Nurses and 12-Hour Shifts - How to Make the Best of Them

I prefer 8 hour shifts. I was doing 12's, but I just have too much going on in order to get a good rest in between the shifts so I switched.However, if I didn't have a circus in my household I would much rather do the 12's.I've found that sometimes the hardest part of a 12 hour shift comes before you even start. Usually, once I get to work and get started my attitude changes immediately.

after working 24 hour shifts on an ambulance, 12 hour shifts are easy. I find 8 hour shifts too short. I think 10 hour shifts are the best, but those are hard to find.

Great suggestions, except the sporting goods store part...the big box store employees really aren't that knowledgeable and work off commission. Go to a local running shop...we have one by us and they sell you the right shoe, not the most expensive or fanciest

I love working three 12's. They are overwhelming at first but you get used to them. All the above tips are helpful and true!

I like the idea of 12s (having 4 days off), but I find it harder to get enough rest between shifts (due to commute time, etc.), and if you are busy you tend to push through your shift and not take good breaks. I also notice around 10 hrs in my concentration/memory is not as sharp. It's hard to be at work 5 days a week, but I feel I provide better care to my patients and have time to rest between shifts.

I like the idea of 12 hour shift to have more home time but I do think 12 hours is a very long time to be at work in a job that requires alertness and excellent judgement skill like nursing. In the latest issue of the Missouri State Board of Nursing magazine, there were two research articles dealing with this topic. There is overwhelming evidence that anything over 9 hours drastically increases the incidence of medication errors and personal injury to the nurse. That is a little worrisome to me. I currently work 12 hour shifts and it is difficult to get adequate rest between shifts esp with a 45 minute commute each way.

I am used to work in an 8-hour shift. It feels just right. I don't burnout. It just feels so right.

I have done both. Many nurses still push through and go to work when they don't feel well. It is a struggle when you don't feel well and work a 12 hour shift. I like 8 hours because I am not as tired when I get off, it seems like your at work all of the time when you work five days a week.. 20 days a month vs twelve days a month. I will do the 12.

12 no contest, I picked nursing so I didn't have to go to work everyday...unless they are giving me that overtime paper

I love my 12-hour shifts. Try to pry them from my cold fingers and see what happens!As a bedside nurse turned house supervisor, I just do not want to see needy patients or their unrealistic families five days per week. I do not want to see my managers or coworkers five days per week. I simply do not want to be at work five days per week.I'd much rather work a compressed schedule of three 12-hour shifts to have four days off per week. I also enjoyed working two 16-hour weekend double shifts to get five days off in a row every week.But five 8-hour shifts per week at the bedside? That would be hell on earth for me. I wouldn't want to do it unless I was on the verge of homelessness (or sitting in a cubicle).

I have to agree with The Commuter. The idea of seeing non-emergent prescription refills, admitting healthy patients to the hospital because they convinced their doc to make it happen, and all of the other annoying misuses I see in the ED 5 times a week is too much to bear. The best part about the 12 hour work day is the 4 days off.

Work a 16-hour shift, and then 12's will seem like nothing. I hate working double shifts and won't do it unless I'm mandated as a nurse (I'm an aide in school). Three days a week and four days off is SO much better than five 8's. Depending on how you schedule yourself, you can take mini vacations all the time (like work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday one week and then Thursday, Friday, Saturday the next gives you 8 days off to do something fun without having to take vacation days).