The 12-hour shift: the views of nurse educators and students

Interest in 12-hour nursing shifts has been renewed in response to demands for improved cost-effectiveness in the UK National Health Service. But the effects of the shift on nursing education are unclear. We report surveys of the attitudes of student nurses and nurse educators towards 12-hour shifts. Learners are reasonably positive about 12-hour shifts, but this preference is based on social rather than professional benefits. A reported effect of fatigue on home study is evident. Very negative views about the 12-hour shift are held by the group of educators. Their criticisms appear to be primarily organizational, but they are unequivocal that learning is detrimentally affected. Thus, even if students appear to like this shift pattern, serious concerns are raised by these findings about the impact of the shift on nursing education.