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.
12 hours shifts started in nursing just like they did in most professions that require 24 hour staffing; they're far better for most night shift workers and reduce overall fatigue, increase worker performance overall, reduce turnover, reduces errors, etc. The best overall summary of this comes from an OSHA white paper which recommends 12 hours shifts as a good way to manage the effects of night shift (as a result of working fewer shifts per week).
For whatever reason, there is contingent of nursing leadership that has it out for 12 hour shifts despite the lack of good evidence to support that stance and have launched a deceptive smear campaign against 12 hour shifts. Even their evidence shows a 12-hour shift schedule results in fewer errors, more overall sleep, better fatigue recovery during time off, likely reduced risk of the health effects that result from working night shifts, etc.
For day shifters the benefits of a 12 hour shift pattern are more equivocal to 8 hour shift patterns, and for many day shifters an 8 hour shift schedule might be better, but it's not the effects of day shift that is the primary problem with 24-hour staff coverage.
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.
THIS!!!!!
I just recently went from 5 8 hour overnights (11-7) to 3 12's (7p-7a)...I will NEVER go back to 8's again. I was just as tired and busier. And I can pick up a 4th shift every week and not feel like death. I'm going dayshift in a few weeks.We'll see how that goes.
I do 4 10 hour shifts and enjoy it. I am not in the clinic 5 days in a row, but am also not physically dragging at the 9 hour mark like when I did 12s. Obviously this doesn't work for 24 hour staffing...
Nursing is hard, but like most of the other posters I would rather be tired and busy for 3 days and have 4 days off than work 5 days a week. I don't find I need two days to recover, but that is just me. I do relax the first day but I dont sleep all day or anything.
Ugh, you must be kidding. I was previously working 12s and took 8s so I could be in OB. I HATE IT!!!!!!
I feel like I am never home, and I work a 0.8. I used to work 0.9 12s and felt like I had more time. And for the record, I am in my mid-30s with a husband and 3 y.o
When I worked, staffing the 3-11 shift was always a problem.
I do not know what it is about 3pm to 11pm that turns some workers off,but that shift does seem to take up most of your day unlike day and night shifts.
I was chronically tired working 3pm-11pm.
When i worked at facilities around 2005 that shift was so hard to staff that many employers gave 3pm to 11pm nurses a higher shift differential that both the 7am to 3pm and 11pm to 7pm.
3-11 shift does most of the admissions in some departments. It takes a while to discharge a patient. Day shift empties the beds out in the afternoon and evening shift does a lot of admissions. I was always tired working 3-11. Most of the useful hours of the day for time off are cut out, and the time before work does not feel free because I was always looking at my watch and counting down how much time I had left.
3-11 shift does most of the admissions in some departments. It takes a while to discharge a patient. Day shift empties the beds out in the afternoon and evening shift does a lot of admissions. I was always tired working 3-11. Most of the useful hours of the day for time off are cut out, and the time before work does not feel free because I was always looking at my watch and counting down how much time I had left.
I never want to give up my 12 hour shifts. I currently work 7 on and 7 off. I LOVE IT! There is nothing like having a week off every other week. Yes, I am tired by night 6 and 7, but knowing that 7 days off is a couple of days away I plow through.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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.
Any insight?
You don't like 12 hour shifts. That's OK. Most of us DO like them.
I worked 8 hour shifts five days a week when I started -- talk about physically and mentally exhausting! I felt as if I was ALWAYS at the hospital. Add in staying late to chart and a longish commute, and I was always either at the hospital or on the way to or from the hospital. Twelve hour shifts added some much-needed balance to my life! I've been doing 12s since 1980, and I still love them. Wouldn't give them up for anything.
Actually, I did take a teaching job for four months that was 10 hour shifts -- no weekends, nights or holidays. I hated the hours!
Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
Loves 12s and will have a hard time giving them up when I leave the floor.