Nurse 12-Hour Shifts — Pros and Cons

Many nurses work 12-hour shifts, but have you ever wondered why that arrangement is so prevalent in healthcare when eight-hour workdays are the norm in many other careers?

As with any work schedule, there are potential upsides and downsides to 12-hour nursing shifts. Here's everything you should know about this option.

Benefits of 12-Hour Nursing Shifts

Nurses who choose 12-hour shifts can start in the morning and end in the evening, or vice versa. For example, a nurse who comes in at 7:30 a.m. would end the workday at 7:30 p.m. Nurses work 12-hour shifts because medical facilities like hospitals and assisted living communities must have around-the-clock staff availability. When the day shift ends, the night shift seamlessly begins.

Let's explore some of the benefits of working 12-hour nursing shifts.

Extended Time Off

How many days do nurses work? Though shift schedules differ, a typical arrangement with 12-hour shift workers is to have four days on and four days off. This schedule allows nurses time to rest and recover. You can spend time with your family, run errands and focus on self-care. When it's time to return to work, you'll feel more refreshed and enthusiastic after having four days off.

Increased Flexibility

Nurses who have long commutes or prefer to break up their schedule will get more opportunities to pursue hobbies, education or volunteer work. You can also become more involved in your children's school, start learning a new skill or even take short day trips to nearby cities. The only limit is your imagination.

Enhanced Work-Life Balance

Everyone strives to achieve work-life balance in their careers. During your 12-hour shift, you can work with fewer interruptions affecting your flow, providing consistent and uninterrupted patient care. Nurses who choose longer shifts can build a better rapport with their patients and colleagues, improving health outcomes, reducing the need for frequent handoffs and potentially enhancing patient safety and satisfaction.

When you are not at work, you can catch up on household responsibilities like laundry, cooking and paying bills. You can also use your downtime to look after your family, which is invaluable if you have young children.

Drawbacks of 12-Hour Nursing Shifts

Many nurses choose 12-hour shifts because they prefer a dependable routine that still gives them free time to focus on doing things they love. However, you should consider the possible downsides to this demanding schedule.

Physical and Mental Fatigue

Working 12 hours daily may make it harder for you to lead a healthy lifestyle. When you're at work, you'll have fewer chances to take moments for yourself or sit down to enjoy your food. You might grab sugary or salty snacks from a vending machine when you need to eat something quick on the run.

Over time, expect more unhealthy habits like chronic sleep deprivation and fatigue. You can address these issues by exercising, eating balanced meals and relaxing on your days off, but remember — a lengthy recovery period will cut into the time you usually spend pursuing hobbies and other activities.

Impact on Personal Life

Many people prefer shift work because it gives them consecutive days off to spend time with friends and family. In reality, that's not always possible. If your schedule doesn't align with other people's, you may be awake when they are asleep, or they might be at school or work while you're home alone. These scheduling discrepancies can be isolating and make you feel out of sync with the rest of the world.

Impact on Patient Care

Beyond the effects as a nurse, what do 12-hour shifts mean for patients?

Continuity of Care

Working longer shifts ensures patients receive the attention they deserve. When nurses switch shifts, it can lead to errors like missed medication and failure to document symptom changes.

In the worst-case scenarios, poor continuity of care can result in patient injuries and death. However, nurses who work longer shifts can devote more consistent care to their patients, increasing the likelihood of a smooth transition.

Nurse Satisfaction and Retention

Strategies to Mitigate the Cons

Now that you know the challenges of working long shifts, what can you do to make your schedule more manageable?

Prioritize Self Care

Breaks give you time to refresh your mind so you have the mental and physical capacity to jump back into tasks. Even a 10-minute break will refresh you enough to give your patients the attention they need. You can eat a healthy snack, do gentle standing stretches, drink water and use the restroom.

You might think you can push through and skip meals during the shift. But this is a disservice to your body, mind and patients. Focus on proper nutrition so you can maintain your stamina.

Providing Support Systems

Nurses need plenty of support to do such a physically and mentally demanding job. If you have a light workload, be a team player and pitch in when you see another nurse struggling. On the other hand, don't be ashamed to ask for help when you need it. Teamwork will help you build better relationships with your co-workers and boost morale by reminding everyone that you are on the same team.

Are 12-Hour Nursing Shifts Right for You?

As a nurse, your skills and compassion are in high demand wherever you go, giving you more freedom to work on your terms. At Trustaff, we offer opportunities to thrive in your career by combining the rewards of nursing with the adventure you can only find through travel. Broaden your horizons and accelerate your professional growth by joining our talented team.

Our nursing licensure program can help you obtain a new state license and work in your dream location for the ultimate flexibility and work-life balance. If you face burnout and job dissatisfaction from the rigors of a traditional nursing schedule, learn more about high-paying travel assignments with Trustaff and find your next job today.