12 hr. shifts vs. 8 hr. shifts.

stidget99 · Jul 25, 2005

12-hr shifts are the best IMO

Katnip, RN · Jul 25, 2005

Well there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

With 12-hour shifts you usually only have to work 3 days a week to get full time benefits. But they can be loooong, depending on what kind of day your unit is having. It's hard for me to do them, but I do. When I get home though, I'm not good for anything.

Obviously, 8 hour shifts are shorters, but you have to do 5 of them every week, and that gets old. But you do get that extra 4 hours of pay every week which can make a difference in your paycheck. The problem with those is I have to get up before 5 more often, and that's rough.

The choice really depends on your family and lifestyle.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 25, 2005

I like 12s cause you work fewer days/week. :)

tntrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2005

I would never do 12's and if our hospital went that direction, I'd be gone in a New York minute. My own personal energy reserves are shot at 10 hours and therefore I wouldn't consider myself safe, especially if I were doing several in a row. I have an issue with 12 hours nurses who want to lighten their own load when I come in at 3 because "I've already been here for 8 hours." I am also very protective of my free time and time with my family. 12 hours at work + 3 hours preparing for work and commuting + 8 hours sleep = 23 hours. That is completely unacceptable to me. No time for my family and certainly no time for myself.

JMHO, but it's all mine and I'm stickin' to it :chuckle

RNnL&D · Jul 26, 2005

12 hour shifts here too.

I prefer it for the shorter work week, but also because it gives me more time with my patients. Instead of leaving a couple hours before delivery, I'm still there. :)

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 26, 2005

well, to me, see, having more days off translates to much more quality time for my family, cause there is ZERO work/prep time spent on those days. It works to have to work only 2-3 days/week for me.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 26, 2005

yes, having 12's improves continuity for patients, which in L/D is quite critical to me. Good point.

LiliRN · Jul 26, 2005

I thought I would hate 12 hr. shifts but I just love them. Instead of breaking my day up, I know where I'm going to be for that whole day, and when I have more whole days off it makes me feel as though I'm spending more quality time w/ my family instead of short hours every single day. IMO the 12 hours just fly by. I hardly even notice I'm doing 12s instead of 8s.

Then also if I work a bonus shift, It doesn't feel like I'm there every day of the week...I still have 3 days to play with instead of 1.

mstigerlily · Jul 26, 2005

I LOVE working 12 hr nights. If you plan it right, you can have eight consecutive days off without using ANY sick/vacation time. Three days at the beginning of the two week pay period then eight days off then three days at the end of the two week pay period adds up to 14 days!

Of course I have decided I don't work three in a row, I haven't yet but I might in the future. It is becoming more manageable for me as I get used to working 12s, working nights and just being a nurse.

If I wanted to work the old 8 hr 5 day a week thing I would have just been a desk worker. Part of the reason I looked into nursing was the flexible schedule and off hours but with the option of banker's hours later if you do administration, outpatient surgery, clinics, doctor's office, etc. I love being off during the week when everyone else is at work.

Plus, continuity with patients and more time off with my family.

Melissa

yes, having 12's improves continuity for patients, which in L/D is quite critical to me. Good point.

amber1142 · Jul 26, 2005

I am trying to decide if it is better to work 3 twelve hour shifts a week or 4 eight hour shifts. Any opinions out there? This is for a labor and delivery unit.

I'm still uncertain. I've started working 12-hour nights, and though the time goes fast if I'm busy, there is *a lot* of time to go by. It's horrible to realize that you've been there 7 hours and still have 5.5 more to go. And then there are the chills and double vision that happen around 3:00 am. And also, the day of a 7 pm shift is kind of shot because I have to plan to work and maybe take a nap, and the day after is shot too because I have to sleep. (OTOH, I like the intimacy of the night shift with just the nurses and a few residents).

I have not yet worked 12 hour days yet, so I don't know what that will be like.

I'm still not sure whether I will end up with three 12s or two 12s and two 8s. I definitely don't want five 8s, though two 12s and two 8s doesn't seem a whole lot better. My manager told me that she expects 40-hour weeks until orientation is over and then strongly recommends that for a year. I don't know what I'll do (I keep saying that, don't I?)

MelissaCT · Jul 26, 2005

I like that the 12's give you more time off, but while I am doing them I hate them, especially if it's a busy, understaffed, horrid night (which it usually is these days).