Why can't we have 12 hour shifts and 8 hours shifts?

2 Is it really so hard for hospitals to let the young nurses that want to do those 12 hour shifts have their fun with them and us older nurses who did them for years have a little of both. So many nurses are retiring from nursing early. I say let us have our cake and eat it too!!! 3 "8" hour shifts and 1 "12" or 2 "12's" and an "8". Why are we still treated like factory workers with no education? After 25 years as a nurse, I love bedside hospital nursing but it's not that less of a benefit package to work 24 hours a week in which I could still work 3 days but only 8 hours without being left dehydrated, fatigued, and mentally exhausted!! I'm not ready to go to the SNF yet to do 8 hours. Diversity should not still be in question with nursing hours....there aren't enough of us experienced nurses to be that "picky".
It is a pain to staff -- I can tell you that because your options are limited if there is a call off or change in the schedule (people have to offset others). If you have a large staff, it would work but if it's small and no float pool -- I totally get it. It just isn't ideal.

I'll be starting my first nursing position soon working two 8's and two 12's a week. Rotating days and nights every two weeks.

Quote from AngelMamaI'll be starting my first nursing position soon working two 8's and two 12's a week. Rotating days and nights every two weeks.

I am in a large metropolitan area of 7 million people. Hospital systems in this area staff with 12-hour shifts because keeping the 3:00pm to 11:00pm evening swing shift fully staffed has been an insurmountable challenge in the past.8-hour day shift (7 to 3:30pm) is coveted and nurses line up to work during daylight hours. 8-hour night shift (11 to 7:30am) also has a sizable following of nurses who prefer nights. However, until something is done about the staffing issues that arise when 3 to 11:30pm shifts go unfilled, I foresee hospitals in my area continuing to utilize 12 hour shifts.Personally, I would never want to work five 8-hour shifts per week at the bedside. I've done it before and will not do it again unless homelessness is on the horizon.

Can you define "young"? I am 44 and far far FAR prefer 12 hour shifts.

Quote from PacoUSARotate every two weeks? That's kind of rough. Rotating every 6 weeks is better I think, which is what some other hospitals do.Sent from my iPad using allnurses

Many of the nursing homes in my area are transitioning to 12 hour shifts. I think that it is going to become more and more common, for many places, and not just hospitals. I personally like the 12 hour shifts, and having more days off a week. I am 45.

Turning 40 next week and I too prefer 12s.

I'm 40 and love 12 hour shifts.

Quote from ziplag I'm not ready to go to the SNF yet to do 8 hours.

We have a combo right now, but are transitioning to 12's.

I am almost 43 and never liked 12 hour shifts, even when I was young.