The 12-hour nursing shift is under the spotlight after a United States study found nurses working the shifts are more prone to health problems and making patient errors.

The results from the University of Maryland and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study, published earlier this year, come as new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures confirm more Australians than ever before are embracing the move to working longer shifts over the traditional eight-hour day.

ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas said while there were no current statistics on the incidence of 12-hour nursing shifts in Australia, she said longer shifts were usually by consent, particularly in specialist areas such as Intensive Care Units.

“Our members that we have spoken to tend to enjoy working longer shifts because of the extra time off they receive,” Ms Thomas said.

“The ANF of course continues to monitor the practice, in terms of occupational health and safety issues for our members and best quality care to patients.”

The US study was based on survey responses from 633 nurses in 71 non-federal hospitals and found demanding work schedules could be to blame for patient mortality.