8 vs 12

MS._Jen_RN, ASN, RN · Jan 19, 2007

I work in Acute care rehab. It's a "heavy" job. There is a lot of patient moving, positioning, transfering, etc (with lift equipment of course). After 12 hours, most people are dragging. (16s, when we had them, even worse) I think that when people are that tired they don't give the best care. Adaquate- yes, great-no. I hate nothing more than to hear, over and over, from the 12 hour people "I'm SO ready to go home." "I'm so tired." Or when asked to do something- **SIGH**"I guess . . . " or "I've been here 11 hours. . . ." Well, hate to say it-that was your choice. If you do 12s don't be one of those.

~Jen

sharlynn · Jan 20, 2007

I work in Acute care rehab. It's a "heavy" job...... I hate nothing more than to hear, over and over, from the 12 hour people "I'm SO ready to go home." "I'm so tired." Or when asked to do something- **SIGH**"I guess . . . " or "I've been here 11 hours. . . ." Well, hate to say it-that was your choice. If you do 12s don't be one of those.
~Jen

What if it's the only choice you have? I've never tried to tell I facility "I won't do a 12 hour shift, but I will do 8 hours." How fast would I be out their door?

mel1977 · Feb 1, 2007

never hurts to ask-we offer 4, 8, 12, and 16 hour shifts based on your needs and full time status. If FT you may work 8's or 12's. I find there are pros and cons. I will try to explain. PLEASE bear with me if I get wordy or lost!! :)

So, it used to be that we just basically worked 8 hour shifts, 12s if someone called in or they needed extra help.

8 hour shift: PRO-continuity of care. You are there five days a week if you work 8s. The patients pretty much get the same caregivers and nurses and that makes such an impact on their care and so forth. Plus, as the nurse, you KNOW the patients. CON-you are there 5 days a week.

I don't see much of a GOOD for 12s except time in days.

I work eves-here is how it used to be. East Hall: SCI wing has one RN, one Tech and a MEd nurse (I would have another hall too) This is how it was five days a week-we work EOW.

NOW, you may have one girl who works 07-7p, another comes in 7p-07a and then isn't there for another 48 hours, and a different person takes over. Or, you have one tech from 07-11, another from 11am to 7pm, another from 7pm to 7am. Then next day, that hall's tech is there from 7am to 7pm, the next person from 7pm to 11pm, the next from 11pm to 7am. NEXT day, different tech from 07-15, 15-23 and 23-07. See what I mean? ( not only for techs, but charge nurses and med passing-though usually the RNS are the same during the day since they are primary nurses)

Plus, it does wear on a person to be there for SO LONG. Rehab is a heavy heavy work load-and not just physically either. These people are in between in getting better. They either require a lot, a little or none at all. They span across so many types-okay, I am tired. GOing on 3 am!!!!

Anyway, I like 8's. If i had to work 12's I would do so, I have worked at a HS that did ONLY 12s. It was fine, but I think really it needs to be one or the other and 12's happen to cover parts of 8s where people call in.

How confused are you now????

Borchey, RN, BSN · Feb 25, 2008

All we do here in 12 hr shifts and I love it. Only working 3 days a week is so nice. 4 days off during a week is great and makes me have a life. I work a rotating shift so that means that I work 2 weeks of 12 hr day shifts and then work 2 weeks of 12 hr night shifts. It's nice because you get the best of both worlds.

8 hr shifts here just wouldn't work. We are all on 12 hr shifts..... 7a-7p or 7p-7a. Helps to get people up in the morning and such. Great.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2008

I did nursing home rehabilitation for 2 years at a facility where only 8 and 16 hour shifts were offered. Of course, I did the 16-hour weekend double shifts, because I loved having 5 days off in a row.

I admit I was tired on Sunday evenings, but I would still have some difficulty adjusting to 8 hour shifts that are scheduled 5 days in a row. Compressed work schedules (two 16 hour shifts or three 12 hour shifts) are definitely my cup of tea!

1studentnurse · Feb 28, 2008

Eights are enough for me, especially when they run into 10 hours when you have to help get the paperwork and other stuff that just appears done.

I have been lucky that my current job doesn't get weird about OT. They don't have enough people to do the work, so they never care if you have OT.