Nursing rotas: what’s the perfect shift length for a nurse?

Research shows that 12-hour shifts, a staple of many nurses’ weekly rota, are like Marmite – some like them as they mean fewer days spent at work, while others find them tiring and prefer a traditional eight-hour shift pattern. But, personal preference aside, what is the safest type and length of shift? And how can shift patterns affect nurses’ health and well-being? We look at the evidence.