8 vs. 12 hour shifts

truern · Feb 11, 2009

When I was with my first preceptor as a new grad, I did 8-hr shifts because that was what she did. For whatever reason we worked Monday thru Friday week after week. It got OLD. Fast forward to my next preceptor: she did 3 12s which meant *I* did 3 12s. You're already there...what's another 4 hours, right?? By the end of the third day I was dragging! My first day off was spent recooperating.

I'm not sure what the answer is??

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2009

It depends on which shift.

Daylight: I can do either or with no real difference in energy or time to do things at home.

Midnight: I dont have the endurance with nights that I have with days. I CAN NOT do 3 nights/12 hr. shifts in a row. I much prefer 8 hr. shifts with nights.

Maybe I'm lazy or something but I prefer 8 hour shifts overall. I feel better and think I'm a better nurse that way.

tryingtohaveitall · Feb 11, 2009

Agreed with the above. I prefer 12 hr shifts to get the hours over with. It is nice for continuity of care when people work back to back shifts, so there are only 2 people taking care of the patient in a 24-hr period, or even a 48-hr period ideally.

Of course the flip side, those 12-hr shifts are getting harder to work. I definitely need a day to recover after working a few in a row. I have a feeling as I get older, I'll be aiming more towards 8hr shifts.

How's that for a non-answer? :)

WalkieTalkie, RN · Feb 11, 2009

I've worked both, and I would never go back to 8 hours shifts on purpose!

youknowho · Feb 11, 2009

Now having worked both I believe I prefer 12's..maybe I am telling myself that since I am going back to TCU where its 12's.

I started 12 nights, hard due to sleeping all the time but easier shift compared to days. Moved to 12 hr days-CRAZY busy but nicer on sleeping. Moved to 8a-5p M-F. Nice except you need to take a day off if you have things to do, kid doctor, your doc, other appointments, etc.

Now I am goin back to 12 hr nights- to the same unit I started. I have made a full circle in 2 years!!

Michifura · Feb 11, 2009

I do 12 hrs shifts, you have to consider the whole day of when you get up, drive time, hopefully you get out on time, then you need time to unwind once you get home......so needless to say they are looooong days.

I do enjoy the three/four days off. I relax or recover after working a few days in a row :) and get things done during the week with less crowding at the stores, bank, etc.

It definitely has its ups and downs.

Best of luck!

IndigoCarmine · Feb 11, 2009

I've done both and I will never, never, never, never never work straight time again. Ever. You couldn't double my salary to work 8-hr shifts. Seriously. Why?

Because you invariably have to work every other weekend which means there are long stretches of time where you DO NOT get two days off in a row. 8hr shifts=5 days a week but NOT 5 days in a row capped by two days off. There's nothing more hellish than working 4 days in a row, having a day off then working another 4 days. Yes, it happens. A lot. Particularly at the tail-end of one schedule and the first week of the next. Nightmare.

Three 12s in a row followed by 4 days off? Enough free days in a 28-day schedule to create a week's vacation without using any vacation time?

Yeah. I'll take that any day or night!

mamiekay · Feb 11, 2009

I agree with IndigoCarmine, but it depends on YOUR body. 12's definitely take some getting used to, but I wouldn't trade my blocks of days off! I originally worked 8-hour nights because then we didn't need daycare and my husband could be with the kids every other weekend. Then I realized I really missed my weekends with my family. Working 12's, I work every 3rd weekend, having two in a row! I also usually work three days in a row which gives me several off in a row. I've been able to travel without taking much vacation leave, getting a 4- or 5-day weekened most weeks. I still work nights, which can eat into my days "off" at either end of my schedule, but we make it work. I work with others whose bodies simply couldn't handle the 12's. It's whatever works for you and keeps you (relatively) balanced and healthy.

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 11, 2009

When I started working, 8 hour shifts were most common outside of a few specialties.

Evenings were very difficult to staff. Days and nights rarely had problems, but there was never enough nurses willing to staff 3-11. Most new grads were forced to rotate to those shifts.

8 hour shifts felt like the daily grind. More time in the week spent commuting, parking in distant parking lots and repeating the same shift 5 days in a row.

When I work days on a 12hr shift, I find that the first 8 hours are the busiest part of my shift. By the time 3pm rolls around, things calm down enough so I can catch up if I am behind in my charting. I never had that time on 8's.

Sandwitch883RN · Feb 11, 2009

Now having worked both I believe I prefer 12's..maybe I am telling myself that since I am going back to TCU where its 12's.
I started 12 nights, hard due to sleeping all the time but easier shift compared to days. Moved to 12 hr days-CRAZY busy but nicer on sleeping. Moved to 8a-5p M-F. Nice except you need to take a day off if you have things to do, kid doctor, your doc, other appointments, etc.
Now I am goin back to 12 hr nights- to the same unit I started. I have made a full circle in 2 years!!

LOL.....and I thought I was the only one who did things like that! I've done the same thing.....but in three years! :yeah:

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2009

When I started working, 8 hour shifts were most common outside of a few specialties.
Evenings were very difficult to staff. Days and nights rarely had problems, but there was never enough nurses willing to staff 3-11. Most new grads were forced to rotate to those shifts.
8 hour shifts felt like the daily grind. More time in the week spent commuting, parking in distant parking lots and repeating the same shift 5 days in a row.
When I work days on a 12hr shift, I find that the first 8 hours are the busiest part of my shift. By the time 3pm rolls around, things calm down enough so I can catch up if I am behind in my charting. I never had that time on 8's.

I like evenings. Hopefully that will help me in my job search. You go to work, finish, go home and eat pizza and watch J. Leno, maybe a movie. Get up in time to do whatever needs done, and go to work. Plus, its not as bad as daylight, I dont think, bussiness wise. I'd take them over nights.