What do you think of 12 hour shifts

[RNattie]

So many people are envious of nurses working 12 hours shifts and having 3 to 4 days off but I truly dislike this shift. I work nights and often only get 1 or 2 days off in a row. That often results in me sleeping through the first day and running around completing errands on my second day. I have no balance in my life and feel like the job is consuming me. Previously to becoming a nurse, I worked 8 hour shifts and found I had a more balance life: work, family, friends. Does anyone else feel the same way about 12 hour shifts? What are your opinions on 12 hour shifts?

[Summer9067, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I'm weekend option. I work Friday, Saturday and Sunday day shift. I've been on WEO for almost 3 years and could never go back to 8 hour shifts 5 days a week. It's exhausting but has enabled me to continue my education.

[Coloradonurse1983]

Because my husband is Italian raised and before me his mom did everything.

When my daughter was a newborn I tried to instruct him how to literally boil water so that I could make pasta when she and I got home. It did not go well. After 5 minutes I gave up.

I went back to work when she was two. I worked odd hours in home health and was gone at five am and back a 5 pm. The only real meal she ate was dinner that I was home to cook. Starbucks cake pop for breakfast, Panera pastry for lunch, and snack food throughout the day.

I even tried precooking in containers. Too many containers caused confusion I guess because I came home at 9 pm to a sugar crazed hungry little human once I worked in a facility again.

Preplating is the only thing that ensures that they eat right and I come home to sanity after an insane day.

Your problem sounds more like a husband problem than a work problem. He sounds like the "if I act stupid, I just won't have to do it" type. Which with me, would end in about a week or the marriage would be. That's completely ridiculous.

[mf299709]

I absolutely love 12 hour shifts and I Love night shift but I felt like I never had time off or was always exhausted. I worked 3-12hr night shifts as well before moving to PACU/surgery. I now work 4 10hr day shifts plus on call and I feel like I have more time off than I did before. Yes working 12hr night shifts 3 days a week have you 4 days off but every 1st day off was spent sleeping. So if your nights working were all in a row you only had to waste one day sleeping, but say you worked Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, then you pretty much had 5 days gone that week because Tuesday and Friday were spent sleeping. So I don't believe it's the 12hr shifts, to me it is night shift, even though it's my favorite shift to work, if I'm working the floor.

[Feral.Cat.Herder, RN]

If you have that option, it is excellent. I have had supervisors that understand night shift is a different beast, but many times you will have a supervisor that likes to schedule night shifters 2-3 in a row, 1 day off, back for 2-3 more nights in a row, the finally 2 nights off together. By the time you adjust to sleeping at night it's time to begin sleeping during the day again.

[Feral.Cat.Herder, RN]

With the baby boomers getting older stats suggest there will be an increase in patients and shortage of nurse, (Median age for nurses is about 45, these nurses will be retiring as the baby boomer health care issues begins), which will require working double shifts. Just curious.... how are nurses suppose to work 24 hrs, run home get 6 hours asleep (if you're lucky) and return to for a 12 hr shift or perhaps another 24? Seems if nursing goes the way it's predicted 8 hr shifts may become common place again.

[Junebug903, LPN]

Yes, 8 hour shifts are better for accomplishing more things in the daytime, BUT I feel like all I do is work. At the same time, 12 hours shifts make me feel like I work, sleep, then do it all over again. However, its only for a few days a week versus what feels like every damn day. I actually do 8 hour shifts, but often do 12s if a night shift nurse can do the same. I don't mind it.

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

I love 12 hour shifts. Working three days a week is a sweet deal. I stay busy so before I know it, it's almost 1700. Win win.

[Viviana, ASN, RN]

Sure is. I was prepared to quit my job when they suddenly decided that we had to switch to 8 hour shifts for December and January, so I'll stay for now. As nurses gain experience and become more valuable to their facilities, they also start to age and are less able to work 12/13/14 hours a day. This leads to a drain of experienced staff to medical organizations who have 8 hour posts available.

[tropsnegRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

I would talk to your manager or whoever does your scheduling. I used to work 2 on, 1 off, 4 on, 7 off. I absolutely loved it. I got an entire week off of work so I actually could go on vacations or trips and get to spend time with family. My job prior to that I worked 8's and only had two days off a week and I swear I never spent time with my family (I worked second shift -- because I'm currently in nursing school). Now due to school, I don't work my modified 7on/7off but I work three days per week, each week. The only downside to this schedule to my current situation is that I work every single weekend (Sat-Mon) but I remind myself it's only for 4 more semesters.

[serenitylove14]

I use to be able to do them, but now I would much rather work an 4 or 8 hour shift.

[nehneh14]

I DESPISED 12 hour shifts. They're miserable, especially on a high stress unit. (Although now, it's hard to find a unit that isn't high stress.) I made a point to ask about it during my first hospital job interview and was told they operated on 8 hour shifts. Within about 2 months it was announced they were switching to twelves. I spent 5 miserable years on the night shift doing 12s. Never again.

[smartnurse1982]

Wow,i just look at you people with awe.

i work 16 hr shifts,3pm to 7am Thursday and Saturday,in addition to 8 hour night shifts Mon,Tues,Wed,Fri

Then again,i work 74 hours per week(same agency)