8 hour vs 12 hour shifts

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I am finishing my schooling to get my RN. I am currently an LPN, but I haven't worked clinical for a few years. I've worked in an office and as a school nurse. I am trying to decide if I want to work 8 or 12 hour shifts. I am married with two children, ages 7 and 12. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions to which would be better or recommended by your experiences. I know alot of jobs are now 12 hour shifts and when I worked clinical before I did 8 hour shifts. Please let me know of your thoughts. Thank you :nurse:

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

Love love love love LOVE the 12's.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I work 12 hour nights and love it. I work three days a week and have 3-4 days off. Right now a I have the next three days off and I will go back to work thur/fri, then off sat/sun/mon. When I first started my job I worked full time 8's and It was terrible (for me) I felt like I was there everyday, basically I was. I was to tired for extra shifts, and I really need the money right now. I just came off working six straight days, only because I picked up two extra 8 hours nightshifts. Now I will have 12 hours OT. Only once month I do this. For the most part 12's I feel are much safer and assist in continuity of care. The patients only have two different nurses in a 24 hour period instead of three.

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as you have mentioned...you also have 2 children to take care of...so might as well get an 8 hour shift coz you still have to prioritize your family...and the kids need enough guidance from their parents as they grow up...although the 12 hour shift is good especially if you are single...:)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice, Home Health.

I LOVE 12 hour shifts! I am part time and used to work thursday-tuesday, once a month (i'm part time status), but my situation is unique, husband is disabled and doesn't work outside the home, and son is 20 and just moved out on his own, so I don't have to cook clean or any of that when I am working, also it frees me up the rest of the month (i usually work alot of extra when I don't have other committments), however...my new manager "doesn't allow" staff to schedule themselves more than 4 days in a row (although they are calling EVERY DAY i'm not scheduled to work...so I have worked 7 in a row occasionally)...

every situation is unique, some folks love the 8 hour shifts, but I don't want to be at work 5 days straight (unless i'm into major overtime and bonus hours...)

linda

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as you have mentioned...you still have 2 kids to take care of...so might as well get the 8 hour shift because you still have to prioritize your family...and the kids need their parents while they're growing up... although the 12 hour shifts are great especially if you're single...

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I'm starting in June as a new grad with 5 eight-hour shifts. I am not thrilled about it and wanted three 12's instead but the nurse manager suggested I start this way and then move into the 12's in 6 months or so. I think as a new grad this will be a great submersion type of experience. Plus, I HATE HATE HATE working mornings, driving in the snow before the plows etc etc. Day shift is SO NOT what I want. And doing 12's would likely be 7a - 7p. So for me, working 3p - 11:30p will work. At least for now. I have a plan to try to get 11a - 11p somewhere down the road.

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

Does your NM have any objective proof that 12 hour shifts are unsafe as a rule?

I think we'd all agree 16 hours is generally unsafe though. Of course I think six 12-hour shifts in a row is unsafe but that's an opinion and not fact. It depends on the person, how much energy a person has, and how much they love those long sets of days off during which they get to tour the Greek Isles, go the Olympics in Italy, jog in the south of France, or just play X Box all day.

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Specializes in NICU.

Here's a nice little benefit of working 3 12's...

I worked this week Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday...then I work again next week Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. That leaves EIGHT days off in between. EIGHT! No vacation time used. Do you remember the last time you had eight days off of work?

I love my job, I really really do. But I also enjoy my time off, and when you work nights, having eight days off in a row is a wonderful vacation in which I can be "normal" and sleep at night.

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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.

I see the above alot. I personally choose 12H shifts because although they leave me physically exhausted, the near daily mental stress of 8H shifts was burning me out fast. It's nice having 4 days a week off. If I couldn't do 12's i'm pretty certain i'd need to find a new career. As things are now I can arrange my errands during off peak hours and my days off seem more relaxed.

Relaxed mom = happy family :nurse:

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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.

Thats the beauty of being 24 yrs old! Enjoy it! :chuckle

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