Can I do the 12 hour nursing Shifts?

In the hospital setting, the typical nurse's schedule is either 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am. This 12-hour nursing shift model is common in facilities that care for patients 24 hours a day. Each week, nurses with this schedule work three days and have four days off. 

What are the advantages of working in these long shifts? For this nurse schedule only working for four-day off, it allows you to recharge and spend more quality time with family and friends. Some hospitals offer a night differential or wage increase for working the night shift, the weekend, or both. Night shifts also typically pay 5% more in shift differentials than day shifts. 

However, there are also disadvantages to working 12 hour shifts. In case you are the night shift nurse can result in difficulty with getting to sleep, staying asleep, or sleeping when the individual wants or needs to. Circadian rhythms work alongside the body's master clock in the brain. Operating on a 24-hour rotation, this internal system manages the sleep cycle. The circadian rhythm typically responds to external stimuli, such as light or brightness and darkness. People with an aligned circadian rhythm experience restorative sleep, while individuals with an unaligned circadian rhythm may experience insomnia.

I heard is there may increase potential for error once a person works for a long shift. If nurses’ health suffers from these long shifts and their ability to focus is decreased, the increased potential for error is a factor that requires attention. If nurse burnout indeed leads to a feeling of cynicism and negativity about one’s job, a burned out nurse may be more likely to make errors. 

No matter what kind of working schedule you have, I think the most important thing is how to take care of yourself. You can experience quality sleep by incorporating regular exercise into your schedule. A healthy diet and staying hydrated can lead to better sleep for anyone!