8 vs 12 hour shift?

[RN-Doula]

I have heard talk about some hospitals going back to 8 hour shifts because the 12 hours is too long and leaves nurse physically exhausted and emotionally drained at times. As a new grad in the 70's 8 hour shifts were the norm with constant rotation. Two weeks of days were followed by two weeks of 3 to 11 pm or 11 to 7 am. But there were a few hospitals which mixed the shifts up within the same week. Sometimes a nurse chose to work permanently eves or nights. Is anyone seeing this trend and how is it working? Does anyone work 8 hour shifts in an acute hospital?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I've not seen a huge trend of hospitals changing back to 8 hour shifts, although it does seem to be a huge trend of nurses complaining about 12 hour shifts. In 1983, I participated in a pilot program of 12 hour shifts -- and I've never gone back. If there IS a huge trend of hospitals switching back to 8 hour shifts, it will be time for me to retire.

With 8 hour shifts, you were at work every day. With every other weekend off, you got two days in a row off every other weekend. That was it. Otherwise, you'd have a random weekday off in the middle of a stretch. You felt like you were at work all the time -- and you pretty much WERE at work all the time. You could be mandated to a double shift, and still have to come back to work the next day. If you rotated shifts -- and most of us did -- you could rotate all three shifts in a single one-or two-week period. Your day off that week might be between a string of night shifts and your next string of day shifts . . . not really a day off.

With 12 hour shifts, I'm still enjoying my job and my life. But with 8 hour shifts, I think I'd enjoy retirement.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

12 hr shifts are more economical for hospitals. Two nurses each working a 12 hr shift cover the same patients that three 8 hrs nurses cover. How many more nurses would the hospital have to hire to cover every unit in the hospital with 8 hr shifts. Each additional nurse would cost them in salary, vacation time, and benefits.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

A few years ago, when entertaining the idea of moving back to my home state of California, I noticed that many CA hospitals had reverted back to 8-hour shifts.

This was a major turn-off for me since I dislike 8-hour shifts. I prefer 12-hour shifts because I would much rather have more days off each week.

[RNKPCE]

I think it actually takes 4.6 FTEs(full time equivalents) to cover 24/7 for one week of 12 hour shifts and 4.2 FTEs to cover 24/7 for a week of 8 hour shifts.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

12 hr shifts are more economical for hospitals. Two nurses each working a 12 hr shift cover the same patients that three 8 hrs nurses cover. How many more nurses would the hospital have to hire to cover every unit in the hospital with 8 hr shifts. Each additional nurse would cost them in salary, vacation time, and benefits.

I think you've got your facts wrong there, Guy.

But I'm a big fan of 12 hour shifts -- been working them since 1983.

[RN-Doula]

But no one mentioned the burn out factor? How tired one is after the 12 hours of running around.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

But no one mentioned the burn out factor? How tired one is after the 12 hours of running around.

I became burned out to a crisp after three months of working 8-hour shifts on the floor. When I work five days per week, I feel as if I am always at work. On the other hand, I worked three 12-hour shifts a week for years without burnout.

Sorry, but I definitely do not want the face-time with patients, families, coworkers, doctors and administrative figureheads on most days of the week. The social and emotional aspects of seeing these people five whopping days a week would drain my energy beyond repair.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

But no one mentioned the burn out factor? How tired one is after the 12 hours of running around.

The burnout factor cuts both ways. One is exhausted after a 12 hour shift; but six 8-hour days in a row is exhausting as well. With 12-hour shifts, I get more than one day off in a row every week. With 8 hour shifts -- only on my weekend off.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

But no one mentioned the burn out factor? How tired one is after the 12 hours of running around.

I've worked both & I see more pluses to 12 hour shifts than 8. I'd rather have real days off than just 2. When I worked 8 hour shifts I got burnt out so much faster than when I worked 12.

[SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN]

The problem with 8 hour shifts is that your really there 9-10 w/ charting and report. I'd rather do a few more hours for the extra days off. If hospitals went to 8 hour shifts, I don't think many people would be interested in working in one. I did 8 hr shifts in LTC and it was more stressful than 12 because it felt like you had NO time to get stuff done.

[qnmimi]

After 15 years of 8hr shifts full time, and now 15 years of 12 hour shifts....I'll keep the 12 hr shifts. The trade off for longer hours is fewer days/week to work. I have actually been able to have time off where I am not completely exhausted. I hope to keep the 12hr shifts until I retire.....