THE 12-HOUR SHIFT - THE VIEWS OF NURSE EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS

Interest in 12-hour nursing shifts has been renewed in response to dem ands for improved cost-effectiveness in the UK National Health Service . But the effects of the shift on nursing education are unclear. We re port surveys of the attitudes of student nurses and nurse educators to wards 12-hour shifts. Learners are reasonably positive about 12-hour s hifts, 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 educa tors. Their criticisms appear to be primarily organizational, but they are unequivocal that learning is detrimentally affected. Thus, even i f students appear to like this shift pattern, serious concerns are rai sed by these findings about the impact of the shift on nursing educati on.