These 12-hour long insane shifts that leave us tired both physically and mentally, and allow just enough time to get home, shower and sleep before going back to work-- and we hardly see our families during our work runs-- how did this all start in the first place? Whose bright idea was it?
While it might be convenient to only work 3 days a week, those three days are hard and take 2 days to recover from. It's not healthy long-term. By the end of a shift nurses are tired and mistakes can happen.
I've only worked 12 hour shifts as a nurse and although it's OK, I don't find it ideal. I get four days off every week, but I feel like I spend two of them sleeping and recovering. And on days I work, that's all I do. When I worked shorter days (in other fields), I had time to do things before and after work. 12s would probably be better for me if I were someone who got by on very little sleep, but I'm not.
I absolutely love the 12 hour shift concept. I do wish there were more opportunities to allow some additional staffing during the busy times of the day, but I wouldn't want to be the one working those shifts. Give me 7-7, day or night, because I know that regardless, I only have to work 3 days (36 hours) to hit my full time status each week. I routinely work overtime because even when I work 4 days, I still have 3 days off that week.
I much prefer the 12 hr shifts - used to work 14 hr shifts routinely so when they changed to 12 hr it almost felt like short shifts! As for short vs 12 hr, I prefer the 12 hr shifts which enable me to work around my partner's shifts to reduce childcare costs. Yes, I do miss family when doing the 12 hrs, but this balances out, particularly in school holiday time.
In addition to having more time off during the week, the main benefit that 12 hour shifts have for the patient is fewer handoffs. In 8 hour shifts there are 3 handoffs between providers and each one represents an opportunity for something to be missed or a communication error to occur.
I join the crowd overall in favor of 12 hour shift over 8 hour shifts
I am very fond of 12-hour shifts. Management will need to pry them from my cold fingers.
For my personal sanity I'd prefer to not see needy patients and demanding families five days a week. I prefer to not see managers or colleagues five days a week. I simply prefer to not be at work for an entire five days a week.
Exactly how I feel about it. With three 12s I feel like I have a pretty good work/life balance. I don't know how I could go to school full time and work full time without 12s.
I really like my 12 hour shifts. I feel like it gives me so much more time to spend on my patients that I would have spent getting report and looking up their h&p, etc. I think it is really good for continuity. When I work at night, I get to meet my patients when they're still awake, rather than waking them up at midnight (and feeling bad about it). I also like giving report to the same group of nurses that I'll be receiving report from. It seems to cut down on the snarkiness - you know the ridiculous questions and/or rolling eyes when you don't know something off the top of your head. Plus, after working 8 hrs, I didn't seem to get a whole lot done at home anyway. I'd rather stay the extra 4 hrs and gain a whole day off.
One thing I really don't like about 12 hr shifts is working holidays. When I worked 8 hrs on a holiday, I was able to spend part of the day with family. That's not possible when working 12's.
One thing I really don't like about 12 hr shifts is working holidays. When I worked 8 hrs on a holiday, I was able to spend part of the day with family. That's not possible when working 12's.
Many Thanksgivings and Christmases I've enjoyed the day with family, served the holiday dinner about 2:00 pm, and then had a few hours to relax before going to work at 7:00 pm. Of course that only works if you have the night before the holiday off.
And I've never cared about New Year's anyway. Give me the time and a half!
In my previous manufacturing job we worked 12 hrs three days for 36 hours total (but were base paid for 40 hours), with OT after 8. So that meant 28 hours straight time pay and 12 hours overtime pay per week. Every three weeks we got a 5 day stretch off work, otherwise it was two or three days off per week. Everyone worked one Saturday per month and no one had to work a Sunday unless they volunteered. Same with holidays and then it was either triple-time pay or double-time with an extra paid day off. Our HR dept. were masters with the schedule. One could trade days with another employee and it was perfect. Everyone loved it.
With my 'new' manufacturing position, we are working 8's however we do get a decent shift diff for OT and also get the triple-time/double-and-a-day. The powers-that-be are thinking about going to 12's and I really hope they do someday.
In nursing, I never had the 12 hour shift option. I tried to work 16 hour shifts when I could. I have honestly never ever had trouble 'recovering' from 12 or 16 hour shifts like so many here attest to. I just got up and went about my day.
imintrouble, BSN, RN
2,406 Posts
In my other life, when the world revolved around 8 hour shifts, there was a push for 12s. It wasn't nursing.
The biggest reason was money. You can staff your organization with fewer people if you work 12 hr shifts.
Hiring fewer people, equals spending less money.
The bigger the organization, the bigger the savings.
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