Facilities switching to 8 hour shifts

With the current "fad" of getting rid of 12 hour shifts, does anyone work at facilities that have actually made the switch? If so, did you have a mix of 8 and 12's prior to the switch or was it just 12's. What were the results of the switch, both positive and negative?
I remember the switch TO 12 hour shifts....basically, it was just 'do it'.... I had also moved to a different facility at the time, so was going into a new place- probably easier to get used to it that way since I didn't know what the 8 hour shifts were like there....just the weekend 7p-7a 12s (Baylor plan). Then Monday - Friday off There are pluses with 8 hour shifts...you actually get some rest, and have time to get some errands done. I didn't like 3-11 since I don't go to sleep right away when I got home, and by the time I got to bed, slept, by the time I woke up it was time to go to work. Days and nights were essentially interchangeable re: what time I had off.... evenings were mine. When I got tired of the 12s, I moved to a different town, and did 8s again; got tired of 8s, went to work 12s.... I was fortunate. There are pros/cons to both...

I recall the trend to switch to 12's also, we had to do a lengthy trial, and since I worked Ortho/trauma unit then, the thinking was 12's would be too labor intensive.It took a lot of convincing, but we finally changed over, and all the naysayers loved it actually. I would still rather do 12's and have to work less than half the month, in essence, to make a full time salary.Haven't seen the trend back to 8's in this area yet- Pacific NW. But, we like our outdoor activities, and the time off with 12's is a major factor in allowing that.

Haven't seen anything like that in my neck of the woods either, whether military or civilian. I worked 8's though while I was on orientation and let me tell ya, if facilities go back to 8's, I'm going to be looking for some other branch of nursing to explore. I hated working 8's because they took up the whole day. Sure you have your evenings, but I was always too tired to do much of anything after I got done working and you have to be to bed early if you work the next day, so what's the point? Not to mention you can end up working 6 or 7 days in a row with 1, MAYBE 2 off inbetween. Thanks but no thanks! 12's for me all the way!

We did switch back. we were a mix before and went to straight 8s, most people were fine with it a few left.....but a lot of other scheduling changes were made at the same time that really hurt morale.

Don't see the 8 hr trend here in the southeast either...there are a few..VERY few LTC's and only 2 hospitals I know of that have the 8 hr shifts. I preferred them..12 is just too long with report/drive time tacked on both ends but..you do what you have to.

i've heard buzz about it happening in the hospital were I work per diem- haven't seen any action though.

I have not seen any facilities switch back to 8 hr shifts either. Maybe the powers that be remember how difficult it was dealing with staffing 3 different shifts, the disruption that 3 shift reports created, and how we never could find enough nurses for 3-11 shifts.I once worked 5 days a week, and am quite happy with 12 hours days.

I love 8 hour shifts. I'm old and that's all I've got in me. With the average age of nurses creeping upward, it is something to take into consideration. At a recent convention in a session on aging, the presenter mentioned how 8 hour shifts were kinder to older staff. A cheer went up from the large crowd. She looked startled (this was a sedate audience) but it told me that is isn't just me.

I never enjoyed 12's, those extra days turned into more sleeping time. I was always exhausted.I did 10's when I worked in acute dialysis - - lovely.

I work 8's now at a doctor's office, 9 actually. I work from 815-530 w/ an hour lunch break. I hate it. I want 12's. By the time I get home I have no evening left w/ my baby. Especially if I have to cook dinner. I miss him everyday.

Working 8's right now; it sucks. by the time I get home the day is completely shot.I have been able to work a double which is grueling but the payoff of getting 36 hours in 2 days and having 5 days off is beautiful.

Both hospitals where I work do both 8 and 12s, depending on what the nurse prefers. New hires may have to work the shift they do not prefer to a while but when there is an opening in their prefered schedual they can move into it. Never heard of a nurse having to work a shift that didn't work for them for more than a year or so. Also have nurses who both, two 12 and two 8s a week.To force nurses to work shifts that make them miserable is a signs of a serious lack of consideration by managment.