8 or 12hr shifts?

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I will be graduating soon from the ADN program and was thinking about jobs. If I get the option, what shift is better 8 or 12 hour shifts? Twelve hours might be nice to get it all over and have more days off, but it sounds like you would get burned out fast. Any ideas or personal experiences?

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

12 hour shifts can be hard on the body but I personally think I would burn out faster working five 8-hour shifts/week and only have two days off vs. three 12's and ending up with 4-5 days off in between. :twocents:

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Specializes in ICU.

In my area, most places no longer hire for anything but 12 hour shifts. The only people still working 8s are people who have been doing it for 30+ years and have been grandfathered in. 12s are much better anyway, so many days off! And once you've been there for 8 hours already, what's another 4?

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I worked both shifts and they are different. 8 hour shifts go by so quick but I feel like I work all the time and I really miss my days off.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

For me to refresh and not burn out I need long stretched of time off and away from the job. What burn me out fastest is having to come to work 5 out of 7 days. Having many days off in a row, as 12 hour shifts allow, lets be get involved in other things and I come back to work feeling refreshed and ready to work.

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

I've done both and I much prefer 12s. I started in a 40/week position, doing two 12s and two 8s. I recently switched to 36/hours, three 12s. I miss the 8s but I love having 3-4 days off in a row.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

12s are good because you get mor days off but on the other hand I meed more time to recover from 12s.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I work twelves, and like them BUT on the days I work (or rather the nights I work) I do nothing besides work, sleep and commute.

When I worked eights - I could at least go out to eat, keep a dentist appointment or go to Bible study and still work my shift. With 12s, I cannot.

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I've done 12 hour shifts and I now do 4 9 hour shifts. I much prefer 12 hour shifts. It's not necessarily burn out that way... I think it's more exhausting to have to physically be at work for 4 days instead of the 3.

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Specializes in Home Health/PD.

I work 2 12s and 2 8s so I get the best of both worlds in my opinion. I love leaving around 3 because I know the 3-7 shift at my job is so chaotic but then again I like the 12s because i have more time to complete my tasks

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

One consideration is that 3 twelves equals 72 hours ppp. That may mean less pay & benefits & may not be considered FT in all organizations. On an ortho floor we had some people on eights, some on 2-8's, 2-12's. 4 days per week. Newer nurses had to wait to move into 12's.I didn't like doubling back after 12 hours, and was able to negotiate 4-10s, which I think is the perfect schedule. Unfortunately, that doesn't translate well to a 24/7 unit.Seems younger folks generally like the 12 hours better.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Any decent hospital that values its nurses should be able to work with them to give each nurse the kinds of shifts that work best for him. It is unreasonable to expect to get your prefered shifts immediatly. However your nurse manager should be able to accomodate either 8 or 12 hours shifts, or some other combination in a resonable time frame.

Unwillingness to do so is an indicator that nurses are not valued there.

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