what do you all think about 12 hour shifts?

[emmycRN]

I personally miss the days of normal 8 hour days. I find myself craving a normal 5 day work week. I have been considering leaving acute care for this reason. So what do you all think? Has 12 hour shifts increased the stress of nursing and contributed to nurse burnout?

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

I did 8's on nights in the past, and I would never go back. I felt like I could never transition to days on the weekends. Now I work 12's on nights, which is a little more tolerable. With my 35-40 minute commute, I think that I would prefer 12's even if I worked days.

To each their own, I guess.

[pcicurn7]

12's all the way. Cant fathom coming to the hospital every single day. 8 hour shifts still exist...you just gotta look for them...at my hospital recovery and cath have 8 hr shifts...

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

I am trashed after an 8hour shift and I work per diem, so not even every day. No way would I be a good nurse (or a good wife and mother) after a 12 hour shift. If I don't get 8 hours sleep, it's not pretty.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

12 hour shifts suit me as I would hate going to work 5 days a week

[jemtown]

As a recent grad, I just started working 12 hour shiifts-I like that I work three days a week. Sure I'm tired and the first day off I spend relaxing, not doing much but it's great not to feel rushed to get things done when you only have a couple of days off.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i work 12 hour shifts and i am exhausted by 1600... i wouldn't go back to 8 hour shifts... my first day off after my 3 12 hour shifts i am to tired to do anything..

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I like having plenty of days off per week, so I have a definite preference for either the 12-hour or 16-hour shifts. I have been working 16-hour weekend double shifts at my facility for the past year and a half, and I love having 5 days off in a row. Contrary to popular belief, I am not all burnt out on Monday morning after having worked two 16 hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday.

I worked 12 hour shifts at a factory for 3 years, and I loved having 3 to 4 days off in a row per week. In my honest opinion, the 8 hour shifts drag out, and I despise having to come into work 5 days per week.

[HealthyRN]

I hated working 12-hour shifts when I worked in acute care. It wasn't the only reason why I left, but it was one of the reasons. Yes, I only had to work 3 shifts/week, but I was so drained after those shifts that it took me 2 days to recover. Not to mention that I could never get used to working evenings/nights. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if I could have worked days.

I am SO much happier now that I work a normal, mundane schedule, Monday-Friday, 9-5. I feel like a normal human being again and the depression that I felt when working in acute care has lifted. I actually look forward to going to work on Monday! However, I will say that working 8-hour shifts in acute care would probably be worse than working the 12's. It's probably just that I dislike acute care in general.

[oneLoneNurse]

12 hour shifts suit me as I would hate going to work 5 days a week

I totally agree. Love the 3 12s and the luxury of not having to drive five days per week.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I love 12-hour shifts (1845-0715) and would prefer them any day over starting at 2245. The few times I have come in later I've felt behind all night long.

[FlashGrad]

I was a skeptic at first, but now I don't mind the 12 hr shift. It took me a while to get used to it though. I LOVE only working a couple days a week. I work as a nurse tech and it seems like many (even majority?) of the nurses work 12s. Where I work you have the choice of working 8s, 12s or a combination of the two.