12 hr shifts- a thing of the past?

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I recently became staff at a large hospital here in my city. As i sat through hours of orientation (the hospital's history and future etc), it was stated that the hospital is currently looking at ending the 12 hr shifts and return to all 8 hr shifts. The speaker said there were studies nationwide that found that most mistakes were made by an employee who was working the long shifts.

I worked 12 hr shifts for 6 yrs and they are, indeed, draining. I now choose to work four 8 hr shifts/wk and feel so much better!

Anyone heard anything about this?

Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.

Have'nt heard a thing...Still alive and well where I work...I LOV"EM!!!!!:cool:

Most of the facilities here, even LTC have 12 hour shifts. No change in the future for returning to 8 hour shifts is even being hinted at by any of them.

Any facility that is trying to attract and retain nurses need to offer options. Straight 8 hour shifts are not really filling that requirement. I do 12's and love them - yes they are tiring, but mistakes can happen anytime. I would like to know and read the studies mentioned to discern the value of them. Statistics can be made to say most anything!

Specializes in pediatrics.
Any facility that is trying to attract and retain nurses need to offer options. Straight 8 hour shifts are not really filling that requirement. I do 12's and love them - yes they are tiring, but mistakes can happen anytime. I would like to know and read the studies mentioned to discern the value of them. Statistics can be made to say most anything!

That's the unfortunate thing with statistics is that it narrows in on only a small piece (statistics show everything causes cancer). I don't beleive that 12 hr shifts are the primary cause of mistakes (at best a secondary cause with a small population). I bet these studies never take into account -- lack of clear communication between departments and personnel, outdated pharmacies, lack of checks and balances within pharmacies, old equipment and systems, lack of investment in technology that would improve safety, poor or absent system changes that would improve safety, poor unit morale and lack of teamwork. Every time I made an error, I could never completely blame it on being tired from 12 hours, more often than not it was from being busy or overwhelmed both of which are as likely to happen during an 8 hour shift as a 12 hour or from not having the proper system checks in place that would have prevented the error.

I worked 12 hour shifts for 14 years and loved them. Yes, they were tiring at times but I loved working them. Errors can be made at any time so I'm not one to believe statistics that account for a very small percentage of errors. I'm now at a facility that doesn't offer 12 hour shifts but hopefully that will change.

I love my 12hr shifts. I get to spend so much more time with my family, and after nursing school my children are enjoying having me at home more often.

melissa

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
I love my 12hr shifts. I get to spend so much more time with my family, and after nursing school my children are enjoying having me at home more often.

melissa

That is one of the reasons why I chose to go into nursing. ;) (looking forward to those 12's)

I recently became staff at a large hospital here in my city. As i sat through hours of orientation (the hospital's history and future etc), it was stated that the hospital is currently looking at ending the 12 hr shifts and return to all 8 hr shifts. The speaker said there were studies nationwide that found that most mistakes were made by an employee who was working the long shifts.

I worked 12 hr shifts for 6 yrs and they are, indeed, draining. I now choose to work four 8 hr shifts/wk and feel so much better!

Anyone heard anything about this?

I LOVE the 12 hour shifts. Beats working a "double" 8 hour. Those are the ones that are draining and tiring. Our hospital has a combination - 2 8s and 2 12s per week. That works out perfectly! I hope they NEVER change! :lol2:

I worked 12 hour shifts for 14 years and loved them. Yes, they were tiring at times but I loved working them. Errors can be made at any time so I'm not one to believe statistics that account for a very small percentage of errors. I'm now at a facility that doesn't offer 12 hour shifts but hopefully that will change.

I agree that errors can happen at any time. I think 12 hours shifts are quite reasonable provided the nurse is careful to get enough rest and not burn the candle at both ends. I do remember working some double 8-hour shifts and that was a disaster waiting to happen. 16 hours is just way too long. But 12 hour shifts are reasonable and for those who can work their lives around them, they are great! :lol2:

I love working my 12-hour shifts.

I haven't heard anything about changes in my area.

I wish they'd change here. I DON'T like 12 hour shifts. However, I would rather work 3 12's than 2 8's and 2 12's. Good grief. Sure am glad some like it though.

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