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?

[newbieRN724]

I work at an SNF and I work the dreaded 3-11 FT. I really don't mind the shift, but with a family it feels like I'm never home and work runs my life. I am starting to feel burned out. My days off are spread out an i work every other mon/thurs. It's def not the best schedule. My last facility was 12hrs and I can do 12s no issues and I prefer it. The only con is that you do eat, sleep and go back to work. But I can handle that just because it would mean I get 4 days off

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

The flexibility of shifts should be offered . I like 4 10 hour shifts.

Of course, it depends on the preference and abilities of the individual nurse.

Think about this... the esteemed Mayo Clinic only staffed 12 hour shifts for nurses.... but

Pharmacy could only work up to 10 hours in a day. Their studies revealed a higher error rate after 10 hours of work.

Odd that nurses are the final check for the pharmacy , yet we could work 12's.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

The flexibility of shifts should be offered . I like 4 10 hour shifts.

So how do you split up the other 14 hours of the day?