8hr Shifts vs 12hr Shifts

myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN · Feb 10, 2017

Again, I believe that 12 hours shifts are along with being able to wear scrubs the best thing about the job. My parents were elementary school teachers, one of the least stressful job you can have in a union environment and they constantly complained about only having two days off per week (which often became only one when you added in school events, parents meetings ect.). Many people that I know who work salary and hence "five" days per week end up putting in extra days on the weekend, or extra hour unpaid. Other benefits of 12 hour shifts that I forgot to mention above:

1. There is only six instead of ten "head to toe" assessments (barring admissions of course) in the ICU environment. Five eight hours shifts means more complete assessments a significant portion of our "work".

2. There are more "intense" periods where family and doctors are rounding Each of your eight hours shift and each of your 12 hours shifts will usually have a few hour window where this is most prevalent. Thus, more opportunity for "stress incidents". Intense situations that can arise when dealing with patient and MD rounds.

3. With five shifts per week there is more opportunity for "patient variability" meaning that your assignment is more likely to change and you are more likely to have a new set of patient/family dynamics to deal with.

4. With five verses three shifts per week there is usually more opportunity for admissions and discharges. In our trauma ICU I (and many of my coworkers) live in constant dread of that "high stress crash and burn" trauma admission. Five shifts per week generally puts you "in the prime window" for those type of admissions more than three 12 hours shifts.

5. There is more "lost time". Consider that my commute is one hour each way. Add in an hour of "prep time" that is the bathing/dressing/packing stuff that I do to get ready for work. That amounts to 15 hours per week of unpaid time per week for five shifts verses only 9 hours for three shifts that difference alone of 6 hours is almost like an extra unpaid day. Drive time and prep time is an important consideration and one that really "hits" people who have to work second and third jobs.

6. More interaction with management. I dread seeing my manager (or really anyone in administration). With my current schedule of three 12's on nights Thur/Friday/Saturday 7p to 7a. such contact is minimized. The "management interaction window" would be much larger with five shifts.

7. Meals and breaks. I can't speak for others since I don't take lunch or breaks during my 12's (except for the restroom) but five shifts is an extra two meals per week of lunch to purchase.

8. Opportunity to do something else! If you hate your job at least working three 12's you can "break into" another career by going back to school or learning a different trade. This is virtually impossible when you devote ten hours per day five days per week to your job.

9. On my four off days I usually sleep about 10 hours per day, exercise, do school work and can almost forget about pits of Mordor where I work in the four days in a row that I have off each week, with five eight hours shifts this would not be possible.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2017

Working nights 12 hour shifts is the way to go. If you work every other weekend that is truly the only days you have off if working 8 hour shifts. The day off you have during the week you end up sleeping or so tired you do not do anything so you can sleep that night. The next day you have to prepare to go back to work which means taking a nap sometime during the day.

jennylee321 · Feb 10, 2017

I'm in the opposite situation as you, I have always worked 12s and will soon be starting 8s.

Things I like about 12s

-of course the longer stretches of days off, many of my friends are nurses so even though I'm off when the average person is working I can still do things with friends

-with lots of weekdays off you never have to take time off for appts or tasks like getting your license renewed

-since your only doing 3 shifts a week you can get away with using less vacation time for trips

-I know a lot of people prefer these shifts because it helps them with Childcare but I don't have children so this doesn't apply to me

Things I think I'll like about 8s

-more time with my partner who works a 9-5

-I don't think 12s are great for your health and I know they were pretty bad for my sleep patterns, I have a pretty difficult time switching from nights to days (and where I work you don't always have a longer stretch between your nights and days, might only be 1 or 2 day turnaround)

-I'm exhausted at the end of 3 day shifts (I'm actually better on 3 nights because I sleep better between)

Anyways, we'll have to see what I think after the switch and I can properly compare

Sidenote: I have picked up 8 hr overtime shift a few times, and my coworkers refer to it as coming in for a "princess shift" lol, oh nurse humour

myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN · Feb 10, 2017

Did you say switching to a day shift sleep schedule on your days off? I would never to that. I often argue with my significant other who has become a "day walker" now that she is an NP when she wants me to do just about anything before 1600 in the afternoon (even on my days off). My perspective is that I will do anything in the early afternoon that someone who works days would do at oh say 0300 in the morning. There are a few things like dental appointment that are just plain tough to get after about 1500 or paying our rent (our landlord lives in the UK so I physically deposit his check in a local bank account of his) at the bank which leave me no choice, but it is rare. Would "day walkers" suddenly start staying up until 0700 on their off days? Also, one of the reasons that night works have additional health risks I believe is due to an absolute sleep deficit which occurs when sleep is lost by transferring from a day sleep schedule on working days to a night sleep schedule on off days. Of course results will differ and everyone has their own perspectives about what works for them. However, what is great about this profession is that we at least have a diversity of opportunity with regard to the types of shifts we can work.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2017

I'm with you OP; if I had to work FT (or even 24 hrs per week) I would prefer 12 hr shifts, but I don't. I have days off built into my schedule, so I don't like being gone all day.

