Why aren't nursing homes doing 12 hour shifts???

Specialties Geriatric

Published

The market is awful at this time, so as a new nurse I am applying at many nursing homes in my area. I've noticed now that they have 3 shifts of (7-3, 3-11, 11-7)/5days and I'm sooo bummed. I was looking forward to the same 12 hours shifts that go on in hospitals (7-7, 3-3, etc)/3 days. I am possibly going to be offered the 3-11 shift, but I will never see my family with that... And I hate the thought of working 5 days a week, but I'm desperate. All the nursing homes seem to follow these hours. Any advice, will they mix that up in time? Why aren't they doing the same deal as the hospital shifts???

I work 2-10:30pm Mon-Fri and I love that schedule. I live alone, so seeing family is not an issue for me. I see my friends on Saturday and Sunday. My relationship with God is a big part of my life, so I spend the first part of my day with Him. When I was training on the 6am-2:30pm shift, there wasn't time to do that first thing in the morning, and I was more tired. This way I can sleep in if I need to and enjoy a relaxed first part of the day. So, it DOES work for some people. Plus, I get a $3/hr shift differential :-)

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I work 12 hour night shift at a SNF. I love the shift and would quit if they went to 8s. I couldn't stand being there 5 days a week.

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Specializes in Long term care.

Yeah, if I had to work 12 hour shift at my nursing home I think I would go insane. I work the 2-10:30pm shift and I really love it even though it takes me like 3-4 hours after I get home to go to sleep.

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Specializes in LTC, peds, rehab, psych.

I work in a nursing home and I do 3 12 hour shifts. The only downfall is that it's only on the weekends that they offer this shift, and they expect vacation request way early so I miss ALOT of things. But I wouldn't change it. It gives me time to spend with my family and time to attend school.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

We went from 12 hour shifts to 8. Mostly the reason was the number of callouts. We had a union and mandated overtime was part of the contract. We could mandate someone to stay an extra 8 hours to cover a last minute callout but trying to find coverage for a 12 hour shift was almost impossible.

As for the original poster...if you get offered a job, I'd take it if I were you. If your area is anything like mine, there aren't many openings these days on any shift. I get at least 20 people a week applying to be a CNA and 3-5 a week applying to be nurses.

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We went from 12 hour shifts to 8. Mostly the reason was the number of callouts. We had a union and mandated overtime was part of the contract. We could mandate someone to stay an extra 8 hours to cover a last minute callout but trying to find coverage for a 12 hour shift was almost impossible.

As for the original poster...if you get offered a job, I'd take it if I were you. If your area is anything like mine, there aren't many openings these days on any shift. I get at least 20 people a week applying to be a CNA and 3-5 a week applying to be nurses.

Thank you for your post and advice.

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Specializes in med surg/hospice/ltc.

I actually do 12 hour shifts in an LTC, and I will say that mentally and physically, it is way too long of a time to be on the job. When you are short staffed, which is frequent, it becomes even more difficult to perform the job at optimum standards. 8 hours are prefferable to me because I know that I can recover from my shifts better if they were difficult. Most of the general population work five days a week, 8 hour shifts, so I really don't see the problem with the 8 hour shift in this setting. :clown:

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Specializes in Chiropractic assistant, CNA in LTC, RN.

Our LTC facility won't allow 12 hours shifts cause it is a corporate rule. However, they did 12 hour shifts before the new management company took over. That all being said, I am scheduled for 8s but I often do 12s and sometimes 16s because of callins. 12 hours is a long time but I would love to only work 3 days a week. I'd have more days off and I'd save on gas. I have a 35 minute drive each way and that adds up when I do 5 days a week. I'm really hoping we can get it changed. An 8 hour day seems like a vacation to me now. lol In all honesty though, it is easier to get all my work done in a 12 hour day than in an 8. I have a huge med pass, treatments, and charting. They also insist we punch out for a 30 minute lunch. We never get out on time cause you just can't get it all done in 8 hours. Then they fuss about overtime. 12 hour shifts would be much better all around.

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Specializes in geriatrics,wound care,hospice.

Agree c assessment that 12 hrs.LTC is 4 hrs. TOO much! Physically and emotionally demanding, whether slinging med cart for ENDLESS med passess, assisting CNAs c direct care,responsibility for care team(elder/CNAs/therapies/"spontaneous family phone calls/care conf"/)treatments,inservices,meetings, for your 30 or so pts,THEN DOCUMENTING ALL OF IT-EVERY BIT! It's darn hard to get it all in during the 8 hrs. you're sched. for, rarely leaving @ the stroke of 3:00. But hey,we come back in and do it again the next day! Seems newer/younger nurses prefer 12's. We find it harder to cover a 12 hr shift, esp. if the noc. nurse calls in.

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Specializes in LTC.
Agree c assessment that 12 hrs.LTC is 4 hrs. TOO much! Physically and emotionally demanding, whether slinging med cart for ENDLESS med passess, assisting CNAs c direct care,responsibility for care team(elder/CNAs/therapies/"spontaneous family phone calls/care conf"/)treatments,inservices,meetings, for your 30 or so pts,THEN DOCUMENTING ALL OF IT-EVERY BIT! It's darn hard to get it all in during the 8 hrs. you're sched. for, rarely leaving @ the stroke of 3:00. But hey,we come back in and do it again the next day! Seems newer/younger nurses prefer 12's. We find it harder to cover a 12 hr shift, esp. if the noc. nurse calls in.

I am a new and young nurse. I hate working 12 hours(which happens when the nurse relieving me is a no call no show) I get a 2nd wind but the next day I am wiped.

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I love 12's and will never work 8's again if I can help it. Every 3rd weekend and every 3rd holiday is nice too. Oh, yes I work in LTC. Most of the nursing homes in my area work 12's. I also do insurance assessments, so I ask at all the homes I go to.

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Specializes in SN, LTC, REHAB, HH.

We do 12hrs. at my facility and it's ok i rather do it anyways. i was never a fan of 12hr shifts, but i've become used to and like having more days off and not seeing the same old people 5 days/8hrs a week. LTC is hard work, at least where i am. so if having more days off to relax see your family i'm all for 12 hr. shifts.

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