Survey Results of the New Health Care Worker Study: Implications ...

284.3. Shift WorkThe majority of nurses worked 12 hour shifts and more than one third worked 8 hourshifts. Only a small number of the survey respondents worked 10 hours shifts or reportedanother distribution of their work hours. The majority of nurses indicated that they preferredthe12 hour shift arrangement. Of our respondents, 42% preferred 8 hour shifts. Table 12bshows that the majority (79.6%) of nurses who work 12 hour shifts prefer 12 hour shifts and themajority (76.8%) of nurses who work 8 hour shifts prefer to work 8 hour shifts. However,responses still suggest that some nurses in 12 hour shifts prefer 8 hour shifts and some nurseswho work 8 hour shifts prefer 12 hour shifts [See Table 12b].Type of Shifts Worked12 hour shifts10 hour shifts8 hour shiftsOtherShift Preference12 hour shifts10 hour shifts8 hour shiftsOtherTable 12a: Shift WorkN (%)*1056 (75.9)27 (1.9)534 (38.4)61 (4.4)872 (63.1)193 (14.0)581 (42.0)45 (3.3)*Percentages do not add to 100 because respondents could be working more than one type of shift.