i find it a must to shower. i work in an ICU and deal with many contact precaution pts (MRSA, ect.). you can wear gowns, ect., but how well protected are you. i never get beyond the entry of my house before i have pretty much taken everything off and in the laundry and on the way to the shower. do as you wish, but always be on the caution.
i hired on as 72 hrs per payperiod, but due to turnover and an sicu shortage, we have been flexed to 80 hrs per payperiod. 6-12's and 1-8 hr per period is tolerable, basically i have off seven days per payperiod.