8hr Shifts vs 12hr Shifts

[NewGradRN114]

The hospital I work at is thinking of switching from 8 hour shifts to 12 hour shifts. I personally prefer to work 8 hour shifts because:

1. There is less of a chance that I'll have to work days (I hate working days).

2. I only work part time and I feel like if we start working 12 hour shifts I'll get less hours since there are less nurses needed to cover each shift.

3. When I work overtime (16 hour shift) I get paid for 8 hours of overtime instead of 4 hours if I were to work 12 hour shifts.

4. The unit I work on is an extremely busy orthopedic floor and I am usually exhausted after working 8 hours.

5. I live about 35 minutes from the hospital I work at so my 8 hour work day usually turns into a 9 hour (or more) workday. If I were to work 12 hour shifts I would have just enough time to shower and sleep before going back to work.

I think if I was full time I would prefer 12 hour shifts so I could have more days off but since I am only part time, 8 hour shifts work just fine for me. Does anyone else prefer 8 hour shifts?

[albachiara]

I used to work 12hour shift they were the best. I worked in acute care hospital setting 7am-7pm; punch out between 30-45 minutes later. With 12hour shift I feel, as there is enough time to finish your assignment. Work 3 days per week, and one Sat. on the third week of the month. I had a life outside my job. Self-scheduling was helpful because I would (however not always on some occasion I would work three days in a row, which was my choice) not schedule 3 days back to back but only 2 days back to back. Yes, it is true that not enough time for family but it is worth it having 4 days off. Loved it! Now I am working 8hour shift had to drop full time status for part time. I work day shift and the assignments and workload is as I work a 12hour shift. Three shifts in the 24hour in my facility. The 7-3 shift is doing all the work, discharge, admission, pharmacy call, orders, consult, critical lab and lab results to be reported, med pass and treatments, correcting orders entered incorrectly, and night shift work endorsement to day shift. This is the culture in my facility: 3-11 shift is heavy on admissions they cannot be bothered with endorsements and treatments. Med pass on 3-11 are very few. 11-7 shift they work at night and cannot call Dr. during the night and cannot wake patient for treatment, and cannot finish new admission (late arrival admission) that was endorsed from 3-11 shift because patient needs to sleep. Example: I was assigned in a heavy area, 11-7 shift endorsed lab results from previous day because day shift nurse missed it and 3-11 did not have time to call dr; I had an unpredictable occurrence and 3 discharges (the family offered one hour of complains about a CNA) and one admission, and all due day assignments and patient care to be completed, I punch out at 645pm, no break. Occasionally, I am working back to back. I commute to work for 30-45 minutes. 8hour shift is not worth it. 12hour shift workload would be divided equally amongst the two shift although day shift would be a little heavier, which I do not mind but not like 8hour shift.

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

I prefer 12 hour shifts, may be because that is all I have worked since I have been an RN. About a year ago, I took a position with four 8-hour shifts and hated it. And also depends on the facility you work at. At some healthcare facilities you have the same patients for the entire 12-hours. However, if you work at a facility who has both 8 and 12 hour shifts, expect to be moved after your 8 hours (if working a 12).

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I work at a facility that utilizes 8 hr shifts (except for some of the "critical care" areas, such as ICU. However, we all still work part time with several days off each weak.

Keep in mind that all of the "regularly scheduled" positions still allow for really good benefits, such as PTO, and almost free medical, health and dental benefits. The only nurses who don't receive these benefits are those who opt for "per-diem", which does pay $10/hr above the regular wage.

While working part part time isn't something all nurses aspire to work, consider the fact that (in addition to the benefits described above), we earn a very decent wage, for which Im so grateful. $55/hr plus differential for weekends and an additional differential for weekends.

that being said, sometimes i dream about working just 3X12 hr shifts in a row with 4 days off in between.

but I can't complain.

Im very grateful for my job, especially as a new RN.

[PANYNP]

I switched from 8's to 12's in 1988, when the Baylor/WOW (work only weekends) programs were the new thing.

Scheduling every Fri-Sat, 7p-7a in the ICU worked for me at the time; I was in graduate school and in my early 30s. I retained full benefits and 100% tuition reimbursement (the glory days of hospital nursing). I also picked up an 8-hr princess shift during the week.

After 3 years, I vowed to never again subject myself to the physical wear and tear of 12's. I loved working nights and loved my colleagues, but, as I aged, for me, personally, 12's became undesirable, even working only two in a row. I was achy, fuzzy-headed, hangry by 0600, and less than gracious.

My present-day master's students have been socialized into working only 12's, and get a faraway and patiently tolerant look on their faces when I describe the beauty of 8's from back in the olden days.

I never minded working q other weekend and having a day off during the week to run errands, schedule appointments, or go out to lunch. And yes, it is possible to get everything done during an 8-hr shift; it just takes pacing oneself.

Different strokes for different folks.

[Davey Do]

I fought tooth and nail to not work 12hr shifts. A few years ago, the Psych Division Manager asked me if I would work 12hr shifts. I said no. She then asked, "Well, what if I told you you had to work 12hrshifts?" I replied, "Well, I'd say I would have to look for another job!" "Oh- we don't want that", she acquiesced.

Last February it was mandated that all nurses would work 12hr shifts. Several nurses found other jobs and up and quit before the 12hr shifts took effect or soon thereafter. I thought, "What the heck? I'll give it a try before I make a decision". But still, I applied for a 12hr position at a hospital that's 20 minutes closer to home. I figured if I have to work 12 hours, I'm going to shorten the driving time.

My wife Belinda is a medical nurse at the same facility. For the first few years of our relationship, we both worked 8hr MN shifts on basically the same days. It was great! We rode to work together and worked and played together almost constantly.

The medical side went to 12hr shifts a few years back. That put a wrench in the works, putting some stress on our relationship, but we managed.

When I informed Belinda that the psych side was going to 12hr shifts, she was pleased. "Oh, you'll like them", she said. I had my doubts.

After the first Friday-Saturday-Sunday 12hr weekend option I am scheduled for, all doubts were extinguished. I truly enjoy this new 12hr schedule. Belinda and I are back to riding to work together. I spend more time with the patients. I work better with the LPNs and ancillary staff. There's more time for the superfluous redundant documentation. The shifts wiz by. The 4 days in a row off are like having a weekly vacation!

The fates lead them who will. The others they drag. The fates drug me into 12hr shifts and I am glad they did.

I wish to thank you all for your comments. Very interesting and readable. And especially Phil-on-a-bike for that great link!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I didn't realize working 12 hour shifts means you only work every third weekend. I would love that!

Not necessarily. Your facility may make you work every other weekend or parts thereof. It's whatever the facility's policy is regarding weekend scheduling.