12 hour shifts cut.

[nckdl]

Has anybody ever worked in a facility that had 12 hr shifts, but then changed them to 8 hr shifts? How did it affect all the personnel involved? I also heard that you could apply for unemployment if you got bumped from your job or offered another shift you could not work.

[Midwest4me]

No, I have not worked in a facility in which such a change was made but it makes sense as far as covering shifts for those who call in sick; if all the nurses are doing 12-hr shifts, you just can't be made to work another 12 hours once you've finished your 12 hours...such a thing can easily be done to nurses working 8-hr shifts. I cannot imagine why in the world unemployment would be paid to someone bumped from a 12-hr shift down to an 8-hr shift. Unemployment is for those UNemployed. Anyone can learn to work any shift if the bills need to be paid.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

good question... we are going to 12 hour shifts (well a portion of us are) and im very afraid they will take them back.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

I cannot imagine why in the world unemployment would be paid to someone bumped from a 12-hr shift down to an 8-hr shift. Unemployment is for those UNemployed. Anyone can learn to work any shift if the bills need to be paid.

Someone may have a second job it now interferes with or other unavoidable obligations.

I hope not many facilities are doing this. 12s are a MAJOR reason I'm here, not the only one, but one of the big reasons.

[lkwashington]

I have heard of changing all shift to 12's due to less coverage needed on a unit. This would benefit the unit overall.

[mriley]

On my unit, they went to 2 -12 hr and 2-8 hr shifts a week ...people quit....then they realized that they lost a lot of great nurses and went back to 3 -12 hour shifts and made the new hires work 8's and 12's.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

It actually costs an organization more $ to run 12-hour shifts, both in terms of actual worked hours & benefits paid. Many of us "tenured" nurses have a difficult time just making it through a 12 - particularly in areas that involve a lot of lifting. Childcare can also be an issue for anyone without a built-in support system. In my experience, it is also very difficult to manage a department with all 12-hour staff because no one is 'invested' enough to participate in department activities since they are only there 2 or 3 days a week - it feels as though you and the unit secretary are the only "full time" staff.

I really hope we're going to see a greater variety of shifts offered in the future - such as shorter ones (4-6 hours) to attract & retain tenured staff or balance out an uneven daily workload. It's plain that the 'one size fits all' really doesn't, especially when they are considering raising the retirement eligibility age once again.

[lkwashington]

It actually costs an organization more $ to run 12-hour shifts, both in terms of actual worked hours & benefits paid. Many of us "tenured" nurses have a difficult time just making it through a 12 - particularly in areas that involve a lot of lifting. Childcare can also be an issue for anyone without a built-in support system. In my experience, it is also very difficult to manage a department with all 12-hour staff because no one is 'invested' enough to participate in department activities since they are only there 2 or 3 days a week - it feels as though you and the unit secretary are the only "full time" staff.

I really hope we're going to see a greater variety of shifts offered in the future - such as shorter ones (4-6 hours) to attract & retain tenured staff or balance out an uneven daily workload. It's plain that the 'one size fits all' really doesn't, especially when they are considering raising the retirement eligibility age once again.

In the ICU, I work it saved the unit a lot money. It went from covering over 100 shifts to just about 60 shifts. There always was a four hour block that needed covering and the 3P to 11P shift was very hard to cover. The director of the unit did some research on the unit. I must say it has worked. This started on August 1. It may not work on all units. I would be a strain on some units to pick up a patient or two at 3p or 11p, if you already have a busy group. I know several facilities went to 12 hour shifts. It actually a positive thing. I know some people work 4 to 5 eight hour shift a day. I guess it varies and what are the needs.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

12s mean you need 50% less time for shift overlaps and handoffs. Also, less information is lost in the switchoffs and there is better continuity of care.

12s don't seem so long coming from the land of 24s and 48s.

[lkwashington]

12s mean you need 50% less time for shift overlaps and handoffs. Also, less information is lost in the switchoffs and there is better continuity of care.

12s don't seem so long coming from the land of 24s and 48s.

I agree. Majority of the time the same nurse will be getting the patient back in the am or pm. Most nurses in the ICU keep their worksheets/Kardexes this would allow just reporting anything new. It just make everything go faster in a short time providing report.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

God, I'd give my left arm to work 8 hour shifts.

[lkwashington]

God, I'd give my left arm to work 8 hour shifts.

I thougth about working 8 hour shifts. I just to think going to a job 5 days a week would be a disadvantage, especially if the department/unit you work is a stressful one.