Why Can't Hospitals Offer Shifts Other Than 12 hr. 7 to 7?

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I am a single parent wanting to be home with my kids at a decent hour every day. I have been working 7p to 7a for the last 5 years. I am tired of it. Why do most hospitals only offer these horrendous 12 hour shifts?.. These hours are hard on families. I would love to be able to work 8 to 4 in a hospital. Why isn't that an option? Hospitals could offer 8am-4pm...then 4pm-12am and 12am-8am and maybe the nursing shortage wouldn't be so bad....:madface:

Specializes in NICU.
Working 8-4 is convienent for the dayshift workers to get their kids to school, and they don't have to get up super early for work. But then the nightshift workers don't get home to get their kids ready for school in time if they don't get off until 8. And most night shifters sleep after work and are up a long time before their shift starts, usually getting up when the kids come home from school. Its hard to stay alert until 8am when up all evening and all night. I worked at a place that had the hours set that way. Evening shifters and nightshifters were miserable with it. Dayshift was very happy.

What geographic area do you work in? In my area there are a mix of 8 and 12 hour shifts.

The OP should just find a hospital that has 8-hour shifts. I can't imagine a city where every single hospital only offers 12-hour shifts.

Now, I totally agree with GooeyRN about the 8-4 issue though. It's only fair to dayshift, really. And to be honest, dayshift has the best deal anyways because their lives aren't as screwed us as nights (sleeping during the day) and evenings (missing all the social aspects of family dinners). So changing the standard 7-3, 3-11, and 11-7 8-hour shift times isn't going to happen at most places. Now, I have heard of some hospitals that do a 6-2, 2-10, 10-6 schedule instead and many people really like that. In that situation, day shift has to get up uber-early, but they're home before their kids...PM shift gets home in time to kiss their spouses goodnight as well as the older kids, and nights gets to go home before all the morning traffic is getting bad.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.
6-2, 2-10, 10-6 schedule instead

I had a friend who worked this schedule at a LTCF and LOVED it.

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A major problem for hospitals is covering the evening shift. Few people want that shift, especially if they have families.

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Specializes in NICU.
A major problem for hospitals is covering the evening shift. Few people want that shift, especially if they have families.

That is our problem, too. We offer 8 and 12 hour shifts, and there is such a gap during evening shift. Probably 75% of the night shifter work all 12-hour shifts. About 50% of day shifters work 12-hour shifts. Right there, that is a problem. We are always short from 3pm-7pm. Even if we get some PM shifters in there, 3-7pm might get covered, but then we're overstaffed from 7pm-11pm. I can totally see why making everyone work 12-hour shifts might be a good idea.

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If hospitals want to appeal to nurses they need to offer BOTH 8 and 12 hour shifts.

I think you'll be unhappy to find you're in the minority. I don't know the exact reasons for 12s making a come back but like everyone has said its win-win. Nurses and administration alike win. It will be far easier for you to adapt to the hospital than to get the hospital to bend over backwards for your schedule. My advice? Find a hospital that offers 8s and be happy. Nobody forces you to work where you do.

Offering only 12 hour shifts is ridiculous. I think it demonstrates a lack of respect for nurses and the fact that we have lives outside of work

2 days off a week versus 4. You can work 7 in a row and get a full week off. A lot of flexibility with 12s. 12 hour shifts have been around FORVER, they are not some conspiracy theory concocted by those with hatred for nurses.

There are hospitals out there have both 8's and 12's, and I think that's how it should be.

Then go work at those hospitals, or work in a doctors office/DPH/school etc. You have limitless options. By and large nurses prefer 12s. Very few I've come in contact with prefer 8s.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Working 8-4 is convienent for the dayshift workers to get their kids to school, and they don't have to get up super early for work. But then the nightshift workers don't get home to get their kids ready for school in time if they don't get off until 8. And most night shifters sleep after work and are up a long time before their shift starts, usually getting up when the kids come home from school. Its hard to stay alert until 8am when up all evening and all night. I worked at a place that had the hours set that way. Evening shifters and nightshifters were miserable with it. Dayshift was very happy.

I agree.

In order for me to work the weird shifts that i do (a combo of 10s, 12s, and 16s), that means someone else (actually 3 other people) are working weird shifts too (a bunch of us got together and discussed what we wanted to do, and came to a compromise). So in other words, to give someone that 'perfect' 8 to 4, that means someone else gets screwed with the 4 to 12 or 12 to 8.

I liked 8s because it gave me more evening time. However, i like the extra weekday(s) off from the off shifts, it gives me the chance to take care of "9 to 5" business, homework, etc. leaving my weekend free.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Also, the floor i used to work on offered 7-7,11-11, and 3-3 shifts as alternative 12 hours shifts.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
It will be far easier for you to adapt to the hospital than to get the hospital to bend over backwards for your schedule. My advice? Find a hospital that offers 8s and be happy. Nobody forces you to work where you do.

Have to agree with this as well.

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I am in Houston and most hospitals here only offer 12 hr shifts in my area of Nursing. I have tried to find a job in a clinic but I can't afford the DECREASE in pay....

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In my limited experience the department with the most flexibility in scheduling is ER. Could also try Endo or Cath Lab; departments that typically work 7-3, though both may require call. Also same day surgery or a freestanding surgery center. I don't feel you've really exhausted all your options.

While i appreciate your situation, the predominance of 12s isn't a sign of disrespect and all the drama you make it out to be. It is what is preferred and wokrs best for the majority of RNs and administrators. Don't take how a hospitals schedules personally.

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In my limited experience the department with the most flexibility in scheduling is ER. Could also try Endo or Cath Lab; departments that typically work 7-3, though both may require call. Also same day surgery or a freestanding surgery center. I don't feel you've really exhausted all your options.

While i appreciate your situation, the predominance of 12s isn't a sign of disrespect and all the drama you make it out to be. It is what is preferred and wokrs best for the majority of RNs and administrators. Don't take how a hospitals schedules personally.

Most people in my unit hate 12's...so what's preferred is a matter of opinion and depends on where you work.....and I could care less what the majority of administrators think...... Also I do not want to work cath lab or Endo. I may consider the ER as they do offer 11am to 11pm...

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
and I could care less what the majority of administrators think.

I care, since they do have something to do with the hours that i work.

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