Length of shifts

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2005

There have been studies that show overtime causes more errors, but I'm not sure about 12 hour shifts. For me personally, I haven't noticed any difference in stress levels or errors when I switched to 12 hour shifts 5 years ago.

I think 12-hours is the max a person should regularly work to be safe. Fatigue sets in otherwise, imo.

Good luck to you.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2005

Just from what I've seen in my own work experience (8 years, 3 hospitals)...

Most people do fine with 12 hour shifts - and working 3 12's a week is really a nice deal so go for it! Just try and stay true to your natural rhythm if you can - it's a long shift so you really want to be on nights if you're a night owl, etc.

I see the most errors when people work 16 hour double shifts, regularly work nights after being up all day long (much more common than you think), or are working lots of overtime.

Compton · Feb 3, 2005

What are the most common shifts, hours and days a week? Sorry, just curious.. :)

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 3, 2005

What are the most common shifts, hours and days a week? Sorry, just curious.. :)

I think it really depends on where you are geographically. In NY, most of the shifts are 12 hrs in acute care. Also, depends on the unit. ER and OR tend to have overlapping shits, with some people doing 8's or 10's in between the 12's. But the standard on the floors and ICu's are 12's here. LTC is usually 8.

BETSRN · Feb 4, 2005

I think it really depends on where you are geographically. In NY, most of the shifts are 12 hrs in acute care. Also, depends on the unit. ER and OR tend to have overlapping shits, with some people doing 8's or 10's in between the 12's. But the standard on the floors and ICu's are 12's here. LTC is usually 8.

Overlapping SHITS???? I love it! What a great typo! I couldn't resist. Sorry! Thanks so much for starting my day out with a tremendous laugh!!

saskrn · Feb 4, 2005

I am a nursing student who will graduate soon. I am trying to decide on the length of shift that is the safest while still being convienant. Do people who work 12 hour shifts tend to make more errors? Is there truly much difference?

Do you have a choice of what lengths of shifts you can work? It has been my experience, for the most part, that the hospital determines whether their nurses work 8, 10 or 12 hour shifts. If it's an option, maybe you can try different lengths and see what works best for you.

Personally, I hate 8's. When I was working them, I felt like I didn't have a life.

saskrn · Feb 4, 2005

What are the most common shifts, hours and days a week? Sorry, just curious.. :)

Maybe I'm not understanding you correctly, but this business is 24/7 - that means all shifts, hours and days of the week are common. :)

saskrn · Feb 4, 2005

Overlapping SHITS???? I love it! What a great typo! I couldn't resist. Sorry! Thanks so much for starting my day out with a tremendous laugh!!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 4, 2005

overlapping shits???? i love it! what a great typo! i couldn't resist. sorry! thanks so much for starting my day out with a tremendous laugh!!

oh my god!! it was me!! i guess it was a freudian slip!! well i guess it's etter to overlap them, than keep them separate (so now it's one big pile!!!) :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 4, 2005

Where I work, we have 12s and 8s. In OB it's all 12s. 7-7.

CHATSDALE · Feb 4, 2005

BONEMARROW...I have worked in total care where that would not have been a typo

i work two 16s back to back now...my preference is 12 but i absolutely hate 8 hr shifts

going in every day is the pits

the problem with 12 and 16 hr shifts is that if someone calls in you cannot legally stay for another shift to help cover

another problem is that too many nurses overextend themselves and then they simply cannot work anymore and they start calling in or become nocall/noshow...i can understand the need for more money but if you try to work two or three jobs like of 12 or 16 every day of week something has to give