I've only worked one place that only had 12 hr shifts. I was per diem but typically picked up 1-2 shifts per week. I hated leaving before my kids were up and getting home at bedtime. Of course they were excited to see me, so sometimes it was nearly impossible to get them to sleep before 2130, 2200 (I almost never got out on time, then drove 40 minutes home.)

When I started my current job I was 0.8 FTE, 2300-0700. I felt like I was always at work or gearing up to go to work. After having my youngest baby I cut down to 0.5 and later switched to the 1500-2300 shift. Now I just work weekends, but I love that I can spend quality time with the small people. Saturday lunch is our big family meal, since our weekday evenings are so busy, and we are at church almost until noon on Sunday. Since I don't have to be to work until 1500 I have plenty of time to make a big, delicious, from-scratch meal every single week.

I saw a couple replies about less documentation with 12 hr shifts. Where I work, our policy is a head-to-toe assessment q 4 hrs and a meaningful note q shift (plus the q15 min-toq2hr stuff like neuro checks, pain, restraints etc.). So 12 hrs lets us write fewer notes, but otherwise doesn't help -- they have 3 full assessments to chart instead of 2.

Childcare is extremely difficult to find with 12 hr shift work. Nearly all of the daycares in my area -- commercial and home, and before/after care at the elementary school -- run 0600-1800. Heck even NANNIES. We looked at getting one, and upon explaining my schedule needs, I was told "Our nannies are professional caregivers, so unfortunately they do not work those hours." (To which I replied, "I see. I am a professional trauma nurse, so I always work those hours."...but I digess.)

Some years back daycare was an issue for us. I ended up getting a SNF job because that was where I was able to get straight 8 hr day shift.

Lucky724 · Feb 10, 2017

I have worked both..I am soon to return to 12 hour shifts by choice. I have found that working a M-F or even M- Thur 8 hour days are really 9-10 hours & I am more tired, more stressed than I was working the 12hours. I also like having some flexibility with the days I work w/the 12s versus having to work appointments around on days I worked 8 hours or using up the Friday off for those things.

Not having children I'm sure makes a difference as I don't have to be concerned about getting home after a 12 hour shift to get homework done or missing a ball game.

I would be hesitant to work a management position OR an hour 8 type job again..for me, neither are worth the headache that comes w/them (I know you didn't mention management, I'm just commenting on that as well). I am looking forward to going in, doing my job, then not thinking about it again until the next work day.

ap05 · Feb 10, 2017

I'm in orientation right now doing PMs and 8s. It's literally the worst shift ever. I switched careers to nursing super excited about working 3 12s so I'm not all that happy I'm going to be working 2 12s and 2 8s when I'm done orienting. Working 8s now I feel like I'm always at work. I suppose the shifts go by faster but I actually don't feel that. Everyone has a preference.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 10, 2017

There is tons of research that shows how 12 hour shifts aren't the best for your health. I have found most inpatient nurses I've worked with prefer 12s (especially those with small children). Personally, I'm a fan of the 8 hour shift. It is in the top of my list of reasons I no longer do hospital work. I don't like getting home after 8pm and being so physically exhausted and wound up (at the same time) that I can't go to sleep until after midnight, then have to get up at 6am and do it again. Getting home at a regular time gives you opportunity to exercise, eat healthy, spend time with friends/family, and get to bed at a reasonable hour. Sure having 4 days off per week is fun, but it isn't as if you can take a vacation to the beach every week. I would rather work 5 days per week and get weekends and holidays off. It is a much more 'balanced' way of living in my opinion. But almost all inpatient work is 12 hours for nurses.

And there is tons of research showing that 12 hour shifts are best for night shift workers, etc. We worked hard to get the 12 hour shifts, and I'm not giving them up until I retire. There is much to be said for having a Wednesday off to take your kids to the dentist or pediatrician or to talk to the bank about the mortgage or have the furnace repairman come take a look at your aging heat pump. If you like the 5 days a week with weekends and holidays off, that's fine for you . . . but what do you do when you need a root canal or the furnace gasps it's last during the coldest week of the year? I can just trade shifts with another 12-hour shifter and be there for the furnace guy.

catiewithasea · Feb 10, 2017

I literally just left an 8-hr M-F office job to go back to the bedside for 12-hr nights. I couldn't be more excited about my decision. I don't have children, which likely plays a big part in that choice. However, after going to work every. single. day. for a year, and feeling like I was missing out on life (FOMO strikes again!), I realized this work schedule was not for me. My husband and I like to travel, we like to be together, and we didn't like the idea of me being essentially a prisoner Monday-Friday. I truly disliked the lack of flexibility in the schedule. If you're working in a 24-hour facility, and can move around those 8-hour shifts, it might not be too bad. But when you work in a clinic, or private practice, or even in a school, you only have one option- work when they're open. That was the hard place I was in, and now the idea of being able to actually make my schedule work for me, and manipulate the days I have off is one of the biggest perks I'm excited about. I've worked in food service most of my working life, so nights and weekends and holidays are not issues for me. I like to look at the big picture. I see the holidays as a full period of time, not just one day. I see weekends as times of the week when the majority of society is out and about- not exactly fun to go grocery shopping on Saturday afternoon with literally everyone else in the world. I'm really blessed to live in Central Florida, so there are a number of reasons why I would really want to have weekdays off to enjoy my place of existence. I can't wait to go back to 12's, and am even more hopeful about working nights and having days free. Sleeping is never an issue, because as I'd mentioned, I have no children, and my husband doesn't have a 9-5 M-F job, either. I'll sleep when I need to, and enjoy my time when I have it, which is more now that I'm not spending five days a week driving 30 minutes one way to a job that goes all day. And exercise after that? I lost that habit a mere month into working five days a week. My reality was I was just as exhausted, I just had more time after work to come home and realize it.

NewGradRN114 · Feb 10, 2017

There are some really good points made on here. I would just like to add a few things.

1. The reason I say I will have a better chance of getting stuck working days is because when you work 8 hour shifts you have the chance to work days, afternoons or evenings. I am part time and my schedule is all over the place. One day I might be working days, then I'll have a day or two off then I'll work afternoons and maybe work nights the next day. As a part timer I don't get to choose which shifts I prefer, I'm just there to cover any gaps in the schedule so I might only work 2-3 days a week and sometimes these shifts are not scheduled in a row. That's why I say I have a better chance of having to work days; if there are only two shifts each day there's a 50% that I'll get scheduled days.

2. Some people mentioned working 3 shifts a week is better because you'll have less admissions/paperwork/charting. On my floor it's not uncommon for me to have 2 discharges and an admission all in an 8 hour shift. Usually these admissions come closer to the end of my shift and sometimes I only have time to check on my admission, take a set of vitals and get them situated in their room before the end of my shift. If I were to work a 12 hour shift I will not only have those discharges to deal with but also the admissions all in one shift along with my all of my other nursing responsibilities.

3. I can see why some people prefer to work 12 hour shifts. More days off, less time dealing with management, less time spent overall just getting ready for work and travel time. Also on my floor during a day shift I often feel so overwhelmed when I have to try and get everything done in an 8 hour shift. I feel like I might be less overwhelmed if all of that responsibility was stretched over 12 hours instead of 8.

NuGuyNurse2b · Feb 10, 2017

I prefer 8's. I like my sleep and my time away from the job. 3 or 4 days off, but spent recouping and sleeping, is not what I'd consider time away from the job, per se, nor is working "just" 3 days a week where it's work then sleep and nothing else in between - it's not worth it for me. And at my place, full time is 2 12hr shifts and 2 8 hr shifts anyway, so you're not getting away from the 8 hrs. I need full time for my benefits. I'd rather just do the 5 days.

Liztacular · Feb 11, 2017

We went to 12's from 8's and I regret it. I think it is a personal choice depending on your situation. I prefer part time 8 hour shifts. I can always pick up more shifts ( he hospital texts me before I've even left to see if I want more hours) but I can never get extra days off. And with my after work sheep hobby it's hard with 12's. I think the best thing to do, if they would let you, is to work a pay period of 12's to see if it works for you.