Question about nursing and 12 hours shifts.

bryndamor · May 21, 2008

I like the 12-hr shifts. The time on your shift goes by fast, esp in the beginning of your career when you're busy learning and trying to stay on schedule. Ya just hafta make sure that you're rested before going into work else it becomes harder, esp the older ya are, it seems. Yes, the 4 days off per week are really nice. If you're doing nights and your family or significant other is a 'normal' day person, you'll lose some of that time adjusting your schedule, but otherwise, 12 hr shifts have been great for me. More time to decompress between work days = less stress = more quality 'me' time = easier living = happier me.

Trauma Columnist · May 21, 2008

If you are just strictly considering the 12 hour shifts as the reason to get into nursing, I would say that's not a good enough reason to go thru all the education, training, finding a job, etc.. If however, it is ONE of the reasons to change careers, than go for it. I always liked 12 hour shifts and did definitely feel as though I had a life.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 21, 2008

I agree with trauma, but if your 12s are on night shift, you do tend to lose at least one day off to sleeping--or at least a big part of it. If, as happens to me from time to time, your three shifts aren't grouped together, you can end up like I have this week, sleeping away the better part of Monday and Wednesday. Sometimes you can get hired with the understanding that you'll work specific days, but often you have to work when you're needed. For me, there are other advantages that outweigh this disadvantage--I like my job, and I like working nights, for the most part. I'm on a weekend program, so I'm sure to be working Sat and Sun unless a request them off (35 days in advance). A lot of times, my third day is grouped with them--either a Friday or a Monday--and sometimes my tired old body is just as happy to only work two in a row. Actually, I recently cut my weekday shift back to eight hours, and I'm hoping one extra evening home will be worth the loss in pay--plus, it's rarely difficult to pick up an extra shift, if one is so inclined.

Just be prepared that nursing is often physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. Nursing school is tough, and working as a nurse can be tougher. The field has a lot going for it, but even those of us who love being nurses sometimes feel overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated. Some other threads have spoken about crying over work. I don't think men in our society are quite as inclined to openly weep, but that isn't to say we never feel like it. Still, in a way, it seems like a good thing--sort of--to have a job that feels worth weeping over. There will be situations that demand your whole heart and soul. When that's still not enough, it's heartbreaking, but when it is enough, you sure feel like you've accomplished something.

ThinkingOfNursing · May 22, 2008

I'm considering enrolling in a nursing program after being a developer in IT the last 10 years. This comes after a lot of soul searching about 'what I want to do with my life'. One of the reasons that draws me to nursing is the flexible hours. I
hate working 8-5 with only 2 days off. I hardly have anytime to enjoy 'life'.
Going into nursing would allow me to work 3 12-hour shifts and give me time to pursue my hobbies like painting and photography.
I was just wondering if this thinking is valid. Do you enjoy having the opportunity to work 12 hour shifts? Is this one of the reasons
to get into nursing?

Timn420 -- I am in the same boat as you. I have been working in IT as a programmer for the last 6-7 years now, and just do not feel that is the right career for me, for almost the same reasons. Not only do I hate the 8-5 with only 2 days off, but I also just don't find much meaning in what I am currently doing. Not only do I think I would find nursing to be a more meaningful and rewarding job, but the 3 12-hours shifts and similar pay to what I am receiving now would greatly improve my life satisfacation as well. I used to work in a factory, 4 12-hour shifts in a row, followed by 4 days off. Although the factory work wasn't the greatest, I loved the schedule. All throughout college I condensed my class schedule so I could have every friday and most mondays off. That is just how i prefer to live my life. I'd rather work extra hard a few days per week, and only have to work 150 days per year, and have 215 days off, as opposed to my current schedule where I have to work around 250 days per year and only get 115 days off.

I have also heard nurses get around 6 weeks of vacation per year, as opposed to my current 2-3, which is also very appealing to me, can anyone confirm their vacation time?

Any more comments from nurses out there on both of our situations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! :nuke:

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 22, 2008

Vacation allotments can vary greatly by facility. At mine, it's linked to longevity, but vacation and sick-time are grouped under paid days off. Missing a few twelve-hour shifts can gobble up a lot of your vacation time.

I think my facility is fairly typical, also, that vacation requests are made at the beginning of the year, and requests for days off have to be made five weeks in advance. Getting time off from a hospital can be a bit of a production, because patients have to be covered, regardless.

I haven't found this to be a terrible problem, since I'm able to be pretty flexible, and the times I prefer to vacation aren't in high demand. A parent with kids in school could find the situation more difficult. I'm afraid this is just one of many examples where it ain't all roses.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 22, 2008

I'm a female, but I'll go ahead and jump into the discussion. :)

I definitely enjoy compressed work schedules. I worked 12-hour shifts for 3 years, and loved it. I worked two 16 hour weekend double shifts for 2 years, which enabled me to have 5 days off in a row from Monday through Friday.

I now work 5 days a week, from 6am to 2pm. Going back to a 5-day work week is a rude awakening, because I always feel as if there's not much time in the day.

timn420 · May 23, 2008

It’s been interesting to read everyone’s responses. Of course, the opportunity to work 12 hours shifts is not the only reason to get into nursing. I asked myself what I really wanted in a career which is flexibility, helping others, creativity. Nursing fulfills at least two of those goals (flexibility & helping others). I also thought about graphic design, social work, and speech pathology.

Just yesterday, I learned I have an interview to work for a non-profit. However, its doing more IT development which is what I’ve been doing for years. I’m hoping that nursing provides me an opportunity to help others as well give me the flexibility to live a more fulfilling life outside of work.

I can identify with so many others who have worked in the IT field and have become disenchanted with the work over time. Just watch Office Space, you’ll understand :)

mm4785 · May 28, 2008

Do all hospitals with 12 hour shifts require nurses to "make-up" hours with a fourth shift once or twice a month? It is my understanding that when working 12 hours, even though most of us don't take lunch or a break, we only clock 11 hours each shift - so for payroll purposes, we have to make up for those missing hours each pay period with an entire 12 hour shift at regular pay. Does anyone else think there is something wrong with this?

lvnandmomx3 · May 28, 2008

Do all hospitals with 12 hour shifts require nurses to "make-up" hours with a fourth shift once or twice a month? It is my understanding that when working 12 hours, even though most of us don't take lunch or a break, we only clock 11 hours each shift - so for payroll purposes, we have to make up for those missing hours each pay period with an entire 12 hour shift at regular pay. Does anyone else think there is something wrong with this?

I do not currently work 12 hr shifts right now. But when I did I was in the ER admitting dept and worked same 12 hour schedule as the nurses, they actually worked 12.5 hours (.5 hours over shift to give report to oncoming shift) so they either worked 7a-7:30p or 7p-7:30a or 12p-12:30a they clocked out for a half our lunch which made thier pay 12 hours for that shift. We did the same in the admitting dept with.I would hope the nurses that are working 12's and only get paid for 11 call thier labor boards ASAP and report thier employers that is not fair at all.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 29, 2008

We work a 13th shift each month, or use a personal day or holiday to make up for the 12 1hr breaks throughout the month....

K98 · Jun 3, 2008

I have worked 3 12s for the past two years. Four days off is a good thing.