what do you all think about 12 hour shifts?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
Okkaaayyyy...what is that suppose to mean??? :o

There's one thing that I've noticed about this board as a newbie...a lot of people are very discouraging about the field of nursing.

For me, working 3 days a week as opposed to 5 days a week will most definitely give me a better quality of life. And I know that for a fact. I would not mind working 12 hours for just 3 days a week. I am someone who likes to work, be busy, and active. I absolutely hate sitting at work for 8 hours for 5 days a week with nothing to do.... that is a big drain to me. I have to stay busy. You have to realize that everyone is different. Some people like to work long and hard, and some don't.

He probably meant you get tired doing 12's all the time. I do three 12's, yes I'm tired at the end of a day, but I wouldn't want to go back to more days on of 8's.

Sorry you feel that folk are being discouraging about nursing, just sometimes folk need to vent. It's not always like that. There are So many positives once you find

your niche!

Specializes in neuro, med/surg/, cardiac care.

Personally, would never do 8hour shifts again. It seemed to me, I got off of work and ended up coming home to do more work? 12 hour shifts you come home and hopefully supper, homework is finished and you can have a conversation with the family. Plus you can shop without the crowds during the week, meet up with friends for lunch on those extra days off. It's a good life... and there's always those days with empty beds you pull rank with seniority and go home early!!!

Lets see how you feel when you are a RN

Exactly.

Okkaaayyyy...what is that suppose to mean??? :o

There's one thing that I've noticed about this board as a newbie...a lot of people are very discouraging about the field of nursing.

For me, working 3 days a week as opposed to 5 days a week will most definitely give me a better quality of life. And I know that for a fact. I would not mind working 12 hours for just 3 days a week. I am someone who likes to work, be busy, and active. I absolutely hate sitting at work for 8 hours for 5 days a week with nothing to do.... that is a big drain to me. I have to stay busy. You have to realize that everyone is different. Some people like to work long and hard, and some don't.

Where do you get the idea that you sit around on 8h shifts? This is why you should really understand the topic first. I think plenty of 8h shift nurses will attest to how very busy they are and how very hard they work.

Where do you get the idea that you sit around on 8h shifts? This is why you should really understand the topic first. I think plenty of 8h shift nurses will attest to how very busy they are and how very hard they work.

She wasn't saying that nurses sit around for 8hrs on shifts. She was saying that she'd prefer being busy for 12 hours straight 3 days/week (in nursing) than sitting being bored for 8 hours a day M-F (in a non-nursing job).

Personally, would never do 8hour shifts again. It seemed to me, I got off of work and ended up coming home to do more work? 12 hour shifts you come home and hopefully supper, homework is finished and you can have a conversation with the family. Plus you can shop without the crowds during the week, meet up with friends for lunch on those extra days off. It's a good life... and there's always those days with empty beds you pull rank with seniority and go home early!!!

I can see where 12s might be preferable to you, from what you describe. I am single with no kids, so when I get off work, I don't have to come home and deal with kids, homework, etc. I come home, shower, change, and go out again to do whatever. Preference depends a lot on personality and family/life situation.

Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
She wasn't saying that nurses sit around for 8hrs on shifts. She was saying that she'd prefer being busy for 12 hours straight 3 days/week (in nursing) than sitting being bored for 8 hours a day M-F (in a non-nursing job).

Thats what I got from her post too btw!

People are so defensive about this! Some who have a strong preference for either 12 or 8 hr shifts seem to feel a need to persuade those who don't to change their mind. However, if you physically can't handle working 12 hours straight several days a week, then it doesn't matter how convenient it is to have that schedule. If you have no trouble with 12 hour shifts and perhaps even thrive on them, then no one is going to convince you that 8 hour shifts are better.

Some people seem to fear that if opinion changes the wrong way they'll be forced to work the kind of shift that they don't like. For some, it would be inconvenient and disliked but doable. For others, it would be a deal-breaker. Perhaps because their body can't handle 12hr shifts full-time or perhaps because 8 hrs shifts would too drastically change their lifestyle.

Just reflecting on what I've read from both sides!

People are so defensive about this! Some who have a strong preference for either 12 or 8 hr shifts seem to feel a need to persuade those who don't to change their mind. However, if you physically can't handle working 12 hours straight several days a week, then it doesn't matter how convenient it is to have that schedule. If you have no trouble with 12 hour shifts and perhaps even thrive on them, then no one is going to convince you that 8 hour shifts are better.

Some people seem to fear that if opinion changes the wrong way they'll be forced to work the kind of shift that they don't like. For some, it would be inconvenient and disliked but doable. For others, it would be a deal-breaker. Perhaps because their body can't handle 12hr shifts full-time or perhaps because 8 hrs shifts would too drastically change their lifestyle.

Just reflecting on what I've read from both sides!

I know. I totally agree with you on this. We must remember what may be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa!!! :lol2:

Specializes in I have an interest in Travel and OB/L&D.
Where do you get the idea that you sit around on 8h shifts? This is why you should really understand the topic first. I think plenty of 8h shift nurses will attest to how very busy they are and how very hard they work.

As jjjoy said: She wasn't saying that nurses sit around for 8hrs on shifts. She was saying that she'd prefer being busy for 12 hours straight 3 days/week (in nursing) than sitting being bored for 8 hours a day M-F (in a non-nursing job).

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Personally I love 12 hour shifts and I hate them. For all the reasons stated above. I think you can make anything work if you are committed to making it work and you give yourself the time to adjust. I'd say it takes at least 3-6 months to have really integrated a new sleep/work schedule into the rest of your life.

:yawn::yawn::yawn: can't be doing too much of this at work!! hehe

Specializes in SICU, PACU, Public health.

I think that it matters what kind of work you are doing too. Nursing is so diversified. The trick is finding a job you enjoy doing no matter how many hours or how many days you are assigned to be there for. When you find a job that makes you forget about time, consider yourself blessed!!

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