The "woes" of 12 hr. Shifts

musiklover · Oct 18, 2009

There are definitely pros and cons with 12hr shifts. Pros-more days off in between, continuity of care for the patient, more time to get your work(especially charting!) done during your shift and you can plan your "day" with those extra hours in mind.

Cons-if you're having a bad day.....need I say more?, you're definitely tired at the end of a 12hr shift, 12hrs is never 12hrs because it's more like 13 with those late admissions, etc., getting home late and not feeling like doing anything but vegging out in front of the tv-but wait, your 6yr old daughter waited up for you so you could put her to bed because she wanted to see you at least once today! and there are always things to do around the house to get the kids and hubby ready for work and school the next day.

But here's the real kicker-getting pulled to another floor after 8hrs on one unit(oh, and they never tell you till at least 2pm with a "By the way, you're going to Ortho for 3-7"). Working in float pool that is one of my biggest complaints. It doesn't happen too often because they try to put you on the same unit for 12hrs but sometimes it happens. So, of course till you give report and get things wrapped up on one unit and get to the next unit and get report it is usually after 4pm and then you're way behind and playing catch up for 4 hours. But overall, I like the 12hr shifts because it gives me more time at home with my family.

luv2yoga · Oct 18, 2009

I agree, there are pro's and con's. I combine the best of both worlds: I work the Baylor program part-time, just Sat./Sun. and do 12's. Then I work per diem on Mon. and Tues. somewhere else and do 8's. I am always home on school nights for my kids. Works for me right now. But when the kids are gone, I will be changing it.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2009

worked 12's, liked it for a while except for the 3 days in a row, and the fact that you can take only 2 days off and be off for a week. but now i am working 8 hours and once i got used to it again i like that i can come home and actually do stuff and if i am having a bad day its over sooner

CynicallyVexed · Oct 18, 2009

in the trauma ICU I worked in night shift did 7 nights of 12 hour shifts in a row with 7 nights off in a row. I LOVED IT! but then again I had a great team of people that I worked with and a great team leader. When I went to days, I could barely stand 2 - 12's in row mostly cause team conflicts well.. then again there was no 'team' on days, it was defend for yourself.

On the days I had 12 hr shifts all I did them days was sleep... eat... work... can put a damper on your personal life

Now that I'm out of the big organization and into a smaller facility, I'm doing 3-11 8hr/shifts. I like them too. I have things i can do during the day, and if I'm super tired I can get a few extra hours of sleep unlike the 12's.

I personally like them both really. I miss having more days off in a row.. but I don't miss not being able to do anything the days that I work.

it's usually to personal preferences. Not everybody can do 12's... cause of family, kids, school, prior commitments.. and that's fine. Wonderful world of nursing we have the advantage than most people seeing we are in need 24/7 that open schedules and different job opportunities intend to let us find the schedule and work that we want. The only problem is, the more your picky and specialize in something the more flexible you have to be in your hours.

:)

NotFlo · Oct 18, 2009

What about sixteen hour shifts? I don't mean staying over once in awhile but being scheduled like that.

At my workplace, it's set up so that day shift is staffed by people doing typical 8 hour 7a-3p shifts, and eves and nights is completely staffed by people who are scheduled for two doubles a week. I don't know if I could do it. I've been forced to do doubles when I'm on call and I'm a total wreck after the 12 hour or so mark.

meandragonbrett · Oct 18, 2009

I couldn't show up to that place 5 days a week. I'd quit if I had to.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Oct 18, 2009

I used to do 8 hr shifts. A 12 hr shift feels no longer than an 8 hr shift to me. I'd feel like I was always at work if I had to drag my butt in there 5 days a week, plus it would cost me more in gas and such.

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2009

I love my 12 hour shifts. I'm so happy that they are an option. The nice thing about nursing is there is usually a variety of shifts available.

I can not however do 16s. I become a babbling idiot and so I can never work where those are demanded.

musiklover · Oct 19, 2009

16 hour shifts aren't too bad. I like them because they allow me a lot more time off during the week. When I was pregnant though I could only do them till I was about 22wks because I was working mostly on a busy admission unit and my butt was toast till the end of the double! The ER didn't care that it was 7pm and there was a pregnant RN that had to pee and still hadn't eaten supper yet, they still wanted to give report and send the patient over. That tended to make me pretty cranky after working 12 hours already and with all those hormones flowing-look out! So, I had to stop doing the 16 hour shifts. I haven't gone back to doing them because I hate not getting to see my kids for a whole day.

EmergencyNrse · Oct 19, 2009

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 straight and body rested? no wonder there are incidents with patients. not to mention, there are specialty units where 12 hr shifts are preposterous. when will nursing legislature and management realize this is one of the many reasons nurses are leaving the field and the hospitals?

just got done with 9 straight 12's. it is what it is...

i would do more but they don't like to pay all the overtime.

no one ever got ahead in this world with the 40-hr work week! never.

i see the generation behind mine lazy and lackadaisical. no drive, no motivation to excel. tv shows that like to show those luxury lifestyles are poison to society. everyone wants the american dream but doesn't want to do the leg-work to get there anymore.

things as credit card debt, bankruptcy, foreclosures are at an all-time high no because of government but individual irresponsibility.

living on a budget... beneath your means, not beyond it is more prudent. it's about saving and investing not spending.

a 12-hr shift is nothing. nothing. people are working 12's everywhere and it's been that way long before you or me. you want the government to legislate your shift for you??? laughable!

people that are self-employed work routinely 16hrs/day sometimes 7 days a week. you have to do what you have to to make it. it's called work for a reason. your whining is offensive to those of us that put up and do what's necessary every day.

you have choices. in this country it's called freedom. to do the work you chose to do or find a different career. i hear you can work as little as a 4-hrs shift @ mcdonald's or walmart. good luck with that.

:oornt:

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Oct 19, 2009

I have never worked 12's yet or as a nurse yet but in a previous job I enjoyed 4 10's.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Oct 19, 2009

I've done 5 8's on a floor...NO WAY EVER AGAIN. I don't care how much it pays. I do 12's now and LOOOOOVE it. If I had to do 8's, I'd find another job.