The "woes" of 12 hr. Shifts

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Specializes in Mental Health/School Nursing/Corrections.

First of all who in their right mind decided that 12 hour shifts were a plus for Nurses? I don't know about the rest of you out there but 12 hours is never 12!! 12 turns into 13, 14 and more. I want to know how many people in administration could work that long and at the "floor's pace" and only have 30 minutes to get some food, debrief and get your mind strait and body rested? No wonder their are incidents with patients. Not to mention, there are Specialty Units where 12 hr shifts are proposterous. When will Nursing legistlature and management realize this is one of the many reasons nurses are leaving the field and the hospitals? :twocents:

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What is surprising is that there are so many nurses that like the 12 hour shifts.

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Yep, it's about in line with Chinese factory worker standards.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Critical Care.

12 hour shifts are rough for me too, but I also think I would be a lot more tired having only 2 days off a week and working at the pace that I do, than just getting it all over in 3 days and having 4 days off. Plus I feel like even 12 hours isn't enough time to get it all done, lol but I guess the work is never truly done.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i am one who enjoys the 12 hour shifts--i like doing my 3 nights and having 4 off. i don't want 8 hour shifts 5 days a week.... i would feel like i was missing everything! yes the 12 hours are long and the work is never done, but nursing is a 24h job!

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Yeah if you think the work is never done in 12 hours, try getting it done in 8.

I'm middle aged and 12 hours can be rough, especially in the ED. But I have 4 days off a week. Working 5 days usually mant 3-4 days of working, one day off then another one a couple of days later. It felt like I never had time for myself because at the end of a work day I was still tired and had little time to get anything done, so my days off were spent doing work at home.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Me thinks preference for 8s, 10s, or 12s is mostly personal...influenced by age, unit worked, shift, etc. When I was young 12 hours in PICU was ok for me, but 8 hours in L&D was more than enough...most likely related to the physicality of the work. At this point in my life anything verging on 12 hours is exhausting for me...now even my brain gets tired after 8 hours.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I HATE 12 hour shifts. Sure, it gives you more time off, but when I worked 12 hour shifts on my days off I was so tired the days off did me no good.

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My brother is a medical intern. 80 hours a week are standard.

It makes nurses schedules look good in comparision.

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Be a good super human robot nurse and all will go well (for who, I'm not sure!)

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Twelve hr shifts were started in the 80's as a stop-gap measure when there was a true shortage. Stop-gap measure. Saves the hospital alot of money. There were weekend deals - 2-12's = full-time, with benefits.

Some hospitals give 1 hr lunch breaks, 2 15 min breaks. Some do 30 min lunch, 2 15 min breaks.

I find that 10 hrs is my 'wall' - I am so tired that everything takes twice as long; and if I have any charting still to do, I start nodding in front of the computer.

I am sure there are studies done about frequency of errors late in the shift.

I cannot work in any workplace that wants more than an 8 hr shift.

Dialysis places often do 3 13 hr shifts!! UGH.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I like 12s..don't really care if they turn into 13, 15, 16. That is nursing. It happens.

Good part? Only 3 days a week does that happen. I'm off for 4.

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