Everything Nurses >> Venting Zone >> Nurse Workloads and the Nursing Shortage
Nurse Workloads and the Nursing Shortage
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Posted over 5 years ago Many nurses believe that the heavy 12-16 hour workdays that nurses have are affecting the nursing shortage. Do you think this is the case? What other factors are at play? |
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| Posted over 5 years ago 12 hour shifts are bad. I think they affect the workforce by killing us off sooner. I find it impossible to take good care of myself, ie, get to my gym. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago I think that after 8 hours you begin to lose focus on what it is you are doing. so it is possible that the workload of 12 hours are affecting the nurse shortage because of that. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago Of course 12 to 16 hour shifts and heavy workloads affect the nursing shortage. It is a vicious cycle though, fewer nurses equal higher demand for longer hours and bigger caseloads. Loss of Focus and Loss of time to take care of oneself also factor into the picture. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago I have worked 12 hour shifts for about 5 years now. I absolutely love those shifts. Yeah it doesn't leave me much time with my family on the days that I work but at least I only have to work 3 days a week and be constitued as a full time employee. Long shifts like that is not for everyone. I think that these shifts are good because you have more time to spend with your patients and you can provide more continuity (not sure if that is spelled right) of care to your patients. I have worked on a variety of units and have had up to 8 patients in one working day and no matter how many hours that shift was the patients were happy to have someone that took care of them that they trust. Also no matter how many hours I work there is never enough time to get the things done that you need to get done. It all comes to organization. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago Going from 3 12's in staffing to 5 8's in the educator role was difficult. 12 hours in the ED did beat you down especially because you spent the entire time on your feet and your brain never stopped. But it was very doable. 8 hour shifts in the unit are done before you know it. I liked the 12's very much and like Ddx said, it's only 3 days a week. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago i worked 12 hour shifts for 21/2 years. i don't have a lot of overtime coz can give care and monitor them more. i am able to spend more time with my kid ( no husband yet).then went to another facility with 8 hours. always tired and seems lack of time. more overtime pay. both my schedules interfere with night activities in church. miss my family so much and more days where the house is unkept. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago I have worked 12 hour shifts since I started working 8 years ago. I love my 12 hour shifts. I would much rather go into a facility 3 days a week as opposed to 5. I find I am not as tired working 3 days as opposed to 5. This gives me more time to do what I want and need for myself and my family. I am already there 8 hours so the other 4 go by rather quickly. My patients also like to see me for a longer period of time. They have already gotten to know and trust me over the first 8 hours. I work on a surgical unit so by the time my 3 days are over most of them are ready to go home. I feel like I have contributed so much to their healing process and time in the hospital and it makes me feel good that when I go back to work after my 4 days off they have been discharged. I love my 12 hours shifts! |
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| Posted over 5 years ago I don't mind 12 hour shifts....it's the shortage and patient load that bothers me....you deal with the patient and the family and it's not fair to them or us to have so many patients...you can't give good care that way.... |
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| Posted over 2 years ago I don't know what people are talking about with there being a nursing shortage. Maybe in 10-15 years when baby boomers are entering retirement homes in droves then possibly. But there are plenty of jobs out there. Elliot Hospital System has many new hampshire hospital jobs for one. |
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| Posted over 2 years ago There is no shortage......................... |
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| Posted over 2 years ago 12 hour shifts are extremely hard I totally agree but at leat we have more days off inbetween. But what about the hospitals that do not allow for self scheduling now that is horrible. At the facility where I work it is mandatory that we work 3 days in a row. Now that is torture!!!! |
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| Posted over 2 years ago obviously a rule made by people who don't have to live by them!!!!!!!!!! kinda like our current government!! egads lalababy your place of employment Stinks .........loads!!! my advice visit your primary care md and get some kind of note that states you have some condition that makes it impossibe for them to dump that 3 day in a row crap on you!! fight fire with fire baby!!! |
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| Posted over 2 years ago I am a new nurse. I love the 12 hour thing....I adore my days off...Granted I am used to working 12-15 hours a day 5-6 days a week...the whole 3 day thing is AMAZING! the 8 hour shifts would kill me though....I couldn't handle the waking up/commute more often....AND there is tooo much to get done and 8 hours is NOT enough. |
