8 Hour vs 12 Hour Nursing Shifts: The Ongoing Debate

One of the most hotly debated topics in nursing is whether 8 or 12 hour shifts are better. Both have their passionate supporters and detractors. The choice between the traditional 8 hour shift or the newer 12 hour shift depends on your personality work style and lifestyle.

In this article, we’ll break down the key pros and cons of 8 hour and 12 hour nursing shifts.

8 Hour Nursing Shifts

For many decades, the 8 hour shift was the norm for nurses. Let’s explore some of the potential benefits of sticking to shorter shifts.

Pros of 8 Hour Shifts

• Less fatigue 12+ hours of intense mental and physical work leads to exhaustion 8 hour shifts reduce fatigue and burnout,

• Fewer mistakes: Studies show increased errors and near-misses when nurses work 12+ hours. Shorter shifts lead to sharper critical thinking.

• Improved safety: The risk of workplace injuries like needle sticks is higher with long shifts, especially for new nurses.

• Healthier nurses: Long hours are linked to myriad health issues – GI problems, diabetes, cardiovascular disease. 8 hour shifts promote wellness.

• Better work-life balance: It’s easier to have a life outside work when your shifts are shorter. More time for family, school, hobbies.

• Happier patients: Studies show patient satisfaction decreases when nurses work 12+ hour shifts.

Cons of 8 Hour Shifts

• More handoffs: With 3 shifts per day rather than 2, there’s more handoffs between nurses. This creates more chances for miscommunication about patients.

• Tougher scheduling More shifts to fill for nurse managers Often need more part-time/casual staff

• Higher staffing costs: Salaries make up a big chunk of hospital budgets. More nurses needed to cover additional shifts.

• Increased commuting: The flip side of more days off with 12s is more commuting days with 8s.

12 Hour Nursing Shifts

The 12 hour shift began gaining popularity in the 80s and 90s. Now it’s the most common schedule for nurses. What are the upsides?

Pros of 12 Hour Shifts

• Better continuity of care: Fewer handoffs between nurses means more familiarity with patients.

• Longer stretches of days off: Typically get 3-4 days off per week. Improves work-life balance.

• Flexible scheduling: Long blocks of time off provide more flexibility for family, school, picking up extra shifts.

• Easier on managers: Less shifts to schedule makes hiring and staffing more efficient.

• Lower commuting costs: Only commuting 2-3 days per week depending on schedule. Saves on gas, parking, and wear-and-tear.

• Higher pay: Many hospitals offer shift differentials of $2-5/hr extra for 12 hour shifts.

Cons of 12 Hour Shifts

• Increased fatigue: By hour 10 or 12, nurses are often drained both physically and mentally. Risk of errors climbs.

• Overtime: Shifts often go into overtime due to admissions, discharges, charting, etc. This adds to exhaustion.

• More sick calls: Fatigue and burnout from long hours leads to increased absenteeism.

• Decreased safety: Studies correlate longer shifts with more injuries, strains, needle sticks, especially for new nurses.

• Deteriorating health: Nurses working 12+ hour shifts 3-4 days a week have increased risk for many chronic illnesses.

• Reduced patient satisfaction: Studies show patients are less happy when their nurse works a 12+ hour shift.

Key Factors in the 8 vs 12 Hour Debate

There’s no consensus on whether 8 or 12 hour shifts are better for nurses. The right schedule depends on your individual needs and preferences. Here are some key considerations:

• Your natural circadian rhythm: Are you a morning lark or a night owl? This impacts which shift length works best.

• Support system: Having family or paid help for child/elder care makes longer shifts more feasible.

• Commute distance: Long drives to work favor fewer/longer shifts to limit commuting costs.

• Continuing education: Shorter shifts may allow more time/energy for nursing school and advancement.

• Finances: Calculate if shift differential pay outweighs commuting costs and other factors.

• Physical/mental health: Be aware of how longer shifts impact your stress levels, sick days, injuries, etc.

• Experience level: New nurses tend to find 12 hour shifts more taxing physically and mentally.

• Patient population: Some units like ICUs or EDs may favor 12s for continuity of care with critically ill patients.

Best Practices for Nursing Shift Schedules

While the debate continues on 8 versus 12 hour shifts, there are some best practices hospitals can implement to optimize shift schedules:

• Allow nurses input to ensure shift lengths match their preferences and lifestyles. This improves retention.

• Offer a mix of shift options – 8s, 10s, and 12s – to accommodate diverse needs.

• Build in longer breaks during shifts to give nurses time to rest, hydrate, and eat. This boosts alertness.

• Limit consecutive shift days to 2-3 to minimize exhaustion.

• Discourage overtime and implement overtime pay policies to deter excessive hours.

• Provide designated nap rooms for brief restorative rest during or between shifts.

• Offer counseling to help nurses cope with physical and mental stresses of shift work.

The debate between 8 hour and 12 hour nursing shifts seems unlikely to be settled anytime soon. But with flexibility, compromise, and evidence-based policies, hospitals can create shift schedules that balance continuity of care with nurses’ health, safety, and satisfaction.