12 hr. shifts vs. 8 hr. shifts.

camay1221_RN · Jul 26, 2005

I work a combination of 8's and 12's in a pay period. I like the 12 hour weekends because it doesn't make me have to seek childcare. I work a 0.6 FTE, but would consider full-time if I were only to do three 12 twelve hours shifts a week. I just wouldn't do them consecutively, that's a killer for me and my family!

Jessica76 · Jul 26, 2005

I currently do 3 12hr night shifts. For nights, I prefer it. Less days to have to mess up your sleep schedule. That said, I'm going to days in a couple of weeks. I have to do 12hr shifts when i go to days until some people get off medical leaves, then I might go to 2 12s and 1 8hr shift one week and 2 12s and 2 8s the next week to make up my .9FTE. The only thing I'm not looking forward to with the 12 day shifts are that I won't see my kids for very long when I get home since they'll be going to bed shortly after I get home. BUT, I AM looking forward to sleeping at night every single night and not feel tired all the time :)

gypsyatheart · Jul 26, 2005

I think it really depends on you and your needs. Your likes and dislikes. I have done every conceivable shift over the years, depending on the needs of my family at that moment. That's what's great about nursing....there is a lot of flexibility!

Everyone has their own personal "tolerance" level, some only will do 8's, some like 10's, others the 12's. Most nurses I know will admit that 12's kick you butt, you have no time for anything on those days, no family interaction....or minimal at best, it's just get up, work, eat, sleep, get up do it all over again. Some like 'em all together, others no. Personally I like 2 12's together, then a break. If I do end up working an 8hr shift, it seems like a treat, like I'm getting to go home "early"....love it!

MiaLyse, APRN · Jul 26, 2005

Personally I like 2 12's together, then a break. If I do end up working an 8hr shift, it seems like a treat, like I'm getting to go home "early"....love it!>>

Same here. I work Baylor weekends (2-12's paid for 36 hrs) and then I usually pick up one to two 8 hrs/week. After doing the 12's the 8's fly by! lol

Kelly

luv l&d · Jul 26, 2005

After a "certain age" I think the productivity of the person doing 12's is compromised. 4/8's are my choice. still 3 days off in the wk, but home in the evening to interact with family and friends. full time benies at 32hr/wk. and if the day goes to s**t sometimes I will stay and help out. nice choice for me.

HuggyPuglet · 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've worked them both. I much prefer 12 hour shifts. Yes, they are tough when you're doing them but the extra time off really makes a difference. Just depends on what you prefer really but here's my 2 cents for what it's worth!

:chuckle

BETSRN · Jul 27, 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.

When given the opportunity, many of our 12 hour people went back to 8's. Those last 4 hours of a 12 are killers.

mstigerlily · Jul 27, 2005

12 hrs day or night goes by SO FAST at our unit I can't imagine only being there 8 measly hrs, it hardly seems worth the 30 minute drive to get there! I usually am just taking my lunch between the 6-7 hr mark (1am-2am) but can easily go till the 8 hr mark (3am) before taking lunch!!! Sometimes by the time I get around to looking at the clock it's already well past midnight.

There have been those VERY rare slow nights where I've already looked at the clock a few times and it's only 10pm! I think staying busy makes all the difference if you are working 8s or 12s.

Melissa

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?)

enfermeraSG · Jul 27, 2005

Well, do you want four days off or two??? I say it's that simple! SG

amber1142 · Jul 27, 2005

There have been those VERY rare slow nights where I've already looked at the clock a few times and it's only 10pm! I think staying busy makes all the difference if you are working 8s or 12s.
Melissa

Staying busy definitely helps, but even when I am busy (with paperwork, etc), there are times between 3 and 5:30 or so when I know I am asleep even though my eyes are open. It isn't a safe feeling. I'm glad I'm not going to do nights for long.

BamaBound2bRN · Jul 28, 2005

When I was in the Air Force, we worked 12's- we would work Mon. and Tues., off Wed. and Thurs., work Fri, Sat, and Sun., then off Mon. and Tues, work Wed and Thurs, then off Fri., Sat, and Sun. Every other weekend was a three day weekend And we only worked 15 days a month. Anyone out here in cyberland work a similar shift at a civilian hospital?

BabyRN2Be · Jul 28, 2005

I'm trying to think what's going to be best for me. I know that working 12 hour shifts is going to be long, but if I want to work in L&D, that's great for pt continuity (as SmilingBluEyes pointed out). Also, full time being 3 days a week wouldn't be so bad, as long as they aren't 3 days in a row. That might be a little tough on me.

8 hour shifts are shorter, but you have to work 5 in one week. And as someone else said, there's 4 extra hours you get paid a week.

I'm trying to think what's going to be best for me. I'd like to work FT so that means probably 3 12 hour shifts a week. There's only one hospital that does predominantly 8 hour shifts around here, and I do NOT want to work for that hospital at this moment, although they do have a really great NICU with ECMO capability. I've been looking more at NICU as opposed to L&D lately. Who knows where I might end up.

There is one hospital around here that's offering 7 days on with 7 off. But I'm not sure if that's 12 hour shifts though. I think that would be absolutely draining.

Personally, I'll see when I get there and these are just my thoughts for now.