8 hour vs 12 hour shifts

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2006

I'd rather work three 12-hour shifts per week instead of the five 8-hour shifts. If you pull three 12-hour shifts, you get 4 days off per week. Seems like a good deal to me.

Retired R.N. · Jan 29, 2006

I'd rather work three 12-hour shifts per week instead of the five 8-hour shifts. If you pull three 12-hour shifts, you get 4 days off per week. Seems like a good deal to me.

Just be sure that there is not a cute little "gotcha" clause that treats anything less than 40 hours per week as part-time work that is not eligible for full-time benefits.

Also consider that after three straight 12-hour shifts, you may be so tired that you need two of those four days to recover. After 12 hours of work, are you alert enough to drive home safely?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2006

Also consider that after three straight 12-hour shifts, you may be so tired that you need two of those four days to recover. After 12 hours of work, are you alert enough to drive home safely?

I lived 116 miles from my job and always made it home safely. After three 12-hour shifts, I only needed one full day to recover from the fatigue.

RedSox33RN · Jan 29, 2006

I work back-to-back 12 1/2 hour shifts (not paid for lunch) as an LNA e/o/w, and I'm EXHAUSTED by Sunday night. I find it hard to get all of my pt's through HS care, even though many of them are independents, and all I have to do is set them up. I can't IMAGINE doing 3 in a row!

But, that said, when I become an RN, I do want the 12 hour shifts, just not b-2-b. Besides, the 8 hour shift nurses are definitely NOT 8 hour - more like 10 by the time they get report, tape report, finish charting, etc.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2006

I enjoy having the four days off. That way if I choose to I can work overtime and be o.k. with three days off. Right now the four days off allows me time (for the most part) to get my BSN.

I can't work more than 2 in a row. 3 12-hour shifts in a row kills me and it's not worth it.

jimthorp · Jan 29, 2006

I'd rather work three 12-hour shifts per week instead of the five 8-hour shifts. If you pull three 12-hour shifts, you get 4 days off per week. Seems like a good deal to me.

:yeahthat:

allele, LPN · Jan 29, 2006

I love my 12 hour shifts for all the reasons you're reading. Four days off a week ain't bad!! And it's nice to pick up some extra hours here and there and not ruin my week. But, I used to rotate 12 hours shifts. Every six weeks I'd have to rotate to nights. Now, before I started doing that I worked nights full time, 8 hour nights 5 nights a week...so, I would just stay awake on my two nights off and be fine. When I went to the 12's and had to do my night rotation it killed me. I had four nights off, so I wasn't going to just stay awake four nights a week....personally I just had a difficult time getting into a routine with the 12 hour nights. Now I do 12 hour days only and love it! I guess it's different for everyone. The 12 night people I work with love it! Good luck! :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2006

I love my 12 hour shifts for all the reasons you're reading. Four days off a week ain't bad!! And it's nice to pick up some extra hours here and there and not ruin my week. But, I used to rotate 12 hours shifts. Every six weeks I'd have to rotate to nights. Now, before I started doing that I worked nights full time, 8 hour nights 5 nights a week...so, I would just stay awake on my two nights off and be fine. When I went to the 12's and had to do my night rotation it killed me. I had four nights off, so I wasn't going to just stay awake four nights a week....personally I just had a difficult time getting into a routine with the 12 hour nights. Now I do 12 hour days only and love it! I guess it's different for everyone. The 12 night people I work with love it! Good luck! :)

I rotated between 12-hour dayshifts and nightshifts for 3 years and my body never quite became accustomed to the rotations. I love 12-hour shifts; however, I absolutely loathe rotating shifts.

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 29, 2006

I enjoy having the four days off. That way if I choose to I can work overtime and be o.k. with three days off. Right now the four days off allows me time (for the most part) to get my BSN.
I can't work more than 2 in a row. 3 12-hour shifts in a row kills me and it's not worth it.

:yeahthat:

ParrotHeadRN · Jan 29, 2006

I much prefer 12 hour shifts, as stated by others, it means 4 days off a week. I do nights because there are no straight day shift positions and I really cannot handle rotating. Now that I am commuting, I sure wouldn't be able to do 8 hour shifts. That WOULD kill me. The VP of Nursing at the facility I just left was making noises about taking away 12 hour shifts because they are unsafe. If that ever were to happen, she would lose most of her hospital staff because I couldn't find ONE person, when I asked, who would agree to go to 8 hour workdays. Nursing is a very stressful, albeit rewarding, profession and I think (for me) it would be a bit much to have to do it 5 days a week with or without a commute.

Luv2banurse2004 · Jan 30, 2006

I much rather prefer 12 hour shifts. I just accepted a job doing 3 12 hrs --two of which are in a row. The upside is that I will be off nearly the entire week. Since I do so much volunteer work and I'm planning to return to school this schedule works great for me.