8 or 12hr shifts?

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Sep 26, 2012

10s are my favorite by far, if you can find one.

nursynurseRN · Sep 26, 2012

I do 12s.... If you don't do OT, like 4-5 days a week to make the the extra money 12s is better. Also, if you don't do 3 days in a row, 12s are better.

sjbrk · Sep 26, 2012

I've worked both, and I love 12s. I've never worked nights, but a 6a-6p still gives me time to do stuff in the evening. And I wouldn't trade my four days off for anything.

My job right now (LTC) does not offer 12s and it makes me sad. I'd rather work less days for the same amount of hours.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Sep 26, 2012

I really wish LTC would get on the 12 hour shift bandwagon. It would cut down on all the burn out.

Salisburysteak, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2012

I have worked both and I really like the 12s a whole lot better. I worked days(12s) in a LTC, and I felt it was better because sometimes the MDs would not get back to you until around 5pm. I could get the orders done, send the orders to pharmacy and just report that to the night nurse.

When I worked 8s the 3-11 nurses hated the fact that I would have calls out to the MD and was waiting on responses from them. SN: she did not like doing orders and sending stuff to pharmacy. She felt it was strictly for day shift only!

I like having the extra days off and as others have stated you feel rejuvenated after having 3-4 days off. My house was cleaner and I was a happier person. Five 8 hour shifts can really drain you because you feel like you are at work constantly and never home to unwind.

AtivanIM · Sep 26, 2012

I personally like 12 hour shifts. Honestly, where I work, the time flies by so quickly I wouldn't be able to tell if I was doing an 8 or 12. I rather only come into work 3 days a week!

allnurses Guide · Sep 26, 2012

Far far far prefer 12s

allnurses Guide · Sep 26, 2012

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.

I don't agree with this at all.

deleern · Sep 26, 2012

I love 12 hours shifts.In my 6 week block, I only work 1 Monday. my weekends off are 4 day weekends. and I have a stretch of 6 days off during that block. You can't go wrong with that. I do like to work 3 in a row. It does take me 1 day to recover regardles if I work 1 or 3 days.

KbmRN, ADN · Sep 26, 2012

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?

I have done 2 16s, sat/sun, & you have your whole week off which is awesome. Now i do 8-5 mon-fri as a case manager and the week seems to drag, but it does feel good to have a "normal" schedule and have the weekends completely off! Im 24 btw. I MISSED MY WEEKENDS! :yes:

Morganalefey · Sep 26, 2012

I work part-time, and do 3, 8 hr shifts, and I really like it.

Next year, my youngest child will be in full time school, and I plan to work full-time. Then I will want to work 3, 12's. In the end, it's more time home w/the family :)

CountyRat · Sep 26, 2012

I preferred 12s. More time meant a little less pressure; at least, less time pressure. I was tired at the end of every shift, 12 hour or 8 hour, but the extra four hours were not bad.