Do any of my fellow  nurses feel that the 12 hour  shifts have lead to burnout? nurse shortages?  what are your thoughts?

I enjoyed the 12 hr shifts giving me 4 days away from that hellhole.  My current 5 day a week gig in the same dept is tolerable because of the flex & I get to go to all of my kids' activities in the evenings.  But if you leave the home life angle, I would choose 3 12hr shifts over 5 8's any day.

I took a job that was 7p-7a a while back.......went through orientation............then they added mandatory overtime, a 4th day 4 12's in a row.   Ok, at first, my attitude is "I'll show them I can do it.   Well, honestly............the paychecks were great, but holy cow. On the way home, I would be borderline dozing off behind the wheel.   Its dangerous, seriously.   One day when I was up and getting ready for work, my daughter came in.............she had gotten the mail and was giggling................I got a postcard to join AARP.   I know that little twit arranged that.  I am 46 dang it.  After almost getting pushed off I75 by the UPS truck, I knew I had to make a change.  I'm not gonna find myself in a wreck because I cant stay awake for the drive home and risk hurting or even killing someones loved ones because I'm tired.   I quit <had notice> and now I'm doing agency work.   Love it,did a clinical recently for school in an inpatient hospice facility............when I did the paperwork for the agency, she told me some of the facilities they were staffing........and were helping out a hospice.  Money isnt everything guys. If you like where you work, have tenure and are vested with your 401k, consider staying....if your not vested, try to stay if you like it........you cant buy happiness.  Plus........like I said my paychecks were great, but I had NO energy for shopping.  I did save up some money just in case agency stuff dries up.

I accepted a position on a SNF unit that had 8-hr shifts......before I began working on the SNF unit, I was assigned to cover for a nurse on medical leave in the memory unit.   Honestly, I fell in love with this position and then the "real-world" reared it'sugly head and I returned to the SNF unit....HOWEVER, the shifts were now 12-hrs!!!1  I DESPISE the 12-hour shifts!!  I am too old to work this hard.   Actually, the 12-hours were implemented because the nurses were unable to complete their assignments in an 8-hour shift.  My thought is that there were NOT enough nurses to cover each 8-hour shift so, the company just spread the "agony" over another 4 hours!!!   Let's not do the right thing and hire enough staff....that just makes too much sense!!  I come home after my 12-hours and my body hurts so badly that I cannot sleep.  It takes me several days to recover and during the recovery...I feel like HELL!!!!   What is wrong with the health care business?????   What other businesses would work their employees in such a detrimental manner???  I have advised my daughter and neices to NEVER get into the nursing profession unless things drastically change. The money I make is NOT worth the turmoil these shifts cause my life!!! 

I have been doing 12 hour shifts for about 10 years and cannot understand how anyone could work any other schedule.

It depends on how many days a week we're talking here.

I'm fine with 12 hours shifts, though I prefer 8's.  However, working 5 eights w/ every other weekend is a drag.  On that basis it makes 12's better.

I did have one job that did a mix of 12's and 8's.  I worked 8's, but I only worked 4 days a week and still got full time benefits.  The hourly wage was enough that I didn't mind only working 32 hours a week.  The way the 8's came on and off kept the ER staffed for the busiest times of the day, and reduced staff for hours when things were usually pretty slow.

I hate the idea of mandatory overtime.  If I work extra hours I prefer it to be my choice not someone else's.  You do burn out after awhile.

i 

I have been stuck on Q Fri/Sat/Sun w/8hr on fri then 2/12s it kills me mon and tues are days recovering. Also when holidays come around like easter I always have to work, now xmas is. Fri.sat. so I'm stuck. Where I work if u r fulltime u have 2 work 2 out of 3 holidays like thksgvg to newyrs. No matter what days u work u r fulltime at 24hr but the nurses that work 7p to 7a are never scheduled to come in? I hope to have new job soon I've worked holidays for past 3 yrs and miss out with my daughter every time. I've put in 2 written requests to change hrs. One of nurses wanted QOWEnd and that was a break. But they gave her QOWend as supervisor after knowing she expressed wanting 2 12s. So time to move on. These hrs have even effected my health the stress is crazy I am the 6th nurse over past year in the facility with medical problems 3 had MI's 2 of them while working I'm 38 and now take metoprolol, funny by bp is never high unless I'm at work. Plus when I work 12hr on holiday I don't get 12hr ot its only 8 even vacation I get paid my weekday rate, sick day to only reg rate not baylor "you get baylor only when you work baylor" Thanks Nurselizzy06

Account Removed says ...

I have been doing 12 hour shifts for about 10 years and cannot understand how anyone could work any other schedule.

       You got it.  I love my 12 hour shifts too.  You just have to value sleep, hence sleep no matter what.  Then you have 3 or four days off to be the other side of yourself or you can pick up more shifts.  If you don't take care of yourself it can be a bad experience.  I see those people all day and often have to pick up their slack, but I have the energy and alertness to do that because I take care of myself.

Cheers - Tim, R.N.