Why is psych nursing only 8 hours???

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hi all,

does anyone know why psych rn's usually only work 8 hours? especially for acute inpatient care. sometimes those pt's have medical issues too. this is the only area in the hospital where im going to work that is eight hour shifts. so why 5 days vs. 3. any ideas???

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The 8 hour shift is not universal in psych -- I've worked places where people worked 12 hour shifts, and the facility where I work now has some people who work 12 hour schedules and some who work 8 hour schedules.

Why would clients having medical issues or not be a factor in 8 hour vs. 12 hour shifts??

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i was just trying to come up with a rationale why every place ive gone to is only 8 hours, but guess thats not it. everyone i ask always says "i dont know" ive just never seen 8 hours in any other speciality like er, ici,m/s etc.. maybe it's only where i am.

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I don't know that it's "only" where you are -- I think there's a lot of variation across the board. Over my years in psych nursing, I've worked 8s, I've worked 12s, I had a Baylor position for a few years that I really enjoyed. I've worked places where they were desperate enough for staff that they would basically let you work whatever shift/schedule you wanted as long as you would keep working there -- people were working 10 hour shifts, 6 hours, whatever ... I've also worked places where "5 8s" were the only option, end of discussion, take it or leave it. So, there are lots of variations out there.

It may just be coincidence that you've only been to places that offer 8 hour shifts; I've never heard of any particular rationale having to do with the clients for doing any particular schedule. I think it's usually just based on staff demand ...

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Do you think 8 hour shifts impact negatively on patient care? Just curious. I just accepted a position working 5 8's on a general adult inpatient unit. I would like to have had 12s but they were all taken.

I'm new to psych. The position I accepted is my first.

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Good question! I'm a travel psych nurse and have mostly seen 8hr shifts. For some reason administration think they will have to hire more staff if they go to 12s. Doesn't make sense but that's what they've said. One hospital the nurses did a whole presentation with research findings in favor of 12hrs. According to some research they found 12's to be better as far as pt outcomes. Still mgt said no. I've noticed psych E.D positions do 12s . I'm currently working at state hospital in NC and they do 12s. The only snag is I have to drive over an hour each way. But I much rather have 3 working days compared to 5. Helps with burnout in my opinion. You go in and get the job done and have some time to decompress during the rest of the week.

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.
Do you think 8 hour shifts impact negatively on patient care? Just curious. I just accepted a position working 5 8's on a general adult inpatient unit. I would like to have had 12s but they were all taken.

I'm new to psych. The position I accepted is my first.

RNKittyKat,

I just wanted to say congradulations on your new job. I wish you the best of luck. Keep us updated on how it goes.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Mental Health & Addictions.

I work 12 hour shifts 3 nights a week. We also have 8 hour shifts.

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thanks for all the responses. im not sure if it affects quality of pt. care. it may be better with 12's for continuity but i was simply curious as tro whether that had some effect on the reason this specialty does not have a big draw like some of the other areas. either way i think psych nurses rock!

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