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

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 9, 2006

12 vs 8 is a very PERSONAL preferance - just because is it right for one person does not make it right for everyone. If a hospital wants to attract and keep more staff it helps to offer options - different shift lengths are one of the options they can offer.
Just because YOU prefer a certain shift and that shift works well for YOU doesn't mean that it should work that way for EVERYONE.
Telling people to just go find new jobs isn't the answer, (although it may be the only option in certain cases) helping people to explore that as a solution, AND OTHER IDEAS such as talking to management about how other shifts might work well is an option too!
:wink2:

This is basically what I've been saying. We all have preferences, some people wnat to sacrifice three evenings for four free days. Others would rather have seven evenings free and two full days off. Others don't have the luxery of adequate daycare any evenings. One size does not fit all.

There is a disturbing trend towards not offering options. All of our critical care units, our neuro unit and telemetry units only offer 12 hour shifts. Take it or leave it.

Drysolong · May 9, 2006

I also think it's best if hospitals had both 12-hr and 8-hr shifts. I am a new nurse, not working yet, but I want a 3-day work week with 12 hour shifts. I NEVER want to work 5 days a week again, if I can help it.

azerrn · May 9, 2006

Has anyone yet counted the number of posts pro 12 hour shifts versus 8 hour shifts?

Speaking for myself, 12 hour shifts in the ER are the way to go. I tried 8hour shifts after doing 12's at my husband's suggestion. We both wound up hating it. I missed having more than 2 days off a week and, as mentioned, there was no time available to pick up an extra shift unless you wanted to work constantly.

I am looking to move and one of my requests is a minimum of a 10 hour shift, day or night. 8hour shifts, five days a week left me no time for a home life and I was always tired.:paw:

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 9, 2006

I just hope I never have to share the highway with anyone so sleep-deprived!

The only way that would happen is if the highway was closed off.

granna94 · May 9, 2006

Hi there. I understand how you want to be with your family. The 12 hour shift interferes but it also frees your time up to spend more time with your family. I worked 3 to 3's in NE. My children were 13 and 17 then.

I think most nurses want 12 hour shifts so they can have more time off. I think it also takes more staff to fill 8 hour shifts.

Have you thought of going part-time and getting a different job, say at a doctor's office or another hospital, long term care facility?

I wish you the best! Happy Nurse's Week!

granna94

nursejean · May 10, 2006

i'm right there with you on this. i am a single mother of two children, and without a spouse to pick the kids up for me, i'm left scrambling for someone to help me. most daycare's are only open until 6pm, and honestly, i don't want my kids there that long anyway! i am actively looking for another job with 8 hour shifts. i'd much rather work 4 or 5, 8 hour shifts than 3 12's and worry about my kids all the time. i love my job at the hospital, but feel forced to find something else. i think it's all about priority's, and mine is my family. good for all the ones who have help with the kids, or don't have any. they can do the 12's. for me and mine, i'll take the 8's!!! good luck......

NRSINGED KAREN, BSN, RN · May 20, 2006

Message to the nurse working in Germany: I agree with the idea of overlapping the shifts. The shift times seem more sensible as well. Many studies have proven that the chance for errors increases after working more than 8 hrs, especially at night. The most important thing is that patients aren't harmed by nurses who are worn out.

MidnightSn1 · Jun 21, 2006

Our shifts are: 7p -7a

7a - 7p

3a - 3p

3p - 3a

Also have a few nurses who still work just days or just nights.

This is a trauma center in northern Indiana.

Good luck.

MidnightSn1

:penguin:

catlady, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2006

I worked on a unit that was primarily 12 hours, but other shifts were allowed, as well. It meant that every day, the 12-hr nurses were juggling their assignments, because the 8-hour or 4-hour nurses rarely were matched up. So when they left, their assignments had to be divided up among those already working. I worked 12 hour night shift for years, but only part-time for most of it. I always liked the idea that if you're going to get up, get dressed, drive to work, and totally disrupt your life, you stay a little longer and get an extra day off.

I am also a single mom, and my child care problem wasn't because of the 12 hours, but because of working nights and weekends. Although the day nurses had a problem too; the hospital day care closed at 6, and was not open on weekends. And this hospital was cited in Working Mother as one of the best for working moms! Hah. I sent them an angrygram when I read that. My rugrat is now a teenager, so day care is no longer an issue, thank the stars.

I've also worked a 2 12s and 2 8s schedule. That was when I learned to like 8 hour night shift. After doing the 12, the 8 breezed by, and I got more rest in the evening before work. If I were on nights, I'd want part-time, 11-7. And I need full-time.

Now it looks like I'll be doing 6a-6p. That is just a perfect shift. Beats the morning traffic, too, which starts *really* early around here. If I were doing nights, I'd like it too, to get home earlier.

rninme · Jun 21, 2006

I worked in a hospital that offered self scheduling for the ICU. Some people worked 8's, some worked 12's. They even had a shift that was 3a-3p and 3p-3a. You could make your shift whatever hours you wanted as long as you had a "partner" to pair up with so staffing needs would be covered. Look around....there are hospitals out there who offer flex-staffing.

Haunted · Jun 22, 2006

I agree with many posters who feel that 12 hour shifts leave little time or energy to devote to friends, family and activities that refresh our souls. I read an article somewhere that stated most medical/nursing errors occurred after 9-10 hours on the job. If a hospital REALLY wanted to retain their staff they would not only ASK us for our input, 4-6-8-10-12-16 hour shifts, flex scheduling etc. but they would ENACT upon it.

The truth is that most facilities do not offer OT after 8 hours so they win. My agency pays me time and a half after 8's and it is always an option. I also understand many nurses remain in these situations due to financial obligations, benefits etc.

As far as the hours in your shift, I guess it would also depend on the activity and acuity of the patients on the unit, the breaks you are able to take, the teamwork and supportive environment you are in. I have had 8 hour shifts feel like DAYS due to being slammed and I have had 12 hour shifts fly by because it was such a great, productive day/night.

roses4mom · Jun 22, 2006

I'm not a nurse yet, but if you really think about all the stress that nurses are under to begin with, adding more hours to a day hardly seems to help matters. Just my opinion from a stressed out point of view.