8 hour days or 12 hours days?

MillieT · May 13, 2011

I'm not a new grad, but commute 45min-1hr to work. I LOVE 12's I can't imagine the driving otherwise. So much of your week is eaten up with commuting and working with 8's. 12's leave me with much more off time.

I work on a horrendously busy unit. The kind everyone is afraid to float to. I've put in several 14 hr days because my charting wasn't done, and still prefer 12s. Might as well work as long as I'm there.

In my 20's I did 12s and hated them though. I think that was due to my perception. It didn't seem right to get up go to work, come home, eat and go right to bed. Now that doesn't bother me.

carluvscats · May 13, 2011

I have a weird schedule in that it is a combination of 8's and 12's. It is true what some of the other posters say; it is much easier to get all the charting done on my 12's. But, you HAVE to be able to decompress quickly after a 12, if you are going to have to get up and do it all over the next day, as there is simply no time to mull over every little thing you did or didn't do. Gotta be able to flush it quickly or you will be a zombie the next day. During my stretch of 12's, I pretty much resign myself to knowing my life will be only about work.

The benefit is the 4 days off in a row, of course. It's like having a mini-vacation every 2 weeks. Woot!

Mukfay · May 13, 2011

I don't think I'd be able to provide quality care if I were doing 5 8's per week. For me, the days off recharge me so that I can give it all when I get back (of course I'm a new grad, but I've worked both shifts over the years).

Regards,

Mukfay

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · May 13, 2011

I have a weird schedule in that it is a combination of 8's and 12's. It is true what some of the other posters say; it is much easier to get all the charting done on my 12's. But, you HAVE to be able to decompress quickly after a 12, if you are going to have to get up and do it all over the next day, as there is simply no time to mull over every little thing you did or didn't do. Gotta be able to flush it quickly or you will be a zombie the next day. During my stretch of 12's, I pretty much resign myself to knowing my life will be only about work.
The benefit is the 4 days off in a row, of course. It's like having a mini-vacation every 2 weeks. Woot!

I work the same schedule, carluvscats. You hit the nail on the head when you stated that you have to decompress quickly after a 12. You are so right! When I get home (around 2030), I have to make myself eat SOMETHING, then go straight to bed. I read in bed for about an hour then go to sleep.

12s are ok depending on where you work. Standing for 12 hours in surgery is tough for me, and I am starting to notice that my body is getting older. When I work my 12s, I notice that my hips and back hurt when I come home. When I am not scrubbed in, I have the freedom to move around more, and don't notice the crepitus in my joints as much.

When you start your orientation, will you be required to work 8s? This is a typical schedule for orientation until completion, then you can get 12s (this has been my experience).

I think the rotating schedule means that you will have to rotate to nights and weekends. Typically you will not have to do nights until you and your nurse manager discuss how comfortable you feel in your progress. Then you will likely have to do 2 weeks of days, 2 of nights. It varies widely however, depending on the needs of the unit. I know some nurses that only have to rotate to nights one week every month. You should clarify this with your nurse manager as soon as you can so you know what to expect.

Good luck to you!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 13, 2011

Thanks guys! I have been worried b/c I've heard nurses complaining about 12's, but now I am happy to hear that they aren't so bad. I was also worried about having to stay late for 12's to catch up on charting but maybe that won't happen as often as I had thought.
Another quick question...what does a rotating schedule mean? Rotate off and on weekends or what?

Please don't be offended....but that is the cutest and naive statement I have heard in a long time!!!!:redpinkhe

After all of the reality and harshness of the nursing world can sometimes be it is good for, at least me, to remember that it is all going to be OK........:)

Rotating shifts usually mean days to nights....nights to days......I have always loved 12 hour shifts as I value the extra days off. I suggest though is to work the same shift in 1 week........3 12 hour days one week and a couple of days off then 3 nights.....doing both shifts on one week is exhausting.....

Congrats!!!! and Welcome....:redpinkhe

MyMystudentRN · May 13, 2011

Congrats!! im also a new grad and lookin for wrk as an lvn been working 8s and 12s tho as a cna n i have gt to say i would prefer 12s over 8s neday!! jus like others have sed 8s r jus time consumin. you look at the clock when u clock in then once u look again its alrdy time to go and u have yet to chart!! with 12s at least u have more time n the day, and that 4 days off!! which is awesome!! PLUS u save $$ on gas commutin back and forth to and from work

NoviceRN10 · May 13, 2011

I think it depends on if you work nights or days, and how busy the unit you work on is. I work nights and I started off working five eight hrs shifts a week. I couldn't wait to get to the point where I could work my three twelves instead. 4 months into it my job I started working just the three nights. It's been rough. Even though you get 4 days off a week, you are still sleeping half of that away! I don't have a schedule where I work 3 in a row and then get 4 off, it changes weekly how many days off and on I work in a row. It is hard on the body to be standing for 13 hrs. It seems like I had an easier time when I worked 8s. When I go in at 11 I don't have to deal with the 10 pm med pass :yeah: . It does mean you are scrambling to get people assessed while they are ready to settle in for the night, though. For me working 12s means I can also get pulled to another unit from 7-11, have to care and chart for up to 8pts, and then I can be pulled back to my unit and have to start all over with a new set of pts :down: , or I can start on my unit at 7 and then get pulled elsewhere for my last 8 hrs. There are pros and cons to every shift you could work. I am about to drop to part time after working for 13 months; I can't wait ! Being a nurse is a lot harder than I ever imagined, I hope your first position is a good fit!

wife&mommyRN · May 14, 2011

Hello,

I think it really depends on the nurse and by now I'm sure u recognize whether you r a day/ night person. I'm definitely a day person, I'm one of those happy ppl u hate to see coming in the morning bc Im wide awake :) The transition to nights was fine, but now that its summer I knew that I would have problems remaining on nights. I started having migraines and I wasn't able to sleep once it became spring, not to mention its rough flip flopping between day & night. I HATE 12 hours, I feel 12 hours r extremely bad for your health and peace of mind, as we all know in nursing 12 hours can turn into 15 in the blink of an eye. Not to mention no break and barely having time to empty ur bladder. I hate sacrificing my weekends, even though those were the best times to work.

Don't get me wrong there is no amount of money that could get me to work 5 days a week as a floor nurse. But I've found my dream job in public health, M-F 9-5, 1 hour lunches, steady pace, no weekends/ holidays (so I still get my long weekends), way better beni's, much more vacay & sick time, more autonomy than I knew existed, and Im able to practice as a nurse (not a clerk, manager, housekeeper, social worker, friend, or therapist), just a nurse. I go home every night stress free and I'm able to do many activities after work. I always felt like I was missing out on life working midnights, not to mention 12 hours just wasn't safe for me, my brain just completely shut down.

Again, it all depends but everyone knows whats best for them and their bodies. Best of Luck :)

sourapril · May 14, 2011

12 hours is the way to go. you might get burn out easily but if you manage your schedule right, you can have more vacation time, more time to be with your family and friends, more time to go out instead of just stay in the house.

Brian, ASN, RN · May 14, 2011

FYI: added a poll to the thread :) Great question. I love 12 hour shifts, less commutes, less laundry, less time wasted getting ready for work.

But maybe for a new nurse, I'd probably recommend 8 hour shifts til you get your feet wet, and have more time for absorbing your new experiences with less stress.

But either way, I am sure you will do great!

allnurses Guide · May 14, 2011

I did 12 hour shifts for 9 years. My shift was 0245 to 1515 so I had to get up at 0145 to get ready for work.

I routinely did 90 to 100 hours per pay period . . which is more than 6 12's or 72 hours per pay period, which was my actual schedule. I just couldn't say no as we were short staffed.

Sometimes 16 hours for a woman in labor.

I worked weekends, holidays, and it was very difficult to have a life, to see my kids play sports, to just do anything besides work. And it always took at least a day to recover from 3 12's (or more).

I kiss the ground, I jump for joy, I feel so much peace now that I work regular hours. :yeah:

Hospice - I see patients on Monday. We rarely have more than 6. I am the school district nurse for 24 hours per week - Tues, Wed, Thur. I'm on call for hospice every other weekend.

I hate 12 hour shifts with a purple passion and yes, they do end up many times being more than 12 hours. I don't want to work 8 hours/5 days a week.

So, I can't vote in the poll.

allnurses Guide · May 14, 2011

Interesting . . . . there are two similar threads about this going . . . . . :coollook:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/debate-8-hour-565335-page2.html#post5122787

8 hour days or 12 hours days?

8 or 12 hour shifts? Which would you suggest for a new nurse?