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

Published

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 LDRP.

We have many nurses who do just 12's. Some do two 12's and two 8's to equal 40 hours. 1 nurse does 3-11 only, 5 days a week. 1 nurse does 3p-7a (16 hours) on sat/sun.

If you sign up for extra hours, you can sign up in 4 hour increments, which i lke. I live close enough that i can pop in, work 7a-11a, and go back home and enjoy rest of day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.

I also don't think that 12's are a conspiracry, are disrespectful, etc. i think it is respectful, actually-it offers choice. i LOVE having 4 days off a week. I love that i am now off 6 days in a row. Any 5 day a week job, and i'd have to take vacation to do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

Our hospital, luckily, offers both 8's and 12's. By contract, the 8's are the norm and 12's are considered innovative shifts and can be changed or halted at any time. No way would I ever consider working 12's. Add a minimum of 90 minutes on each end of that shift just for driving, getting ready to go, getting home and decompressing, with the caveat that you NEVER have to stay overtime, and that leaves a mere 9 hours left in that 24 hour day for sleep. I'm one who needs my 8 hours a night, so that leaves exactly, with all things going perfectly, 1 hour for myself and my family. Not happening---ever. I'd have to spend the first 24 hours of my next few days off just recuperating.

In addition, I know that after 10 hours I'm not as sharp as I am at the beginning of my shift. Just getting home safely would be of concern to me. I seriously question how sharp staff can be at the end of 3 and especially 5 12 hour shifts in a row. As a patient, I might even question my assigned staff as to how many 12's they've already done in a row and maybe ask to have someone who is rested care for me.

As a 3-11 nurse, I can tell you that having one of the 7a-7p nurses say they're too tired to take the "hard" cases because they've already been there 8 hours" is not what I want to hear. In our unit, you choose to be a 12 hour nurse, and as such, you therefore also choose to work as hard the last 4 as you did the first 8. If you cannot do that or are not willing to do it, then perchance, you should consider changing back to 8 hour shift. Many of our 12 hour nurses are doing that anyway because their health is going to pot.

And our poor scheduler: one of our 3-11 nurses does the scheduling and she deserves a medal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in floor to ICU.

I can't lie and say that after a busy 8 hrs I'm not tired, but I do my share and continue to work just as hard for the next 4 hours. I never refuse "hard" patients. I would never consider doing more than 3 12s in a row...I do think that is dangerous. My family doesn't see much of me after my shifts, however, I make up for it during the 4 days I have off.

It is just a matter of preference and what works for your family.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
I think 8 hour shifts really only benefit day shifters. If you work evenings or nights, you get the short end of the stick. That's why a lot of us night shifters prefer working 3 12s a week rather than 5 8s. At least this way I have enough days off in a week to revert to a semi-normal daytime schedule. I can't imagine doing that if I was working 11p-7a 5 days a week.

I agree, many years ago, I worked 8 hour nights. There was no *normal* in my life, and I was always tired. I jumped at the chance to work 12 hour shifts.

We work 6-6:30 (I still work nights), and as we self-schedule, I can arrange a whole week off occasionally without using vacation time.......and a week's vacation can be turned into 2 weeks, by working Sun, Mon, Tues one week, and Thurs, Fri, Sat the week after. Our 6 o'clock report time means day shift can get home for dinner, and nights are home before the kids go to school.

Years ago, when the hospital went to 12 hour shifts, management asked everyone to vote on 6, 6:30 or 7 shift change, and 6 won easily.:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been working 8s for the past 2 years. on day shift its great because youre done early and have a good life...pick your babies up from school and enjoy your evenings...but now Im starting 12s and looking forward to the extra day off. only working 3 days/wk was very appealing to me. Im willing to deal with the hassle of childcare for extra days off to be with the kids more. Not to mention more money...differential and 36 hours instead of 32!:jester:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Our hospital does 12's for the most part, but the float pool has 8's or 12's. Float fill in gaps, so they'll take us whatever hours they can get us! If you're looking for 8 hour shifts, check out float pools! I love my 8 hour shift!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's a love/hate relationship with 12 hour shifts. They are long shifts, but I figure if I have to get ready and be a work, then I'd rather be there. get the time in and get my long stretches off. My schedule is 3 on, two off, 3 on and then six days off. I use less vacation time and my long stretches off help me recharge. I work nights so my family is sleeping when I'm at work, and I'm sleeping when they are at school and work. If I had to go to work 5 days a week with only 2 days off, I would burn out for sure!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I personally do NOT like 12 hour shifts. I do not have the energy after six hours..hehe...I will be starting a new position in June working 8 hours per day...AND, as an added plus..I will be working from home! If the hospital I work at had offered 8 hour shifts, I would have never left. Maybe "most" nurses in certain areas prefer 12 hours...but I bet If they took a poll on the floor I work they'd see that we prefer 8's. Bet that poll will never happen though.

What will you be doing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.

Another benefit of 12's-you actually have time to get much of your work done! When I have 4 busy pt's, ( you know the drill) 8 hours isn't enough to get it all done without dumping onto next shift-with 12's you are more likely to have time to get it all done

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love my shifts!! 11a-11p. I work NICU and they are happy to have me come in at 11a because there are a lot of new mothers who only want to work 4 hour shifts. And even if there is not staff to replace at 11a; at this time of day the unit is so busy, I end up floating to help with new orders, new IV fluids etc.

I work two 8 hour shifts and two 12 hour shifts a week.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

.

I love 12 hr shifts. I have to work OT to make ends meet. Working 4 shifts and being off 3 days is MUCH better than working 6 and being off 1.

~faith,

Timothy.

Here Here!!!:monkeydance:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion