8hr vs. 12hr work days

[sjm30]

I cant help but wonder if the nursing profession would benefit from lowering the number of hours worked in a day. I know that most nurses enjoy the extra days off by working 3 twelve hour shifts a week but those last few hours of the day come when the staff is tired and isnt that when errors are more likely to occur? It seems to me that splitting the day into 3 eight hour shifts would cut down on nurse fatigue and therefore cut down on nursing errors. Plus that would allow more time to recover before the next shift. What are some ways that you have been able to combat fatigue? What do you think about shorter work days for nurses in general?

[lockheart678]

I've done both, and for me, as soon as I switch from one to the other, I miss what I just left. What's nice about 8s is that you have time in the day to actually do something if you want to. It's nice to have hours to unwind and forget about work. Only having 2 days off is a huge downfall though. When I worked 12s, the last 4 hours dragged every single shift. I really dreaded going in to work, knowing I had 12 hours to go, but I really loved getting 4 days off a week. That kind of break makes you feel like you really are getting away. With only two days, the weekend is over before you know it. I still haven't figured out which one I like best, but I've also only done 8s on day shift and 12s on evening shift so they're very different experiences.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I think the reason that many of my peer group (I'm 57) move away from the bedside is -at least in part- because 12 hour shifts are so grueling.

Yes, you work more days with 8's BUT on my 12 hour nights, all I do is work, sleep and commute. If I could work eights, I could still make a run to the grocery, go to Bible study, have a meal with my family or whatnot and still work my shift.

I seriously dislike 12 hour shifts. My ideal would be 3-11p.

[DroogieRN]

I would hate to work five 8s. I realize most of the work world does this, but nursing is different. I NEED those three days away from the hospital per week to decompress and think about life outside of nursing. Maybe a nursing office job would be OK with those hours, but in a hospital? No way.

[TeenyTinyBabyRN, BSN, RN]

Well, most of the world does not work evenings or nights, which is what 2/3 of the nurses have to work, for 8 hour shifts.

[boywork]

well as nurses we are alread very used to long hours or shift work, i believe alot of nurses would like to have the option to work

12 hr day leaving them for an extra day or two off in the week or fortnight for leasure time etc.

[Wushu]

My work recently changed from 12 hour shifts to eight hour shifts . I hate it . Now we are expected to do the same amount of work in less time. Since we have started everyone has been having to stay late to catch up. Two days does not feel like enough time to recover. It seems like errors have increased since we made the change.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Well, most of the world does not work evenings or nights, which is what 2/3 of the nurses have to work, for 8 hour shifts.

I've seen posts here and elsewhere discussing 8 vs 12's but most responders don't post their shifts. 12 hours days is one thing, but with 12 hour shifts, 1/2 of your staff is working nights. And while they will get an extra day off, it's not easy to adjust back to a normal social pattern when off.

Also, working 3 shifts per week totals 72 hours, so unless the hours are made up, the employee is reducing their salary their income by 10%. And, if you make up the hours, you're now giving back one of those "days off"

[loriangel14, RN]

Where I work the 12 hour people work one 8 hour shift a pay to make up the difference.You get more than one extra day off with 12s.

[serenitylove14]

There are positives for both 8s and 12s. The one for 8s is shorter hours. The one for 12s is less days having to work. Honestly after working 3 years of 12s I think I could be more involved with my family on 8s.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Eight hour shifts give you that couple hours of margin in your life, where you can see your family, buy some groceries, go to the dentist and still work your shift.

I would be thrilled to work eights - and feel the reason so many older, experienced nurses leave bedside care is because of the exclusive 12-hour shifts most facilities have gone to.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Mary, I think you may be right about older nurses not wanting to work the 12's as much as younger nurses. Would love to see some research to see if there is an age to shift preference correlation

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

There are positives and negatives to each shift. I've come from working 8 hr shifts M-F and sitting in traffic an hour each way due to crammed freeways during rush hour. It was nice to have every weekend off, but weekend activities were crowded everywhere because most people are off. Most child care is geared toward these people too. Sleeping normal hours was nice too. Now I work 12 hr shifts. It's nice to have multiple days off during the week to get errands done with minimal fuss. I miss seeing my kids on the days I work, but I get a lot of time to spend with them on my days off. I think it's a trade off that you learn to live with no matter what shift you work.