12 hour shifts to 8 hour shifts...

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I have a job interview tomorrow on a gyne-oncology unit. Currently I am working on a busy surgical unit and doing 12 hour shifts. The new unit does only 8 hour shifts. Has anyone ever switched from 12 to 8 hour shifts and what did you find as the advantages and disadvantages. It will be mostly D/E. Any information would be great, the 8 hour shift is one main reason I am not totally sure I want to move. Currently I am in school and have no family commitment.

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i switched from doing 12 h shifts on an Ortho floor to 8 h on a Trauma/Surgery floor in September... i'm loving the 8 h shifts, because even though i'm only 26, i found 12 h on Ortho just too hard on my system... i'd literally come home and sleep until my next shift... it was just to physically hard... everywhere else i've ever worked, it's been 12 h shifts and i never had that problem...

i like that i still have time in the day to do stuff either before or after work when i'm doing 8 h shifts... it makes it a little easier to get errands done...

the main disadvantage is you're at the hospital a lot more when you work 8 h shifts... with my former jobs, fulltime basically was six 12 h shifts per 2 weeks... whereas, fulltime hours working 8 h shifts is 9-10 shifts in 2 weeks... that can get a little old...

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I've done both. The advantages to 8 hour shifts is that you have more of your day free. I could have the evening free before work to be with friends, or spouse. It was easier to include outside activities. Or if I didn't sleep well, could sneak a nap in.

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If I was in school and no family commitment I would do it.

I have a family and it was hell. It just didn't work for us.

I switched back to 8 and only did 12 if and only if, my husband happened to have off that day.

But, best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

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LOVE 8's !!! I am home to enjoy the rest of my day and can be there for my kid when he comes home from school. 12's were depressing because you devote the entire day to the facility and never see daylight. I also read a study that indicateed that most med errors occur after 10 hours, don't know if it's true or not. I try and schedule myself for 3 8 hour shifts per week as registry and still have time for my life.

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I love 12 hour shifts! Althought I havent worked 8 as a nurse, at my former job i used to work 8 hours and it was hell! I could never go back to working 5 days a week. I love having so many days free to do what I want and spend time with my son!

:specs:

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LOVE 8's !!! I am home to enjoy the rest of my day and can be there for my kid when he comes home from school. 12's were depressing because you devote the entire day to the facility and never see daylight. I also read a study that indicateed that most med errors occur after 10 hours, don't know if it's true or not. I try and schedule myself for 3 8 hour shifts per week as registry and still have time for my life.

I could have written this post. I feel the exact same way. 12 hour shifts are so depressing. And beyond 8-9 hours into a shift, I jfind that I just do not care anymore - I'm too tired. I have a hard time remembering what I have done and what still needs to be done. I also work 3 8's per week as registry, and it is absolutely wonderful! Now if I could figure out a way to get full-time pay for that :D

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