Working 12 hour shifts- Good or bad?

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 15, 2012

You work what you are comfortable with. If you are tired after two days in a row, dont work 3 in a row. I love 12 hour shifts, I feel like I am able to get more done.

PMFB-RN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

I am a nursing student that is about to graduate and curious how other nurses feel about the quality of care that is given over a 12 hour shift. I know the shifts are nice because you are essentially working 3 days a week (without picked up shifts) and then you have time to yourself but what happens to the quality of care when you work 3 straight or pick up some shifts throughout the week? I am dog tired after 2 consecutive days and know nurses that do 5-6 days in a seven day stretch so they can have 6-7 days off. By the end of a 5-6 day stretch I think there is a greater chance for error and is that really in our patient's best interest?

*** Different people have different tolerances for things. Certainly some people can't tolerate one 12 hour shift, much less 5 or 6 in a row. I have no difficulty with 5 or 6 12 hour shifts in a row but it's not for everybody. If you are one of those people you have a responsibility to limit yourself to what is safe for you. In my years as a bedside nurses the least safe nurses I have observed are new parents working night shift. Often people with new babies are not getting good sleep and it shows. I don't hear anyone calling for banning new parents from working as nurses.

When considering patient's best interest, consider the effect on patients of large numbers of the most experienced nurses leaving bedside nursing as would happen if 12 hour shifts were done away with.

Most hospital have a variety of shifts, both 8 and 12 hours to fit individual nurses. Those that don't are sending a very clear message about their lack of concern for their nurses and patients.

healthstar, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

According to research, 12 hr shifts increase medication errors by at least 10%. It is not easy, it is hard to be productive for 12 hrs straight. However, you are the one that knows your strengths.Maybe you can try working a few 12 hr shift and see if you like it or not.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

I don't want to assume .. because you are a student, that you are less than 40 years old.

I have worked 12's .. 8's .. and everything in between.

I found as I got older that 12 hour shifts.. that frequently became 13 hours(without a break), was not do-able.

I have been able to function well on the 12 hours schedule.. if I only do 2 in a row.

My legs, mind and body still ache... but it can be done.

Just make sure your facility understands your limitations.. and enjoy your days off!

MunoRN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

There are some articles out there that claim 12 hour shifts are less safe that are examples of embarrassingly bad statistical analysis. These are based solely on the premise that risk for error increases in hours 9-12 of a 12 hour shift, comparing a single 8 hour shift to a single 12 hour shift. What these fail to account for, is the additional workdays required of an 8-hour schedule.

There is something called the "consecutive day phenomenon"- an increase in error risk with each consecutive day worked. There is also an increased risk of errors with fewer recovery days, particularly for night shift workers. If we look at a full time 12-hour schedule vs a full time 8-hour schedule, 12-hour shifts are actually far safer due to the increased risk of error the additional workdays produced by an 8-hour schedule. In a hospital setting, weekends need to be covered, which means that with an 8-hour schedule employees must work every-other weekend requiring them to work 7 days straight in order to get two stretches off over 2 weeks of two days each. (7 on, 2 off, 4 on, 2 off, then back to 7 on). For day shift workers this is less significant, but for night shift workers this lack of meaningful recovery time combined with length of consecutive shifts causes a significant increases in errors and a more negative impact on health, including increased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

I long for a schedule where I can work no more than 3 12s in a week, because doing an 8, a 12, and a couple of more 8s sucks ass.

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 16, 2012

Everyone is different. I LOVE 12 hour shifts. But everyone is different. Some people prefer the M-F 8 hr shift. Even with 12's some people prefer doing all 3 in a row, or 2 in a row is more than some can take. I've known others to work 5-6 in a row, which is something I could not do with the floor I am on. I think you just have to find out what you are comfortable with.

foggnm · Jun 22, 2016

Like others said, it really varies by preference. Personally I think it also depends on what you do with your body outside of work. I am a very active/athletic person and find that 12 hours shifts are pretty detrimental to my overall health/fitness (though I still do them). I do much better with an 8 hour schedule as my body isn't tired which means I'm never 'recovering' from work because after an 8 hour shift you essentially have another 8 hours to unwind, exercise, decompress, watch a movie, make meals for the night and next day, and still get a good night's sleep. Even if I work 5 eight hour shifts, I go in to the weekend completely physically ok. I am not tired when I start my weekend as I am with 12 hour shifts. When I get home from a 12 hour shift, I get a few things done and when I have actually come down from the adrenaline of standing all day, it is usually only 6 or so hours until I have to wake up for work. Twelve hour shifts also tend to mess up regular eating habits.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Like everyone has said, it depends entirely on you and what you can handle. I love to cluster my work, so I like 12s because I get to know and stick with my patients all day which is good for all of us (as long as they like me and I can tolerate them :cheeky: ). However, I also know that more than 3 12s at a time burns me out to the point that I don't give quality care, so I will not work that kind of schedule. 8s, 10s, and 12s cam all be great schedules as long as you know how you work best and what you need for your time off. Usually I work two 12s, have a "recovery" day, and then have two really good/active/busy days off before the cycle repeats itself. Scheduling options may be a bit scarce as a newbie, but in time more will open up and you'll find what works best for you.

OCRN3 · Jun 22, 2016

I love 3 8/9 hour shifts with an hour lunch. Only as a NP tho, I don't think they have this as a floor RN. When I did 12s it was good for time during the week, but the days I did work, the day was shot. As I got older and had a family, 12 hrs don't seem to be as family friendly.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2016

Oh dang, zombie thread :banghead: