12 hour shifts

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2005

12 hrs pay, 12 1/2 hrs worktime,, 1/2hr unpaid lunch.

I like 12 hour shifts because of the time off through the week i have. I work straight days, 7AM, to 7:30 PM,, wouldnt trade it.

veegeern, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2005

The majority of floor nurses in the hospital where I work are on "variable" shifts. For us this means that we work mostly 12 hour shifts with occassional 4 or 8 hours shifts...Our shifts times are 7a-7p and 7p-7a. With the exception of one nurse who is semi-retired. She has arranged to work an 11a-11p shift, but that's another story...We are required to clock in at 0645. Lunch is taken "on the clock." I think the SOP states 20 minutes with some time for breaks. Needless to say, this is not reality. It's a busy floor, and lunch and breaks happen as you can get them. On a good day you sit down for 20 minutes and eat (it takes 10 to get something from the cafeteria or to heat something up generally). On a bad day you may stand up in the galley/kitchen and eat something on the run. I like 12 hour shifts. It's easier for me to plan my day. I get more time with my patients, and I feel more satisfaction with the teaching that I am able to provide. I'm also someone who needs to spend time away from such an intense environment. I have worked 8 hour shifts, and I enjoyed getting off in the afternoon with some time left to get outside in the sunshine. I think it just depends on the individual which shift length is better. One last point, we are required to work 2 weekend each month, which makes it impossible to work 3 on and 4 off. This works well for me because after 2 - 12 hour shifts, I'm beat and need at least a day to energize. Hope this gives you some insight. My manager let me work some 8 hour shifts for a while and then some 12 hour shifts for a while to help me get a feel for what I liked.

Rhonda V · Nov 30, 2005

I work in an urgent care clinic which is open everyday from 8 am to 8 pm. We are scheduled for two 12 hr shifts and two 8 hr shifts/wk. We are to arrive at 7:45 am and we clock out around 8:15 pm (we do this to make up for our unpaid 1/2 hr lunch break). Our 8 hr shifts are usually 8-4 or 12-8. This is my first job where I have to work 12's, and so far it's OK. Your body becomes adjusted to the schedule, but some days can really drag. I like the way we are scheduled because you get an extra day or two off during the week. However, I do look forward to my 8 hr days which really seem to fly by fast...plus it's nice to leave early.:)

kadokin, ASN, RN · Nov 30, 2005

Just Wondering

I have worked many different jobs in my life, but nursing is the only on I've found where lunch is "unpaid". Why is that? Anyone? :uhoh3:

Gompers, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2005

Just Wondering
I have worked many different jobs in my life, but nursing is the only on I've found where lunch is "unpaid". Why is that? Anyone?

Well, I really can't explain that, but seriously, it's no big deal. You can't have nurses coming and going at exactly the same time, anyways. You need that half hour overlap time to give nurse-to-nurse report on your patients. So most nurses who work 12 hour hospital shifts start at 7 (am/pm) and work until 7:30 (pm/am). And I have had jobs before (retail) where lunch breaks were also unpaid, so it's really not just nursing.

Sure, 12 hour shifts are long, but it's really great in nursing. For one thing, it just seems easier to have an organized and productive shift. The first four hours is about getting things going, the second four is crusing along, and the last four is about wrapping things up. It flies by, really, it does. And to only have to work three days a week...you cannot beat that. Never in a million years. When you routinely have four days a week OFF, it makes up for the long hours. Plus your friends who work M-F 9-5 jobs will be INSANELY jealous of all the time you have off.

Good luck.

bethin · Nov 30, 2005

I work weekend option days, 6:30a-6:30p but I work as a CNA. The nurses come in at 7a. CNA's come in early to do accuchecks and weights. A few nurses work 11a-11p.

I like 12 hr. shifts. I'm no more tired after a 12 than I am after an 8. Plus, I get 5 days off! I'm trying to get a shift during the week, with every third weekend doing 12's. Still, I look at it as having 4 days off.

I get paid for 11.5 hrs. with 1/2 hr. for lunch. Nurses get paid for a full 12.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Nov 30, 2005

Just Wondering
I have worked many different jobs in my life, but nursing is the only on I've found where lunch is "unpaid". Why is that? Anyone?

I have worked many jobs as well and not a single one of them did I get paid for lunch. I dont think it is uncommon at all.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2005

We do the same. 12 hours plus an unpaid 30 minute break. I rarely get out on time so it's sometimes 13 hour shifts.

It's long and grueling and tiring. But the payoff is the 4 days off a week, so this is what I prefer, rather than doing 5 8-hour shifts. There's good and bad to all shifts and shift combinations.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2005

Just Wondering
I have worked many different jobs in my life, but nursing is the only on I've found where lunch is "unpaid". Why is that? Anyone?

Probably because of the shfit overlap, if they paid us for lunch 8-hour people would go into overtime, and that would add up for the organizations.

RedSox33RN · Nov 30, 2005

I work EOW, 7a-7:30p. Yes, it's 12 hours work, 1/2 hour unpaid lunch, but I take about 3 10-15 min breaks also - those are paid.

I also work a 4 hour shift during the week. Compared to the 12.5 hour, it seems like 10 minutes! LOL

But I must say, that after doing back-to-back shifts like that, I'm freakin' exhausted!

mini matron · Nov 30, 2005

07.45-20.15,or 19.45-08.15, with an hours dinner break, unpaid. I like the days off in the week, but in can be really stressfull, if you are on three or four days in a row. by the time you get home, all you want to do is go to bed!!! :crying2: