The "woes" of 12 hr. Shifts

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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:

Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Many years ago I worked with a nurse who worked 10 - 8 hr shifts in row so she could have 4 days off together. She really enjoyed her long weekends off. When I worked 12s, the occassional 3 days in a row were killers to me. Took me 2 days to recuperate! My favorite shift was 10 hrs - which I did when I worked acute dialysis. That was the best!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
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:

Let me guess, when you went to nursing school you walked 10 miles barefoot in the snow, uphill, both ways, with an entire library, a cow, and 3 siblings on your back. Then after school you worked 18 hours in a mill for 5 cents. When you get home, your dad would kill you, then dance on your grave singing "Halleluja!"

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread closed for staff review.

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