what do you all think about 12 hour shifts?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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 pediatrics, geriatrics, med-surg, ccu,.

When I first started 18 years ago, 12 hour shifts were just beginning at the facility where I work. We did rotating every 6 weeks (7p-7a rotating with 7a-7p). We were required to sign a contract initially. The rotating was the most difficult to do every 6 weeks. The rotating shifts eventually changed to either a 12 hour night shift or a 12 hour day shift.

While I much prefer the 12 hours over the 8 hours, the years of working 12 hours 3 and 4 days a week does take its toll on you. There are some down sides to the 12 hour shifts such as not being able to attend functions such as football games, dance recitals, baseball games, etc. of your children while they are growing up. Not being able to spend as much time with your family. The one thing that my children have said to me was.... "you were never home" and "You always had to work". The sad part is that my children are grown now and I missed alot of those things.

Our schedules did not allow you to work all 3 days in a row. The days were always split up to fill the holes in the schedule. The weekend's we were only required to work every 6th weekend, and had call every 3rd weekend.

So there are plus and minuses of both. The 12 hours did allow for being able to get everything done. Working critical care though it seemed like I was always there over the 12 hours catching up on paperwork, etc..

It really is based individual likes and dislikes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i think 12 hr shifts are to much for someone. mistakes can happen as the person will be tired. i dont feel anyone should work over 8 hrs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

I've been orienting 7-3pm for 4 weeks. I just started my 2 weeks left of orientation on my shift, 7p-7a and I love it. Working a 5 day week was killing me lol..altho the shift went fast.

I love my 12s..wouldn't do it any other way!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I won't mind them when I can finally work because it fits right in with my husband's schedule of 12 hour shifts since he works as an EMT :) I know I probably won't get the same schedule as him but one can only hope :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been a nurse for 27 years and I love 12 hour shifts. I have worked everything from ER, dialysis, NICU, and SNF and it is the only way to go. Just think about it. You have 12 hours to do what is expected of you in 8 hours. Q shift charting especially!! With the nursing shortage it makes sense. Also, if I have to go to work 5 days and only get two off don't call me if someone calls in. But, if I only work 3 or 4 days a week I will gladly work another day. I know employers say it is harder to fill a 12 hour shift, but I think that is just hype. Everyone I know says the same thing. I have 2 sons who are nurses and work 12s also. They need the extra money and both are able to get more overtime with 12s. I have quit 3 jobs over the years because someone got the bright idea to change to 8s. I recently returned to a job because they finally went back to 12s.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, PICU.

I worked 12 hr shifts for my whole career with shorter hours thrown in as extra shifts. I just started a new ER position where they offer a variety of shifts, and have taken a 9 am to 7 pm schedule. I have been working 8 hrs on myo orientation which is wonderful- coming home at a decent hour, I still have energy and the ability to things during the morning or at night, and I can communicate with my family! With 12's, yes I had more days off, but I was so exhausted that I lost one of those days (or more) anyway! We will see how this ten hour shift works out for me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love 12-hour night shift not day.If it is day then 8's will be preferable but since i am a night person,i love 12hr,s night and you wont even know when the shift is over.If i like ,i can pick some OT if i need extra bucks.I cant even imagine going to work for 5days in a week.i dont like it cos u have extra laundary to make,extra gas mileage,more disorganization and all sort of minor discomforts.I cant trade the 4days off for anything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Absolutely not!

Physically, exhausting. After a year and a half, on 12 hour days (plus 30 minute commute each way) in CCU, I was sleep deprived, spent ALL my time off trying to catch up. I would go for days never seeing or speaking with my teen age children. Having the extra days off during the week just wasn't worth the detrimental effects on my health and family life. After a couple of weeks, on 8 hour days, I was just beginning to feel "normal" again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

More days a week off means more golf to me. Now if it will just stop raining in Texas

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

I am 65. I work 12 hour shifts. Different strokes for different folks. There are plently of different jobs and shifts out there for you. Find your spot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric.

Where I work we still have some folks that work 8-hour shifts and they just seem SO rushed to get things done. I work 12-hour shifts, 3 days a week, and I love it. I worked 8-hour shifts right out of school 2 years ago, and I hated it. I felt like I worked every day...I love nursing but I don't want to do it every day. My schedule now is such that I work 2 days, off 2, work 2, off 4...and that works out very well for us. I also like that I have 12 hours to get things done instead of 8...I know that nursing care is a 24-hour job, but I still don't like leaving work with some little thing not done! lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.
work I also like that I have 12 hours to get things done instead of 8...I know that nursing care is a 24-hour job, but I still don't like leaving work with some little thing not done! lol

Again, can someone please explain this to me. If a nurse works 12 hours, do you only do assessments once in that 12 hours? If the facility is only 12 hour shifts, are assessments done only twice a day? We have 8's and 12's, but all treatments, assessments, I and O's are still geared about 8 hour time tables. So a 12 hour nurse who comes in at 7 p, would still be doing I and O's at 10 pm and 6 am. I just don't understand how you who do 12's have more time to get your work done, when there's still the same amount of work to get done, not less because you're there longer.

In our facility, any thing ordered q shift, means q 8 hour shift, not whatever kind of shift you are working.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment