Military Time

chare · Mar 31, 2014

Military, or 24 hour time, has been used in every facility in which I have ever worked. Additionally, I doubt that its use will lessen. While you can change the time format on your phone, as well as most watches, that doesn't help when you have to determine what a charted time is.

The time from 1:00 AM to 12:59 PM is the same, regardless of time format used.

To convert a time between 1:00 PM to 11:59 PM, add 12 to whatever the current time is.

To convert a time between 13:00 to 23:59, subtract 12 to get the corresponding 12 hour PM time.

The only time that can get tricky is 12 midnight. Some facilities consider midnight as 00:00, while others consider it be 24:00. Regardless of which time is used for midnight, the hour between midnight and 1:00 AM is designated as 00.

krm7 · Mar 31, 2014

Thank you!! That little trick really cleared it up for me! :)

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Mar 31, 2014

The only time that can get tricky is 12 midnight. Some facilities consider midnight as 00:00, while others consider it be 24:00. Regardless of which time is used for midnight, the hour between midnight and 1:00 AM is designated as 00.

Easy solution: chart 2359 or 0001

MedicalPartisan · Apr 1, 2014

Some facilities consider midnight as 00:00, while others consider it be 24:00. Regardless of which time is used for midnight, the hour between midnight and 1:00 AM is designated as 00.

I have never seen 24:00 used for midnight. What does 12:01 become, 00:01 or 24:01; either way that seems exceptionally silly.

OP, the +/- 12 trick is definitely the best way, IMO. Before learning that, I just 'went back' two numbers. It's hard to explain because there isn't much logic but for 14:00, for example, going 'back' two numbers from the ones place (from 4 to 2) also gives you the time. I hope this doesn't confuse you more but, for me, it's the quickest way to get the current time. After a while, you become accustomed to associating certain number (like 9 with 21:00, for example) so it won't require anything thinking over time.

PulselessNine · Apr 1, 2014

I have never seen 24:00 used for midnight. What does 12:01 become, 00:01 or 24:01; either way that seems exceptionally silly.

Silly or not, midnight is 0000.

Military/24hr time does not use a colon either.

MedicalPartisan · Apr 1, 2014

Silly or not, midnight is 0000.
Military/24hr time does not use a colon either.

What I was implying was that whether or not (their system) goes from 24:00 to 24:01, or from 24:00 to 00:01, that is ridiculous. 0000 is standard from my experience, so I agree with you.

MedicalPartisan · Apr 1, 2014

Military/24hr time does not use a colon either.

It does on my watch. :wacky:

PulselessNine · Apr 1, 2014

It does on my watch.

All watches will display the colon. You have to perform the colonectomy when you write/type it.

RunBabyRN · Apr 1, 2014

I've only seen military time. Sadly, people do things like put 12PM for midnight, or 2PM for 2 in the morning, or 11PM for 11 in the morning. Hence, 0000, 0200, 1100, so they're not confused with 1200, 1400, or 2300. You'll get the hang of it with time. Change your watch and phone to it- it does make it easier. When writing military time, don't use the colon. Watches may because that's just how they're set up for standard time.

caliotter3 · Apr 1, 2014

I've always seen the 24 hour time system used in facilities. Occasionally I come across a home health nurse that uses the other, and this is where I've also seen an occasional error. I learned to use 2359, 0001, or 0005 when dealing with midnight, when a supervisor said our computerized MARs used 0005 to avoid the 0000/2400 problem. Very easy for me since I learned the 24 hour clock in the military.

allnurses Guide · Apr 1, 2014

Once you go military time, you never go back!

You just wait after you've used it a couple of years...

My husband: "I'll be there to pick you up at 1800."

Me: "Honey, I can't be ready that quick. Better make it 1900."