How to Calculate 12-Hour Nursing Shifts
Nursing schedules are notoriously complex. Whether you work three 12-hour shifts (36 hours), four 10s, or rotating shifts, calculating your exact hours is critical for ensuring your paycheck matches your effort. This tool is designed specifically for the hospital environment.
1. Night Shift & Crossing Midnight
Standard calculators often fail when you enter a start time of 7:00 PM and an end time of 7:30 AM. They think you worked negative hours.
MyShiftCalc's Algorithm: We automatically detect overnight shifts. If the "Time Out" is earlier than the "Time In," the tool adds 24 hours to the calculation, giving you the correct 12.5 hours instantly.
2. The "Missed Lunch" Rule
Most hospital contracts automatically deduct 30 minutes for lunch. However, if a patient code or emergency prevents you from taking a break, you are legally entitled to be paid for that time.
Pro Tip for Nurses:
If you worked through lunch, change the Break (min) input to 0 for that day. This ensures the 30 minutes are added back to your total pay.
3. Overtime After 36 Hours?
Many nursing contracts pay overtime after 36 or 40 hours. Use the "Total Hours" display at the bottom to track when you cross that threshold during the week.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How do I calculate a 12-hour nurse shift?
Enter your start time (e.g., 7:00 AM) and end time (e.g., 7:30 PM). Our calculator automatically subtracts unpaid breaks to give you the exact payroll hours.
2. Does this work for night shift (7pm to 7am)?
Yes. MyShiftCalc automatically detects when a shift crosses midnight. If you enter 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM, it will correctly calculate 12 hours.
3. How do I handle missed lunch breaks?
If you worked through your lunch due to patient care, simply enter '0' in the Break column to ensure you are paid for that time.
4. Is this calculator private?
Yes. Your shift data is stored locally on your device and is never sent to our servers, ensuring privacy for healthcare professionals.