What is full time really...

That's the definition of full time I'm familiar with...

Generally speaking, it usually refers to 40 hours per week when the hours are 8 hour shifts, 5 days per week but in nursing since most shifts are 12 hours full-time usually means 36 hours or three 12 hour shifts per week.

"full time" is whatever the hospital says it is. it generally means the equivelent of 40 hours/week (or 20 shifts every six weeks, depending on how their schedules are made out). but i've worked in hospitals that consider 36 hours/week, or 3 twelve hour shifts to be full time. those are the best places to work!

At my hospital 32 hours/week (2x12 +8 OR 4x8) is considered full time... you get full time benefits.