what do you all think about 12 hour shifts?

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deeDawntee, RN

1,579 Posts

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.
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!!

Very well said

reesern63, RN

267 Posts

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).

It wasn't clear to me you meant a non-nursing job. If that's what you meant, my mistake.

I've worked both shifts. Both are hard. I've worked hard in non-nursing jobs too, for that matter. It all depends on your perspective.

nicuRN2007

240 Posts

I love 12 hour shifts...I'm a little tired by the end of my 3rd day, but having 4 days off is worth it. It truly gives me time to recover before starting back again. I feel like it gives me time to get things done, and I feel it's better for the patients because of continuity of care. I'm 25 now, with no kids. I just wonder how it will be once I have kids, esp. since I'm night shift.

Diploma'82

59 Posts

I prefer 12 hour NIGHT shift, but when I worked day shift (rare occasion), I preferred 8 hour shifts because after 4 pm I was too tired to think!

Last place I worked, the nurse manager scheduled me one night on, one night off...which makes me ill OR I'd be called to come in and work most of my off days (small hospital-I worked ICU but we had to staff Med/Surg too!) and they wondered why I didn't answer my phone on my days off!:uhoh3:

Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.
I love 12 hour shifts...I'm a little tired by the end of my 3rd day, but having 4 days off is worth it. It truly gives me time to recover before starting back again. I feel like it gives me time to get things done, and I feel it's better for the patients because of continuity of care. I'm 25 now, with no kids. I just wonder how it will be once I have kids, esp. since I'm night shift.

It all depends on your situation. For me, with a husband and a two year old, 12s on nights is perfect. It works-out so well. The little guy is in daycare full-time, so I am able to sleep when needed. That is the key, I think. I work with people who have to try to get sleep with the kids in the house, and they are always exhausted. Can't blame them - after Mama's been gone for 12 hours all my little guy wants to do is be with me! Daycare provides him with a fun distraction so I can get some rest and we can really enjoy our quality time together later on.

Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.

I hate, hate, HATE 12 hour shifts. When I worked them - either day or night - I'd drag out of bed and go to work. By the 8 hour mark, when the 2-10 shift (CNAs and CMAs worked the standard 8s) I was ready to GO HOME, but I had 4 hours left to go. By 6P (if I didn't have an admission bombed on me) I was a wreck. Go home, go to bed - next thing you know, it's time to go right back to work. Feels like I never left. And since I was used to working 2nd shift, when they changed us over to 12's, the evening shift people got screwed over. You either had to get used to staying up all night or dragging in at what to you was an ungodly hour of the morning. Going back to 8 hours at a different facility was a relief.

Of course, now, in outpatient, I get to work 12-9 with a FULL lunch hour, or 8-5 with same. I can even work 4-6 hours during the school year (finishing BA in English); a working arrangement I missed from my restaurant days. I will never go back to the regular nursing shifts again.

Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
I love 12 hour shifts...I'm a little tired by the end of my 3rd day, but having 4 days off is worth it. It truly gives me time to recover before starting back again. I feel like it gives me time to get things done, and I feel it's better for the patients because of continuity of care. I'm 25 now, with no kids. I just wonder how it will be once I have kids, esp. since I'm night shift.

12 hours are great, IF you have no wee ones at home! I truly feel for folks who do this, and try to juggle childcare/ seeing the tots! I've said before, I Couldn't have done this shift when the kiddos were wee, but with teens, its a different world, you find yourself able again to have more freedom with your work schedule. And sleep during the day...Well, teens!....they often sleep as long as I do during the day, when Iv'e done a night shift!!!!! (Remember clubbing all night etc!???!:lol2::lol2):

Fiona59

8,343 Posts

We had 2 pregnant 12 hour shifters. By their 6th month, they had their doctor issue them a sick note for 8 hour shifts and used up portions of their sick time to cover the rest of their shifts.

I hate 12 hour shifts. Back, feet, head hurts, and it takes a long time to recover.

Most of our over 50's on the 12 hours are actively looking for an 8 hour job.

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