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Since I have never been a nurse? I will leave the answers to those that have been. I can tell you that there are times when a nurse has patients that are pretty self-sufficient and easier for them than others. I would guess a lot of this would depend on the number of nurses on staff at a given time and the nature and condition of their patients.

hckynut(john)
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This is a job where people's lives are in your hands. Situations that seem ok could quickly turn. I want my medical personnel to be rested and alert.

Whatever they need to maintain their alertness is ok with me.

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Nurses shouldn't be working 12 or 14 hour shifts. No wonder there are so many mistakes in hospitals.

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But then they get 4 or 5 days off after they do 4 12 hour shifts.

The nurses I had loved it because they knew they got such a long time off at the end of working those long days.

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Those breaks are very dangerous. I don't care how many days off they get after that. No one can be on top of things for that many hours without a break. Bad practice, IMO. Not patient friendly at all.

Formerly Ford1224
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On 3/11/2014 Melania2 said:

But then they get 4 or 5 days off after they do 4 12 hour shifts.

The nurses I had loved it because they knew they got such a long time off at the end of working those long days.

I'm more interested in what the patients love than what the nurses love. I'm guessing patients love well rested efficient nurses who haven't been working 12 hours.

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On 3/11/2014 Ford1224 said:

Those breaks are very dangerous. I don't care how many days off they get after that. No one can be on top of things for that many hours without a break. Bad practice, IMO. Not patient friendly at all.

I agree. I never understood this practice that nurses & doctors had- staying on the job for very long shifts. I want my health care professionals to be alert, not drinking coffee or trying to stay awake.

I don't know why this practice is so commonplace in hospitals - it should change.

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15 Minutes for every 4 hours isn't sufficient, IMO.

And a half hour for lunch definitely isn't.

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When I worked 12 hour shifts...really more like 13-14 hours, we got 1/2 for lunch. Sometimes you actually got that but more often than not you were lucky to wolf down some food in 10 minutes. Doctors making rounds wanted to talk to the nurse, families, etc. Patient's needs do not have a schedule. Breaks??? Pretty much nonexistent.

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On 3/11/2014 occasional rain said:
On 3/11/2014 Melania2 said:

But then they get 4 or 5 days off after they do 4 12 hour shifts.

The nurses I had loved it because they knew they got such a long time off at the end of working those long days.

I'm more interested in what the patients love than what the nurses love. I'm guessing patients love well rested efficient nurses who haven't been working 12 hours.

Sheesh...get a cocktail.