keep an eye on the time & make sure you keep on schedule (vitals, baths, blood sugars, etc). I'm almost always happily surprised at the end of the shift. It comes quicker than you think. But once I sit down, I'm tired & DONE :)

I usually clock out for 20 minutes for lunch, only because they force me but normally other than that, I only sit down for another 20 minutes or so sprinkled throughout the day (of course, I wear a pedometer & try to get in at least 5-7 miles of walking, so I avoid sitting). Lots of time on your feet, I hope you're fit :)

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I used to take extra socks and shoes with me when I was an STNA :) somehow I always managed to soak my socks/shoes with the type of showers the residents had. I kept both shoes at work but took the socks home to clean.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Oh well that makes perfect sense. I work on a surgical floor and we don't give showers, normally just bed baths or sponge baths, so my feet don't generally get wet.

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Thanks everyone! Unfortunately I got into a bad car accident on Tuesday and could not make it to the Wednesday shift (they were very understanding.) So tomorrow will be my first 12 hr shift. I will take everyone's advice into consideration! :)

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