what do you all think about 12 hour shifts?

danissa, LPN, LVN · Jul 5, 2007

12 hour shifts work for me..three per week, although sometimes do extras if we are busy. I find the time off is so much better, can spend more time with my family!

In the NICU, obs are continuous, charted hourly, with all the fluids, vent changes etc..twelve hours sometimes passes like three! I honestly dont feel its a drag, it goes in so quickly. Also love the continuity of passing between two shifts, would never go back to 8 hrs, although tomorrow I'm going in to do an 8 hr to cover the delivery of 30 week triplets. A One off 8hr is ok, but otherwise..give me 12's anyday!

eternaldaisy · Jul 5, 2007

Love 12 hour shifts. Sure sometimes they can make for a long tiring day, but I love having more days off. I also like having less driving. I work 7 am to 7 pm and wouldn't have it any other way.

kellyskitties · Jul 5, 2007

I thought 3 12's sounded great when I started. Then I found out it's not 4 days off. Oh no. I work nights. 7p-7a. It was 3 days, then one day totally exhausted that I just slept away - plus slept that night away. Then the remaining 3 days off. Well, I could deal with that. Turns out now it's 4 nights, one day lost to sleep then 2 days off. Heck, that's just a weekend - 2 days. No different than working 5 8 hr days. Plus, the workdays - I can't do anything those days but get my butt home, get ready to go back and go to sleep. No time for anyone or anything else. I kind of wish for 8 hr shifts now. 12 hr days might feel better - since at least you're not converting nights to days all the time.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2007

Working 12s is great

I even got a second job.

Yes it is as a Marshall at a golf course. I love it.

RavenC · Jul 5, 2007

I like 12 hour shifts but it depends where you're working. Personally, I think it's a lot easier to get your work done because you have the time in the middle of the day when you'd normally be trying to finish up to give report. And not everywhere requires 3 days in a row. My new job that starts next week will be four 10 hour days, which is my choice. Still have 3 days off and no exhaustion.

westies · Jul 5, 2007

I do 8 hour shifts during the week and 12 hour shifts every 3rd weekend. Having done every shift and every 8/12 hours, I feel what I am doing now is the best for me. I am 32 h/wk and having plotted it out for daycare it is only a few days difference. 12s are horrible for me. I hate that I often have to split 7-11p in one unit and then often back to my home unit for the noc shift. I feel rushed and don't feel I can do a thorough and good job on the 7-11 part. I've learned I don't need the stress, but will suck it up for the 2 weekends off in a row. Plus we've been so very busy lately that all I do for the weekend is work, sleep, eat and back to work again. I also find 12s to be more demanding on the body. I work straight nights and am more functional than when I do 12s which take a full day to recover from. The varying shifts are also very hard on one. I have 2 schedules for sleeping, etc. whereas if you do rotating shifts most have 3. I also find I have more productive time and family time. I'm not exhausted. I wake up when the kids get off the bus, make dinner, have time for homework, bedtimes, etc. I can also get up to attend school activities/volunteer since there is always the option that I can take a nap right before work. I work in an NICU and always need to be on my toes, so I am very careful to watch my sleep in order to be fully functional. My husband and I put a lot of discussion into this and this is what is best for now.

daisy1972 · Jul 5, 2007

12 hour shifts is fine but we don't practice it in our hospital. we do have 2 shiftings but it is an 8 and 16 hour-shiftings. we have adjusted ourselves with it so we stick by it for so many years now.

if in secondary and tertiary government hospitals, 12-hour shiftings might not work due to patient overloading.but with secondary private and primary government hospitals, it might work. it works with us.:smilecoffeecup:

s1shaw · Jul 5, 2007

12's or 16's....and all the days off in between...love it...Within 48 you have your 32 in and bang...days off...yes, a day or two to "catch up", but it's well worth it....

not now, RN · Jul 5, 2007

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?

At my facility: yes. If there's a change (walk in a room an notice "Hey, you're feet are starting to swell...") you add it to charting and move on.

I've worked both 8's and 12's. Having to work five days a week was tedious. I could never get my laundry and things done in two days, if we went out of town then nothing got done until my next day off. Working 12 hour nights I take a "nap" my first day off (so I can sleep that night), do some laundry, clean and still have three days off to do whatever I want.

tntrn, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2007

I've worked both 8's and 12's. Having to work five days a week was tedious. I could never get my laundry and things done in two days, if we went out of town then nothing got done until my next day off. Working 12 hour nights I take a "nap" my first day off (so I can sleep that night), do some laundry, clean and still have three days off to do whatever I want.

Perhaps I was interpreting people saying they had more time to get things done as being "things at work". This sounds like you have more time at home to get things done, but that's not what other posts indicated to me. I can understand the home thing. Same reason why I work 3-11 and not 7-3. After 7-3 I was worthless. Before a 3-11 I can get in a good bunch of stuff at home.

Now back to the at work question: I don't see how being there 12 hours makes doing 12 hours worth of duties any easier.

Off to work now, where my main goal in life will be to leave on time!

shastacicuRN · Jul 5, 2007

12 hour shifts are the best way to go for me. If one has to work full time, then why not work only 3 days a week. I get really tired, but I do enjoy having many days off in a row. :up: :)

katmint3 · Jul 5, 2007

Question for those who like 12 hour shifts! Do you do the same schedule every week?

See where I work I do 12 hour shifts and the days vary every week, so I find it very hard to adjust and not too feel exhausted and wanting to sleep on my days off.

For example my schedule for one month is:

1st week Sunday, Wednesday, Friday

2nd week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

3rd week Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday

4th week Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday

I don't know if it's the varying of the schedule or the 12 hours shifts that wear me out. Some days I do crave the normalacy of a 9-5 job, but I think that may be my age showing. :uhoh3: