8 hr shifts vs. 12 hr shift

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

How do the rest of you med surg nurses feel about having 8 or 12 hour shifts? I was reading in a nursing magazine that its tough to work a 12 hour shift on med surg because its exhausting. While working a 12 hour shift in ICU or ER isn't too bad because you get to know your patient a lot more. I'm probably going to be doing Med/ Surg next year when I graduate and I'll be working 12 hour shifts. So I just wanted to see if its going to be the 12 hour shift from hell or if 12 hour shifts aren't bad. I'd love to hear everyones thoughts and opinions on 8 hr vs. 12 hour shifts!

I have been working 12 hour nights 7p-7a for about 5 months now. I am always exhausted, it's nice having an extra day off but I use it catching up on my sleep. I wish my hospital offered 8 hour shifts, 12 hours is exhausting at night, but this was the only shift open at the time, I am a new grad so I thought working nights would work for awhile to get my organizational skills down and it has but I think I am now ready for days. However I am going to miss the $4.00 an hour differential at night for doing the same work and maybe even more busier with admits and discharges.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Telemetry, ICU.

i work 12's and started them right after i passed boards...i like them in the fact that i am not at work every day...but i am exhausted at the end of my shift...

how do you all get your sleep "if you are working nights"..i work 7p-7a...i sometimes use benedryl only on the days i work, or melatonin...my doc will not give me a sleeping pill...how do you all conquer it

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

I had a hard time at first with any 12 hour shifts but part of that was being exhausted from being on orientation. At first it was all I could do to get myself home and in the door. Didn't even want to eat, just fall facedown on the bed and crash. Now after a 12 hour day I can function enough to eat and actually socialize a little with my family. I still find a 12 hour overnight shift much more tiring than an 8 hour. At my place, though we have every variation of shift with employees working a patchwork of 4-8-or 12 hour segments. I most often work 11 AM-1130 PM when most admissions come up and this works out fine for me. Usually only work 24 hours but due to scheduling glitch once was scheduled for FOUR 12's in a row- that DID knock me for a loop.

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Sometimes we get to work an 8 hour for overtime, and it goes by really fast! The only problem is, I usually use my evening to catch up, so I'm really rushed when it's about 3:00.

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Love 12 Hr Shift. Work Three Days And Be off 4 Days. I Get To Spend Time With My Family Which I Realy Value.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I like my 12's, especially since anything over 36 hours is considered OT, and most weeks I work 4 days, sometimes 5 (I work on a busy/heavy floor- we're never fully staffed).

In fact, the only thing I do miss about working 8's (which I did as an STNA through nsg school) is those doubles... I was a contingency/float, and self schedulede... most weekends I worked doubles (which does kick your ass) but when I had, say, a vacation from school, I could easily work 2 or 3 OT shift per week by working doubles... and the plus to that was that when I only worked 8 hrs, it felt like half a shift... and the transition to 12's was easy because I was actually used to working 16's.

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I have done a few 12 hour shifts precepting and I would rather do 3/12 then 5/8 at any given time. Sure your tired at the end of the day, but it is only 3 days. Then you have 4 days to recover. I am graduating in May and look forward to the 12 hour shifts.

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Specializes in LTC,HOSPITAL,HOME CARE,TRAVELING.

I prefer 12 hour shifts but the day shift 12's can be very tiring.My employer has a better chance in seeing overtime from me if I only have to be there a few days a week rather than 5 days a week.Which helps them and me with the nursing shortage and my paycheck,lol.I am currently about to go back to 8's though ,so we will see how it works ,looking forward to being off every other weekend:)

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Love them, it's one of the reasons I got into nursing. Working 3 days a week, having 4 off, 24 hr scheduling, days nights, different days all the time. Love it, the first 8 hrs goes by really fast, I don't think I'd have time to get everything done.

In fact, I wish we had an option for 2 16 hr shifts, I'd be even happier doing that, then I'd have 5 days off.

My ultimate goal is to work 2 12 hr shifts a week, I've done it before and I feel like I'm hardly ever there. I mean, five days off! If you work 3 12's and schedule them together, you can have 8 consecutive days off! And if you only work 2 12's, you can have ten days off in a row! Without taking ANY vacation time! And during that time you can take family vacation times, work per diem elsewhere if you get bored, pick up an extra shift, go out of town to a seminar or taking continuing education (which work also pays for). What could be better than that???

I always hated the traditional 9-5 Monday - Friday thing, did it for years and it's just a endless treadmill, each week just like the next, in a rush to get everything done on the weekend you didn't get done during the week, commuting when everyone else is going to work too, off work when everyone else is off work, driving home when everyone else is coming home, traffic, rushing through dinner, see the kids, husband, TV, bed, get up and do it all over again. Not for me! But I understand why some other people might like it.

How do the rest of you med surg nurses feel about having 8 or 12 hour shifts? I was reading in a nursing magazine that its tough to work a 12 hour shift on med surg because its exhausting. While working a 12 hour shift in ICU or ER isn't too bad because you get to know your patient a lot more. I'm probably going to be doing Med/ Surg next year when I graduate and I'll be working 12 hour shifts. So I just wanted to see if its going to be the 12 hour shift from hell or if 12 hour shifts aren't bad. I'd love to hear everyones thoughts and opinions on 8 hr vs. 12 hour shifts!
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Specializes in m/s, icu.

I work 3- 12's in a row now( thur, fri, sat nights 7p-7a).

I have worked an 8 and 2-12's for 5 years (always in a row) and 2 months ago my hosp went to all 12's. I really do luv the 4 days off, and the shift diff. This works for me 'cause I'm divorced and my kids go to their dad's every w/e. My kids hardly know I work. I am home all week with them for school, field trips, homework, dinner at home at the dinner table every day! Also, since my kids aren't home all w/e all I HAVE to do is eat & sleep.

My routine is:

on Thurs a.m. i go right back to sleep after the kids get on the bus at 7am. I can sleep 'til noon or even 2pm...enough to get thru the 1st night! :smilecoffeeIlovecof

At the end of "my work week" on sunday i sleep 8am 'til noon so i can get enough sleep to make it thru a laid back 1st day off...usually just do some laundry or food shop.

Because the recent change to all 12's I have been so much more tired come sunday. I have just decided put in to take 1 saturday night off per month to have w/e time with my hubby or a girls night out.

:cheers:

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Specializes in MS, Hospice, LTC.

I prefer 12hr shifts to 8hr's. Just for me, I feel too rushed when I do work an eight. I work days so I'm wondering if that makes a difference too. Plus, 12hr shifts mean more days off during the week. More time for workin' on my dance moves !

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Specializes in telemetry.

I hate 12 hour shifts. I never had more than 2 days off in a roww and one of them was spent physically recuperating.

I am not doing part-time 8 hour shifts and i love it. I have more energy and I feel like I am getting more work done. The only thing I do not like is that if I ever do it full-time I do not want to work 5 days a week.

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