wishful thinking

[narcissus]

Hello everyone,

To all of the NICU nurses out there i have one single question about it. Is there anything such as an 8 hour shift that exists in the NICU? The reason I'm asking is because i definitely want to work in the NICU after i graduate, but the 12 hour shifts scare me. I don't mind doing 12 hours but I've never had to work more than 8 hours on every job that I've had in my life. I'm afraid of the adjustment but as hard as nursing school was i don't think it would be that big of an adjustment. :chuckle(lol) Anyway i want to get my RN-BSN while working full time and I want to know how the shifts work. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

[texas2007, BSN, RN]

Most people on my unit work 12's. We do have some people come do the 11-7 shift but I think these people are agency. There's also a few people who will do 6 hr half days. I did an externship in another nicu and they had 8's and 12's. Dont worry too much about 12 hr shifts. Usually by the time it's winding down, its 3 anyway, and then one last round on the babies puts you up to shift change.